Spring to the Briz-eak: Other Fun

While the zoo was certainly the highlight, it wasn't the end of our fun.

We saw Grandma as we were walking through the parking lot to Berry Bear. She was able to come in with us and eat some yummy frozen yogurt. What a neat surprise! It made a fun outing even more fun and special.

Anna Claire and I have done quite a bit of gardening together over break. Although harvest is definitely her favorite part of the cycle, she also likes digging in the dirt and helping me plant seeds and bulbs. We planted a border of garlic on Wednesday, all along the perimeter of the vegetable garden to help keep the rabbits away. I've read they don't like the smell. We'll see if it works.  :)

Sweet smile for waitress at IHOP

Thursday I took AC in to the RB for a few hours to go to music, but did not realize there was not music class this week due to break. She handled this pretty well. I picked her up early and took her to IHOP for brunch.

She absolutely loved IHOP, altough I was disappointed that the strawberry pancakes looked nothing like the picture on the menu. They were served to her plain, with the two tiniest strawberries you ever did see and a teensy dollop of whip cream. So I gave her my berries and whipped cream too, and she was a happy camper.

After IHOP we went to the mall to go to Old Navy and to see the Easter Bunny.






Anna Claire loves going to Old Navy. She especially loves the light display on the floor back in the little girls' department. Normally there are big kids playing back there that intimidate her, but there wasn't anyone this time, so she had a ball.

Next was the Easter Bunny. She was excited once she spotted him. She waved and shouted, "Hi, Easter Bunny!" Then all of a sudden she did a 180 - clung to my leg like velcro and said she didn't want the Easter Bunny and asked to go home.

I didn't force the issue and headed back to the van at which point Anna Claire announced she wanted to go to the bookstore. Two places I will never turn AC down upon asking: library and bookstore. So we headed to Books a Million. She loves looking at all of the children's books and to plop down in the floor and have me read her book after book. I enjoy it too. Great opportunity to get some ideas for Easter.

Yesterday Anna Claire and I made brownies, and she rode her tricycle by herself for the first time. At almost 3 years old, some may think "it's about time," but we are thrilled each time she reaches a milestone physically speaking and again seems to be catching up with her peers. She has simply not shown much interest in such things until recently, and we haven't pushed her. Now she is running, jumping, climbing all over the place. I love that she is doing things on her own time.

Speaking of climbing, we decided to part with climber in the backyard. With the mud that collects back there, it has been more of an attractive nuisance than we ever could have anticipated. Since it's gone pretty much unused, yesterday we passed it along to a family who would use it. Anna Claire loved playing with the little boy, Jaden, while Larry and the boy's daddy loaded it onto their trailer.  We will look at getting her something to play on that's more functional for her. Not sure what yet. She wants a playhouse, I know that much.

Oh, and the wagon and water table are now back in full operation. We use these daily and spent tons of time outside. We have been so blessed to have a spring break with the most beautiful weather ever.

Two new bouncy balls have also been favorite play things. Anna Claire tells me she wants to play soccer and do gymnastics. I think she's been having some conversations about this with her little friends!

I'm sure I've left off details but this is a pretty accurate representation of our week. It's been fun!

Spring to the Briz-eak: Nashville Zoo

Pink Flamingo, Mommy! Wots of dem!

This spring break I was able to spend quality time with my favorite girl.

The highlight of my break (and hers too, I'm guessing) was our trip to the zoo. I finally got off my tush and renewed our membership, so we can go anytime we want for the next year. Yahoo!

This trip consisted of several firsts for me and for Anna Claire.

It was our first time to the zoo without Larry. With a busy work schedule and trying to get taxes done he just didn't see anyway he could go. This made me nervous because we always have told each other we didn't see how parents did it (stress-free) without tag-teaming. Although we both missed him, I had no reason to worry at all. It turned out to be a great day!

It was Anna Claire's first time hiking through the zoo. Normally she is in an out of the stroller the entire trip. She was a trooper and walked with me most of the time. I had the stroller though for backup and when I got tired of pushing it, I was easily able to ditch it for awhile by parking it outside the indoor reptile building (can't remember the name) and come back for it later.

I can sit like dis, Mommy.

It was our first time taking a picnic lunch. I will always do this from now on! Zoo treats are ridiculously priced and Anna Claire loved sitting at the picnic tables with umbrella overhead, eating her favorites: PBJ, banana, and cheese balls. Win for Mommy. Spent zero dollars and had one happy kiddo with a full tummy.

It was our first time going to the zoo in panties! Anna Claire handled this like a champ. She told me when she needed to go, no problem.

It was our first time going inside the "tall tower". This was a very big deal to AC. At the Nashville Zoo, they have a climbing and play area for the kids. The past few times we've been we discouraged her from going up there, but I felt like she could do it. I went with her and she was very brave. She climbed everywhere just like the big kids. This made me very proud since she was very late learning to walk and has been behind her peers physically up until now. I'm feeling like she's caught up at this point. So proud of her.

Here are some more pics from the trip!

Dis crocodile Mommy? or snake?

Flamingos!

Climbing Tall Tower!

OK, so an obvious downside to not having Larry there is that I don't get to snap as many pics. Next time we'll all three go and I will take more I promise!

Making Pizzas!

Anna Claire had so much fun making pizzas with her daddy today. She was so full from eating toppings, cheese and sauce that she didn't have any room left for pizza!

Digging in the dirt

It's that time of year. Time to plant seeds and get our hands dirty in the garden!

We bought Anna Claire her own little set of gardening tools last year, and she remembers how to use all of them. She was so excited to see them again.

Thursday, we planted 36 seeds using Jiffy peat pellets in a little greenhouse: tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, basil, cilantro, and thyme.

It has been fun for all of us to watch them each day! Seems like new sprouts appear each time we check.

As of today, we have 5 basil sprouts, 2 thyme, 5 tomato, 4 zucchini, and two green bean that are so big, we already transplanted them into our little vegetable garden on the side of the house.

Here are pics from today's green bean planting:

Anna Claire wanted to help me pull weeds, but it's just too hard for her yet. She had fun trying!  ;)

She is cultivating with one hand and "pulling weeds" with the other.

St. Patrick's Day Parade!

I was so excited when Krista asked us to go to the St. Patrick's Day parade several weeks ago, I couldn't help but tell Anna Claire about it right away. When I asked her if she wanted to go, she raised clinched fists in the air, jumped up and down and hollered, "Yay! I do want to go to St. Patwick Day pawade!"

From that moment on, I was determined we WOULD GO to this parade, no matter what.

Well, the car broke down yesterday, and had to be taken into the shop. Larry's dad needed the van to go to a shooting tournament in Memphis, so I was looking at a weekend, stranded at home. But when I tell my little girl we are doing something, WE DO IT.

So, I got on the phone and called Wyatt Johnson where our car was being repaired to see if they had a rental. No dice.

Then, came hope. Larry told me Dad might not go to Memphis after all because there was a high chance of rain. I went to bed last night not knowing, but hopeful that there was a chance I wouldn't have to disappoint my kiddo.

Turns out we were able to take the van! Dad didn't end up going after all. Then I realized...I left my purse in the trunk of the car. Seriously?

So Larry and I went out to WJ to get the purse out of the trunk, thinking we could at least make part of the parade.

We did make it. In plenty of time!

At the end of Hwy 149, we saw people wearing green, parking and getting out of their cars and walking in a line, so like sheep, we followed suit and did the same. Ended up walking over a mile to the town square with a two-year-old! She was a trooper though. In fact, I'd say she enjoyed walking in the "parade" of people wearing green (she thought this was the parade until we actually got to it) as much as the actual parade, singing and talking all the way there. Looking back I wouldn't trade that mile walk in for anything because she enjoyed it so much.

Here are some pics of the fun:

They aren't kidding. Larry says a lot of his family is from here and that a majority of the population are Scotch/Irish.

These shamrocks were carved in the sidewalk leading all the way to town square. Anna Claire loved looking for them and stepping on them!

Loved the marching bands!

I love how you can tell she's smiling here.

She sees the first cars coming that are throwing candy.

Candy!!!!!

She can taste it already!

Miss Krista and Anna Claire have the same Crocs and are having a convo about this.

Bagpipes. Cool.

I love this face.

Firetrucks don't scare her anymore! Loves 'em!

Giving Daddy candy.

Eating an Airhead that an older boy gave her out of sympathy, since she didn't get as much as the big kids.

Aiden and Anna Claire :)

After the parade, Anna Claire was very excited to go inside the Courthouse and use the potty. Equally exciting was riding in Miss Krista's car (Krista gave us a ride so we didn't have to walk all the way back to the bank. Thanks Krista!). She also really enjoyed eating at Subway in Erin afterward and seeing all of the people wearing green like her while we were there. :)

What a great day! We even enjoyed getting sprinkled on when it rained for a few minutes!

Sort of unrelated, here's a pic from her St. Patrick's Day party earlier in the week, taken by Amelia's mommy. Love all of these babies!

 

Avery's Princess Coloring Birthday Party!

All of the girl's loved the coloring stations set up at the party. At this station they got to make their own little tote bags with fabric markers. So fun!

Ice cream!

Mmmm!

Lyla and Anna Claire!

Can you fit that big bite in your mouth, sweetie?

Avery is my kind of girl. Frosting is the best!

Pink frosting!

I love Kendall's hand on her hip in this pic. So cute.

Lyla and Anna Claire decorating their tote bags.

Amelia making hers.

Amy running to see Avery open her gifts!

Time for presents! All the friends were there to help.

Avery opening her presents.

The girls loved playing with the Easter grass that came in one gift.

Birthday girl :)

Sweet friends. And fast. Not easy to get more than one girl in pic.

Avery loved her Ariel doll. She wanted to open it right away!

One clever station was black butcher paper and chalk. Fun!

There were princess coloring sheets at the tables for the girls too!

The back wall of the room was mirrored, which naturally caught the attention of this girl.

Coloring pencil station. I see a coloring pencil purchase in our future. Anna Claire loved them!

Back to the totes! They loved this so much!

Amy hugging Avery goodbye.

AC going in for a kiss. :)

Decorating "Car" with stickers from the party.

Funnies

I took Anna Claire's gummies, after asking her several times nicely to hand them to me, that she had had enough. She said, "You Swiper!" Swiper is the fox on Dora that takes things. I looked at Larry in disbelief, "Did she just call me Swiper?" She cracks me up!!
--
Anna Claire pointed to Joy, my long-time friend, who was standing on her deck (they live in the house directly behind us). She said, "I see lady, Mommy. What lady doing?"

I said, "Honey, that's not 'lady.' That's Joy Beth."

I immediately picked up the phone and called Joy, telling her we needed to all get together. "My child thinks you're 'lady.'" I said.

--
Larry and I met our friends at a Mexican restaurant for dinner, and took Anna Claire along with us. About an hour after being there, I heard a little voice singing to the melody of Where is Thumbkin, "Bored bored bored bored? Bored bored bored bored? Bored bored bored! Bored Bored Bored! Bored bored bored bored bored bored? Bored bored bored bored bored bored! Bored Bored Bored. Bored Bored Bored!" I did not expect hear this at age 2 1/2. Cracks me up daily, this girl.

--
As I was putting AC down for her nap, she did something silly so I told her she was "a mess." She was quick to shoot back, "I'm a hot mess!" Now I'm listening to her via baby monitor tell her friends (stuffed animals) they "look lovely today" and singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider to them. It is truly a joy to be a mommy of a toddler.

Kylan's Birthday Party

Kylan's birthday party was today, Anna Claire's first "boy" birthday party. It's been a big topic of conversation around our household since we received the invite several weeks ago. "Kylan birthday comin'!"

We knew the party would be at Kids n Play, but have never been, so I got online and checked out. Then I described it to Anna Claire. I remembered seeing a slide, so she clung on to that idea: "I go down slide with Kylan!"

Then after we got his birthday present (Mega Pack of Play Dough), Anna Claire had been imagining that they would play with it together: "I play Play Dough with Kylan at the birthday! We can make a caterpillar! (insert hand clap) It will be blue and red! (another hand clap)" I am pretty sure this is not the ideal gift a parent would want to receive, but I knew Kylan liked it because I've watched him enjoy it many times when I see him at pick up.

Well, we did not go down the slide, nor did we play Play Dough. We did have fun. Here are some pics from the party:

Anna Claire and Amelia:: "I have pink bracelet too!"

Holding hands, but you can't tell from this angle. So sweet!

Amy's here!

"I can hammer this!"

These balloons entertained Anna Claire for a good 10 minutes at least.

You can't tell from this picture, but there were more than 20 balloons that had floated up to the ceiling.
That's what she's looking at here.

Still looking at them...

Still...

Birthday boy, Kylan and Miss Krista!

Kylan: "Camera lady, would you please get your camera out of my face?"

Pizza time!

This was actually the second "blow to the head." I asked Amy to do it again so I could get a picture.

Amelia and her mommy! I really like this one.

Back to the balloons. :)

Happy girls!

chocolate ice cream!

Kylan had a Cars birthday theme

blowing out his candles

opening presents!

Kylan hugs Amelia goodbye. So sweet!

Anna Claire gave Kylan a kiss on the cheek here, but Mommy wasn't fast enough to catch it.