WA....part 4, Monday

Yes, I'm a slacker....but I'm getting it done.

First up, we've got Bug at her breakfast spot of choice for the week. She loved watching the squirrels on the tree outside the window.

Here she is inside a HUGE tree. It was raining and she was NOT happy.

As we got near this bridge, Bug squealed and yelled "a suspension bridge!!" She's got a video about different kinds of bridges, so was thrilled to see this.

Here she is, with the Skagit River flowing behind her. She was amazed that the water was GREEN.

When we got across the bridge, Bug found a great trail, so we took a little walk.

The trees are REALLY BIG.

This was great fun. More importantly, there was a slug on the ground just outside it. (yes, I took a pic, but you don't have to see it)


Next up, Tuesday's adventures.

WA...part 3, Easter!

Bug was up bright and early, ready to find some eggs.

After we helped her find one or two, she figured it out. She had a great time.

Bug read a story to Aunt Kate. It was riveting.On the way to the airport, to drop off Aunt Kate, Bug wore her new bunny sunglasses. Stylish, aren't they?

I was most excited to spot a Half-Price Books store. Of course, Bug managed to find some worker rabbits in there....and had a lovely chat.
This was one interesting bunny. Very nice and colorful.

Next up...part 4, Monday.

WA.....part 2, Saturday

On Saturday, we drove down to see Mount St. Helens. Bug was SO excited. She couldn't wait to see a volcano...."for real". It was a long drive, so we had to stop for breakfast. Once Bug spotted pancakes on the menu, nothing else existed. I took this shot for her dad, since she was licking butter off of her pancake. I told her that that would make him proud. (only joking a little bit)

We visited two different buildings with exhibits. We all found this stone quite interesting. I can't remember what it was called, of course.

Here she is, with the VOLCANO in the background. She's holding a doll in her hands that I had just finished knitting & stuffing as we pulled into the lot. She is now called "Helen". (side note: Helen liked WA so much, that she hid in the bed...she's now in the mail, heading back to us. We only had one nearly-sleepless night over it)
The one and only photo of me from the trip (unless one of my sisters got some).
Can you feel the excitement?
This was.....odd. A robot tour guide. Her eyes are closed in this shot. They'd open and she'd talk, move a bit...look around. Bug couldn't get enough. I had to take a pic to get her to leave.

Up next, part 3...Easter!

Our trip to Washington (state, not D.C.)...part 1

Bug & I traveled on the train to WA. My oldest sister was having a big birthday, so we decided to make a visit. Another one of my sisters joined us for the ride. Bug had a grand time on the train. Here she is with the best car attendant, EVER, Dani. We loved her.

Of course, Bug can't go long without drawing. She drew "the worst bad guy in the world" for Dani.

We stretched our legs in Minot ND and Shelby MT. The sun in Minot was a bit much for Bug, it seems.
Here's Bug with her favorite aunt. (sorry, the rest of you)

One of the first things Bug did upon arrival was decorate a tree with eggs. Well, a branch, anyways.

She also "helped" Uncle Craig kill dandelions.

Since we'd been on the train for a day and a half, and because it was warm and sunny, we took Bug to a playground to burn off some energy.

There was a nice path to walk around at the playground. Bug really enjoyed it.

Finally, what's a birthday without CAKE?! Lovely expression I caught, don't you think?

Part 2, coming soon...............

She's such a silly girl.

This was Bug's outfit the other day. We had a few errands to run downtown. She's trying to be fierce in the first pic.

Here she is at the shop where her daddy works. See, she's not ALWAYS smiling.

Yes, the hair is gone.

She was making "signs" on the door. There are large, white magnets that she put the magnetic letters onto. She then wanted me to read them to her.

Several new photos.

Bug & I had a lovely time out in the yard a couple of days ago. She dressed herself...see the snaps on the back? Oh well. She tried.

The artist at work. She prefers pen and paper.

Ooh...an EGG! It was crushed shortly after taking this photo.

She LOVES the mini-trampoline.

Great joy this week...Bug learned how to hop on one foot! It happened while waiting in line at the grocery store.


We got the sandbox out again. This made Bug very happy.

(the day before)St. Patrick's Day

Bug's dad has been sitting in with a local band for a little while. They played here the night before St. Patrick's Day. Bug enjoyed it VERY much.

Here's a shot of the whole band. Bug's daddy is all the way to the right, with the guitar.

Here are a few shots of Bug.

Finally, what's a St. Patrick's Day celebration without a nice, cold bottle of.....ROOT BEER?!

Some art.

The girl is still drawing every day. Here are a couple of our current favorites: a steam shovel and a skeleton.

She's a super geek....

Bug's dad found that nifty item at the Salvation Army. We found that it only stays on her head if she wears that thick, extremely long hat. That first evening, they took a walk around the block in the dark, so that she could light the way with her head.

Bug has discovered the joys of Looney Tunes. Somehow, we hadn't gotten around to sharing too much of the old cartoons with her. One of her dad's customers loaned him the DVD collection, so she's been watching. She's got a favorite episode...she was laughing SO hard watching it...then she remembered the "back" button and watched it again. We stood back and watched her. We may have to videotape this. We've not seen her laugh quite like that before.

Bug & I watched an old Batman movie the other day. SOooo cheesy. She now goes around saying "holy horshoes". What a nut. She's decided she needs to take that DVD with us when we go to WA in April. She's sure that Uncle Craig would enjoy watching it with her.

Speaking of Uncle Craig...we'll be seeing him and Aunt Mary in April. We're hopping on the train again. Bug is so excited. She wants to see REAL VOLCANOES. There will be photos...lots of photos.

A new story by Bug

Once again, Bug got out her Pocket Ref book and "read" me a story. Like all others in that book, it's "by Mercer Mayer".


Rocket by Mercer Mayer

One day a dog wanted to go up into space for REAL and he asked his papa if he could go into space.
And there's a wolf by their house that letted the little dog go up into space for REAL to see all the planets because he thought it looked interesting to look up into space.
And then there was a rocket by their house because a wolf lifted a huge rocket.
That wolf was a coyote.
Now it's time to experiment rockets for REAL.
(looking at pages of numbers in book) These numbers are for experimenting rockets.

Books, books and more books!

Just before Christmas we finished reading The Wizard of Oz. In early January we got the DVD from the library and watched it. Bug LOVES the story. Our next chapter book was The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. Bug was drawing a lot of swans during that. We just finished it last night, so we had to pick a new book today. We're going for something lighter/sillier. We've just finished the first chapter of Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. Since "Ramona" is 4, like Bug, she thinks it's pretty cool.

Besides the chapter books, we've been reading lots of books about volcanoes, caves and bats. We're especially hitting the volcano books, because Bug will be seeing a REAL VOLCANO in April. The two of us are taking the train to visit my oldest sister for her birthday. While there, we'll be seeing Mount St. Helens. Bug can hardly wait.

Bug's current favorite video is Pinnochio 3000 (aka P3K). It's a computer-generated cartoon. Instead of a wooden puppet, Pinnochio starts out as a robot. It's really well done and we all love it.

Last Friday, the three of us went out of town to hear/see Garnet Rogers perform. We had a great time. Bug's first comment, when we walked in and she saw him getting his gear set up on stage was "is that what he looks like?" He laughed. He mentioned that later (after telling the audience her name) and said "she's just another in a long line of women that I've disappointed." The next night he was playing in the town where Bug's daddy works. He was visiting the guitar shop and was talking to one of the salesmen. He told him that he'd met a great little kid the night before and that had he been guaranteed one like her, that maybe he and his wife would have had kids. Wow.
Bug drew a picture for him and I took a couple of photos of them together. I hope that they turn out. In one, he's helping her hold a very small 12-string guitar.

Post-Christmas update

We're mostly recovered from the holidays. Bug got to see a lot of cousins and aunts & uncles on Christmas Eve at Aunt Peggy & Uncle Bryan's house. They ONLY had a 14' tree this year. Sadly, Bug had a sore knee and wasn't able to run around and play. She did a lot of drawing and crying. By the time we got home and gave her some medicine we realized we had to make a trip to urgent care. We didn't get back home until 10PM or so. Bug got her first xrays. She even drew them on her magna doodle. She saw them and said "oh no, I broke my patella!" We assured her that it was fine. They couldn't find anything wrong. By morning she was fine. It flared up again on Tuesday night. We're thinking it's growing pains. Bug's dad had them really bad when he was little.
Because of the crazy night, we got a late start for Milwaukee on Christmas morning. Uncle Scott & Aunt Tammy were there, along with Grandma Margie & Auntie Sharon. Uncle Larry & Cousin Emily came to visit before bedtime. Such fun. Oh, and Santa remembered to stop there. He left a remote controlled triceratops!
Bug opted to spend time with Grandma while we went to Half Price Books to use up our gift certificates. Always a fun time.
We got together with two other couples and their kids on Thursday night. Great beef stew and lots of fun.
By Saturday morning, we were all ready to be home. We stopped and visited Aunt Susan, Aunt Ella & Cousin Larry before leaving town. We stopped for Chinese food for lunch and then stopped for frozen custard for dessert.
Bug went knitting with me on Sunday, so her daddy could practice for the gig on Saturday.
Today we woke to a bit of snow, so after lunch I'm going to take her out to play in it. Her daddy is at band practice.