Hooray for snowballs!

Back in June we took Alex to a new park. It was a feat of bad parenting. Anyway, afterward we attempted to go to the cute snowball stand on Harford. It so happens that the snowball stand shares a parking lot with not only a Chinese food restaurant but also an ice cream stand. Well we thought the ice cream stand was the snowball stand and ended up with ice cream.

It was hot. We were hot. Maybe our brains were fried.

Well not to be deterred we went for another snowball run to the same stand. Alex had no idea what a tasty and wonderful treat lay in store. We figured she'd love it. I mean, who wouldn't love crushed ice with liquid flavored sugar on it?

Sunglasses on and properly dressed a family trip for snowballs was upon us. We even made it to the actual snowball stand we wanted the first time. Alex got the smallest snowball possible. It was '101 Dalmatians' or in english - vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup flavored. They even put the chocolate in dots on the top.

Man did she love it.

We let her take a few bites on her own then we fed her the rest. By the end Jason had eaten more of it then she had but she was a sticky, gooey, happy mess.

In other words, the entire thing was a big hit. And we like big hits that are cheap, even if they're also seasonal.

Oohh summer, is there nothing about you that isn't magical?

Confession

OK I have a confession to make. I have no idea what I'm doing with the pictures on this here blog here. I can't seem to get them to load in the order I want them to and I can't figure out how to caption them. Admittedly if I'd waste less time watching Veronica Mars and work on figuring this out and updating websites we'd be good. But alas must feed the stupid tv show addiction. Besides I really do like to shut off the noggin at some point in the day.

I hope you forgive me and figure out which pictures go where. Meh one day I'll be all tech savvy. You'll see.

Fireworks!

Isn't it funny how as we get older fireworks lose their luster. Maybe it's just me. Perhaps I'm just jaded and tend to have a 'been there done that' mentality. The last time I recall truly enjoying the wondrous explosions we went to see the BSO and fireworks thing at Oregon Ridge. But that was a few years ago. Sure it was awesome but why GO to fireworks when you live in a blue collar neighborhood and your neighbors are more then willing to risk blowing up themselves and their houses to put on a display?

Enter the mini one. Last year we didn't subject her to the neighborhood display so much. This year we debated taking her somewhere but decided she'd be too young to fully appreciate it. Besides neither Jason or I are much on crowds. So we hung out at home and took a walk around the neighborhood, Alex in her wagon, Jason pulling and I armed with the camera.

And not just any camera our snazzy new camera that has a fireworks setting and a lens cover that opens all the way and no scratch on the lens and the ability to focus on stuff. Yeah that camera. We didn't get many shots of fireworks. It not being a proper show it was difficult to time when the camera should be up but none of that mattered to the mini-moo.

She thinks that fireworks (or gwireworks as she says it) are made of absolute awesome. That is if you aren't too close when someone sets one off. Our neighbor Dave had a few he set off and he's very close to us. The noise was too much for Alex. Yet the light show itself holds such wonder that every time she gets into her wagon now she looks up, points and insists that we should see fireworks. Likewise she believes that claps of thunder must be fireworks, until we correct her. But the wonder of thunderstorms themselves is a different issue all together.

Anyway, we apparently misjudged what our daughters reaction would be to fireworks. Perhaps we should have braved the traffic and crowds and exhausted child but there's something to be said for being able to watch fireworks in your pj's from your front walk. Maybe next year, as Alex swells with anticipation and our love of fireworks is again re-ignited, we'll venture out to a proper show. But for now this will do just fine.

BUBBLES!!!

Alex got introduced to bubbles quite some time ago. As the months have worn on she's gotten better and better at actually making bubbles. for awhile bubbles involved Jason and I blowing them in her direction or her just sticking the wand in her face. But now. Now she can make bubbles. Nothing brings her (and therefore us) more joy. What's even better is that the new camera can even capture the bubbles as they float away.

It's really is interesting to us how many simple joys fill our hearts with wonder and happiness simply because we now see them through the eyes of our daughter.

Hello Pinecones

Alex is going through this fun stage where she says hi and bye to everything whether it's living or not and whether it is likely to respond or not. On a related note she periodically has an obsession with pine cones. This obsession lends itself to her collecting said carriers or evergreen DNA and throwing them into her pool.

After a suitable amount has been collected she then climbs into said pool and throws them back out. This can go on for hours or minutes. Either way Alex loves the brown conifers. It's super cute to watch and it's harmless so we let her do it at will.

I can't help to think how much more exciting it will be when we paint pinecones for Christmas ornaments.

Swelling with pride and joy

Don't worry I'll get off of my hind quarters soon and do a bunch of July posts. But this had to be bragged about.

1-Wednesday night Alex asked to use the potty while I was going potty. And you know what? It was successful! Maybe we'll get rid of diapers soon after all.

2-We've been working with Alex on 'please' and 'thank you' and on occasion she'll remember please without provocation. But last night she said thank you without provocation when I handed her a banana. I was so proud.

3-Months and months ago, though Jason doesn't remember, Alex would apparently say 'I love you' to him or Mrs Jesi. I was not remotely secretive about my jealousy at that time that I didn't get to hear it. Or maybe I did hear it, I had been told, but didn't understand as it was a series of sounds that kind of sounded like the phrase. Well last night as I was putting her into bed and saying all of the bedtime things she said it. She said "Love you Mommy" !!!! And this morning she said it again, then expressed her love to daddy and the dog.

Yep, being a mom you find joy in what most take for granted. And it's fantastic. Have a great day!