Weekend on the Farm

Last weekend we went to see Nana and Papa on the ranch. We got to see Emmy, Auntie B, Cousing Syd and Cousin Sam as well. Lauren had lots of fun visiting the cousins and playing outside.

Lauren mastering the stairs to the fort. She really is a master climber!

Simon the cat enjoying some attention. Biscuit had to go away when Simon came out because otherwise she'd chase him away which made Cousin Sam upset. Even though Simon is fat, he's fast! Biscuit never got to him.

While down there, we weren't sure if we'd see the kids for their birthdays....and with the move enevitable....I didn't want their packages to get accidentally packed! Sam got a bear and a deer to go with his Hunter Dan from Christmas.

Sydney saw Hunter Dan at Christmas and asked for a Hunter Ann. Auntie E listens! She got that and Hank, the labrador sidekick.


Lauren playing some peek-a-boo. She is an excellent peek-a-booer!

She doesn't say Peek-a-Boo together....she says "Peek" one minute multiple times and then "Boo" the other times.

Driving Papa's riding lawnmower.....it's currently broken but worked well enough for her.

She even tried shifting!

At the top of the slide. She become extremely confident on the ladder and fort.

Sydney helping Cousin Lauren down the slide. She wanted to do doubles, but Lauren didn't wait!

Cousin Syd on the slide.

Ohhhhh! Cousin Syd left her bag of Littest Petshops laying around.....wonder what Lauren can find!!

While we were down there, Nana had bought some antiques from a lady who was moving into a nursing facility. There was a little bit of everything, including this doile that was not salvagable and become Lauren favorite thing!

Cousin Sam took this picture of his Cousin Lauren being silly.

Now for a "CHEESE" contest!

Lauren's best cheesy grin.

Sam's cheesy grin!

Lauren and Sam hamming it up!

Sydney's cheesy grin!

I think Sam won the cheesy award since he managed to be in most of the "cheesy" pictures! It was fun and probably one of the last trips to the Point before we move. It's a little wild to think that it's just around the corner!

The BIG slide

Lauren and I had some time to kill on Monday while the people that are in the process of buying our house measured the windows. It was so nice, we headed down to the park (gosh I'm gonna miss that park!). She had decided to take a brief nap, so we walked the loop first. Then she woke up just in time for the play equipment.

Here she is showing off her mastery of stairs.

Tah Dah! At the top of the BIG slide....it's not that tall....plus it was a little wet so it was REALLY slow!

Ready....

Set.....

Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Once it was a little drier, she got to the point where she knew if she threw herself onto the slide, she'd go faster! Smarty pants!

So a quick park story: There were 2 twin boys that showed up who were 22 months. Lauren loved them. They were rough and tumble boys.....no frills. All 3 of them would take turns going down the slides and knock into each other. Or climb up the slide and knock the others down like bowling pins. Or better yet, try to race each other up the stairs. She was laughing hysterically. Another family showed up with 2 girls. Lauren tried to befriend one of them and she was giving the "Don't touch me!" vibe. Well, I knew it was getting close to lunch and the people were done at the house. So we strapped back into the jogger and headed out. Just as we do that, one of the twins started playing with the little girl as if she were Lauren. Her screams could be heard across the park. Poor thing. Guess she's not as tough as our TOM BOY!!!!

Gardening

Lauren decided to go out to Grandma and Grandpa's on Sunday and help them in their garden. Grandpa had tilled the raised beds and started adding new loam. Grandma broke out some gardening tools she'd bought Lauren last year. They are a little big still, but she got the hang of them! They even matched her vest....my little fashionista! Too bad she'd rather play with tools and dirt than dolls and bows!

There was even a mini wheelbarrow. Good form!

She picked up some sticks and pinecones in her wheelbarrow....then dumped them in Grandpa's yard. I think she cleaned most of them up!

It looked great as a hat too!

Now we need to clean up! She liked the mud puddle Grandpa left after this! Thank goodness we took extra clothes.

Catching up

Last Wednesday we met Daddy at Skamania and attended his company's annual meeting dinner. It was also a retirement party for the man that Jake is replacing in Washington. Mommy got roped in to taking pictures. Lauren went 100 MPH at the beginning, crashed in the stroller for a quick nap during dinner and woke up wanting to go another 100 MPH. Everyone commented on how good Lauren was....they didn't realize that she was removed from the room multiple times by Daddy.

Pre-party in her Lodge Wear. She was very excited and not willing to calm down. There were so many things to "play" with in the room!

This was after the dinner, after the retirement party.....pushing 10 p.m. A big yawn and squeal from Miss Lauren! Definitely time for bed! Needless to say, she crashed. And slept for mom all the way home the following morning!


This is a random picture from the next day of Miss Flexible after we got home. This absolutely grossed me out, but she's 18m now....I guess that's what they are suppose to do.

Egg Hunting Season!

On Saturday, the families gathered at our house for Lauren's first Easter Egg Hunt at Pioneer Park. There were a lot of kids, despite the bad weather. Most all of them were in their raincoats and rubber boots.

Here's Lauren, relaxing in the stroller, getting ready for the hunt!


"There's nothing in my bucket yet!!!"

Daddy and Lauren with the rest of the family waiting for the "go" whistle! Aunt Emmy and Sam were in the same age group.

Ready.....Set.......

GO! "Hey Lauren, there's one right here!" Lauren wasn't interested. She just wanted to chase after the kids!

She found one! And after she found the one egg....that's all she needed! She'd put it in her bucket, take it out, show it to everyone, put it back and REPEAT!

"Hi Mommy, see my egg...it matches my jacket!"

Still packing around her egg!

Here Sam is hunting for the "Special" egg. It was a plastic one that you could exchange for a prize basket. And imagine that....VIOLA........

Sam found the egg and won the prize!

Sydney got her turn a few minutes later!

She found a lot of eggs....no plastic eggs...but it was a warm up for the next day at the Elks Club!


Once we got home it was time to eat and get in our dressy clothes! This is the only pick of Lauren in her dress that was even decent. She was a pill and needed a nap.....Badly! Nana made the girls dresses. Mommy had made a dress but it's way to big and will fit next year!

Here's the cousins in their party gear! Too cute.

Overall, I think Lauren had a good time. It was a good day for mommy and daddy too....we have an offer pending on our house! Sooooo...as long as everything goes well, this was probably the last family gathering in Browntucky! We'll keep you posted.......