October is Awesome!

Our week started out with a trip to the beach. Mom, Magnum (Jax), and I had a great time playing together in the sand, and I finally discovered the hours of fun that can be had with a bucket and shovel .

Life at home continued as normal, and I kept myself busy with the toys in the yard. I did a lot of grocery shopping this week to stock up my playhouse,

and spent a lot of time playing in the newest addition to Playtown, the water table!

I like to splash around in the water and play with the boats, but BOY does it makes a big, wet mess!

This week Mom let me feed myself some yogurt. She says that it is time I learn to use utensils all by myself since I am such a big girl.

I could see the disgust in her eyes, and on her face, as she cringed at the big mess I was making, but I was proud of her for letting me eat without interruption.

The weather in California has been beautiful and warm as usual, and this week felt hotter than ever. To cool me off Mom let me have my very first Popsicle. I didn't like the first bite, but after a few licks discovered that it tasted rather yummy.

Jax was fascinated with my Popsicle, and after a lot of begging I gave him a lick.

Letting Jackson lick my Popsicle was even more rewarding than eating it. Mom cleaned off Jackson's germs and let me eat some more. Unfortunately I learned the hard way about this thing called "brain freeze", and was not very happy.

I don't jump at the chance to eat Popsicle's anymore...

When the weekend came the family went to the Pumpkin Patch to get some pumpkins for Halloween. Mom and Dad were more excited than I was...

I was overwhelmed with everything and couldn't believe the size of the pumpkins.

The cool thing was that I got to stand next to a scarecrow and see how big I had gotten. As you can see I showed EVERYONE there that I was "so BIG"!

Mom says that we will go back there every year and we can watch how I grow from year to year. (Speaking of growing, we took Jax to the vet and I stepped on the scale and weighed 19 whole lbs)

There were all sorts of things to do at the pumpkin patch. I got to ride a tractor,

see some farm animals (which I love),

walk through some Indian tee pees,

and play the drums with my Dad.

We had such a fun time playing, and afterwards I even got to ring the triangle. Since I LOVE to hit, the triangle turned out to be my favorite thing at the pumpkin patch.

After I was pried away from the hitting toy I got to pick out my pumpkin. I went straight for the big one, but found that I couldn't pick it up....

Mom took me over to the smaller pumpkins, and

after minutes of contemplation I found the perfect pumpkin.

We filled our wagon with pumpkins and went home to carve them. Mom showed me how to scrape out the inside and pull out the pumpkin guts.

It didn't take me long to get the hang of it, and I quickly became an old pro.

That night we lit all of our pumpkins in the front yard for the neighbors to see and admire.

The following week my friend Logan and I started swim class. Jenny and Logan came by our house to pick us up and I showed them my bathing suit. Mom laughed as I posed for the camera.

Once we got to the pool my excitement faded. In the water all the other kids liked singing songs and splashing around, but I thought the water was cold, and found the class to be boring.

Mom said that I was a drama queen, and that I was the ONLY kid out of the 30 that was chattering their teeth and shivering in the water (the pool was ONLY 88 degrees). After she saw me smile and wave at one of the Daddies sitting on the side of the pool, she called my bluff and knew that I was faking it to get attention. Unfortunately we go to swim a couple days a week, so I will have to work on some more sympathy moves.

As the weekend approached Mom loaded the house with Halloween paraphernalia. This witches hat was one of my favorite items.

On Saturday Grandma Judy came up to spend some time with me. We spent the day playing together and had lots of fun laughing at one another over dinner.

As you can tell, Grandma and I get along very well!

Grandma tuckered me out and I fell asleep promptly at 9pm. While I slept peacefully in my bed Dad waited in line at Best Buy to purchase Guitar Hero World Tour. At 12am he was the first in the door and the first to exit with the game. He set it up in the garage and apparently played until 5am. When I woke up he was passed out from his long night. I spent the morning with Mom and Grandma Judy, but wasn't feeling to well. Grandma noticed that something was wrong with me when she could barely squeeze out any laughter. When Dad woke up he let me play a couple of sets with him, but I wasn't feeling up to the challenge and only lasted through one song.

That afternoon I took a turn for the worst and came down with the flu. I had a really high fever and felt very weak. I was very glad to have my Grandma Judy there to hold me and comfort me through the day.

For the rest of the weekend I was sick and fairly miserable (although Mom says I behaved very well for a sick baby.) The family stayed indoors and worked on getting me healthy. By Monday afternoon my fever and gone down a bit and Grandma Judy took me down to the beach to get some fresh air. It was nice to be out of the house, but I was still feeling a little weak.

We walked up and down the shore until my little legs got tired.


I am very lucky to have a family that nursed me back to health so steadfastly. By Monday evening I was feeling rejuvenated and even managed to get some laughs out in the bathtub.




Halloween in only a few days away, and now that I am back to normal I am ready for some fun- I need to make up for the sick days I took this weekend!!!

Fun Around the House

Life at home has been lots of fun since Mom turned the front yard into Playtown! I am having so much fun- I have a playhouse, a jungle gym with a slide, and a car!

Mom's fantasy is that she will turn the front yard into its own community. She wants to add a restaurant, a laundromat, a school, etc. Each weekend she finds more pieces, and I can't wait to see what's she gets next.

The latest addition to Playtown is the tunnel and mat which Mom refers to as my "gym". We go there to work on my climbing, jumping, and somersaults- which I love!

I am learning a lot by watching the people around me, and I love to mimic their actions. Now that I have a car I like to pretend I am Mommy when she's driving...

Although I love my front play yard, I still enjoy going out on the town! Last weekend Mom and Dad took me to a new park down the street, there were so many fun things to play with. I really enjoy the monkey bars, and as you can see showed off my upper body strength by doing some pull ups...

Here I go...

Almost there...

I sure make this look easy, don't I!!!

Feeling confident after my arm workout, I went on the swings and let Mom push me really high!

At the park Dad and I went down the slide together, and enjoyed some Father-Daughter time.

In the last couple of weeks I have really begun to enjoy reading books. Every night before bed I choose a story for Mom and Dad to read to me. My attention span doesn't allow them to get past the first couple of pages before I choose a new book, but I love the idea of reading and can't wait to do it on my own. Right now I just point at the pictures and say words- Mom says I must have a good memory because I can name a LOT of things in my books!

When I want to read during the day, I don't hesitate to let mom know. I run over to her with a book and say, in a DEMANDING voice, READ! (It's not a "Read me a book, please", its a "read me a book now")

Aside from reading, my newest obsession is with SHOES- boy, are they great! I like to put on Mom and Dad's shoes and walk thorough the house.

Another thing I really enjoy doing is play dress-up. I like to put on a tutu and some jewelry and walk around the house saying "pretty."

Jax also likes it when I play dress up. I have a wand that I like to use to chase him around and 'bop' him (Mom thinks its funny because I say "bop" every time I hit him)

Towards the end of the week my friend Bella and I went to the Long Beach Aquarium. It was awesome- not only were there fish to look at, but we were able to run around and touch everything!

I was so excited that I kept shrieking "fishy, fishy" over and over!

At the shark tank a big mean shark came right up to me, and I wasn't scared at all. Actually, I laughed at him!

Outside of the aquarium we got to play in the stingray pond. I was a little nervous to touch anything, but Bella was having so much fun that I decided to give it a try.

I was a little hesitant reaching into the water for the first time,

but soon enough I was having so much fun splashing around that mom had to pry me out of the water.

Bella and I had an incredible time playing together at the aquarium, and before we went home she gave me a big hug!

Later that day Mom and I went to visit Daddy at work and dressed up in special outfits just for him!

Dad was very excited when he saw us, and even came home a little early to rock out with me on the guitar (gee-taur)!

Before the end of the night I was pointing to my shirt and yelling "Eddie, Eddie." The Maiden fans reading this blog would definitely be proud!

Speaking of proud, Aunt Hayley called and told us she was having a midterm in her poultry class and needed some encouragement-I knew just what to do. I got on the phone and yelled "Bawk, bawk" (my chicken noise) over and over. Apparently I gave Aunt Hayley the help she needed to pass her test with flying colors. Here is a video I made especially for her...

I am really excited for the next couple of weeks. October is Mom's favorite time of year (even though the Yankees ruined her post-season baseball experience), and we have been getting ready for Halloween. This weekend we will be carving pumpkins and decorating the house, so check in next week to hear about all of the fun!

Home Again

It didn't take long for me to settle in back home.

Although I missed my family in Wisconsin, I was happy to be back with Jax and 4th in familiar territory.

Mom and I kept busy cleaning up the house and restocking the cabinets. Although we made a LOT of trips to the grocery store, I had fun riding in the cart car!!!

We were home for less than 3 days, and had finally got our affairs in order, when Mom announced that we would be going down to see the family in San Diego. I was excited to see everyone, especially Great Grandma Jean since I hadn't seen her in almost 2 months. When we got down to Pa's house I was greeted by Pa's family and they were all very excited to see me. I told everyone about my amazing trip to Wisconsin and showed them pictures of all the fun I had. I told my Uncle Randy that I was disappointed that I was unable to go on a tractor ride while in Wisconsin, and he told me that I could come over to his house in the morning and go for a ride on his. I could barely wait till morning.

When I woke up Mom let me run around Pa's house, and I was glad to have the space to roam. I took some rides on my giraffe, whom I missed terribly while I was away.

I enjoyed my time on the giraffe only briefly when I was reminded of what lay beyond the front door- the horses. I pounded on Pa's front door yelling "Neigh, Neigh" until finally Pa took me out to see them.

I got to sit high on his shoulders so that I could get a good luck at all my buddies.

After breakfast I was eager to get to Uncle Randy's house, so Mom packed up the car and we were on our way. Once I made my rounds and said Hello to everyone, Uncle Randy sat with me on the tractor and gave me a lesson, teaching where all the parts were.

I was such a good student that he let me try it out on my own!

I even got to help Uncle Randy drive around Grandma Jean!

Soon, it was my turn, and Grandma Jean helped me into the trailer.

Priss wasn't too excited that I would be sitting with her...

Riding the tractor was great, everyone got to come along for the ride; Grandma Jean, Priss, and Debbie.

We had tons of fun going around the yard. Mom says the tour Randy gave was way better than the $50 one at Disneyland.

After the ride was over I got to play in the swimming pool.

I became bored rather quickly and decided I'd had enough. It was time to escape...

As you can see it didn't go too well- I took a tumble and ended up in the dirt.

Grandma Jean helped heal my ego after the fall, and she watched as I tried to clean the dirt off my feet.

After a full day off playing around I went back to Pa's to clean up for dinner at my Uncle Peter's. I don't really like the bathtub at Pa's house, so Mom let me take a bath in the sink. I don't know why everyone was laughing at me...

I think they were jealous because they can't fit!

When we got to my Uncle Peter's house that evening I got to see lots of Grandma Schafer's family. Uncle Peter even gave me a signed McCain and Palin picture, which Mom hung in our house (I wave at them every time I walk by). I enjoyed seeing my Great Grandma Jensen at dinner. We sat together and caught up on the last couple of months.

I also got to meet my Aunt Cindy who is visiting from Florida! She was lots of fun, and we ran around playing all night.

We went back to Pa's that night, and in the morning packed up the car and went down to Grandma Schafer's house to spend a day at the beach!

Grandma and I had lots of fun together, and I got to prance around with a flower in my hair like the big girls!

Grandma helped me venture into the water and showed me all the shells underneath in the sand.

After a while I was playing in the water all by myself!

Grandma taught me how to make a drip castle, and although it was messy and got my hands dirty (I HATE it when my hands are dirty) I had fun.

After playing at the beach, Mom and Grandma cleaned me up for the Chargers Game. I got to tailgate in the parking lot with my Pa! We had a good time eating, and he even read me a story.

Inside the stadium Dad and I stopped to stare at our hero Brett Favre on the field. It was the first time I got to see him in person, and he didn't' disappoint.

I met a friend of Mommies who sits behind us, and he helped keep me interested in the game.

My favorite thing about the Charger's games is sitting with my Pa.

It sure was fun hanging out at the game and seeing Brett Favre play (although he didn't play too well.) After the game we drove back home to relax. All week Mom and I played around the house, went to the beach, and took care of things we had neglected while traveling around the last month.

By the weekend we were ready for some fun and drove out to Pasadena to spend some time with Aunt Kristin and Uncle Stu!

While Dad and Stu did "man stuff" (drinking and golfing) Mom, Kristin, and I did some "girl stuff" (shopping and eating). The day was filled with lots of fun, and for dinner we went to this AMAZING restaurant inside a barn. Can you believe that we got to eat food with our hands and throw things on the floor!!!

On Sunday I played in the yard while Dad watched some football and Mom did some sewing. Mom says that this coming month is going to be rather dull compared to the last one, but come one, life with me is never dull...