Ice Storm

Just a few photos of Thea during the recent Ice Storm!

Play time with the animals

Thea loves Meg and Lucy (cats) and Sadie and Kylie (Dogs). She gives them soooooo much love it is almost too cute to watch! But they enjoy it too. Here is a photo of a cat toy they made at "school" and Thea using it with Lucy!

And don't forget the tea party with Sadie. Who do you think is having more fun??

Thanksgiving 2008

Here are a few photos from our Thanksgiving trip to New York and New Jersey to visit Jen and Chris. We made potica (pronounced "Pah teets za") and is a family tradition we tackled for the first time. Thea enjoyed helping out but spreading out raisins and graham cracker crumbs.

Part of the tradition is pretending to "puke" when we do the filling (Thea knows she wasn't born into a normal family). I like her expression when her uncle Chris pretends to do this.

We had a blast in NJ and went into the city to see the window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and the tree in Rockerfeller plaza (which wasn't lit yet). She enjoed the subway ride and followed my every move. Here is a photo of her crossing her legs like her mommy.

What was Thea for Halloween

This year we had two costumes planned out. One was cookie monster which a doctor at my office had for his kids. It was a 2T size but Thea seems a little too tall for it. The other was a homemade dinosaur costume another coworker gave us to use since Thea loves pretending she is a Dinosaur. Thea didn't want to go into either of them so she ended up being a pumpkin toting, big bird carrying dinosaur head. Well, at least we got to go for a nice family walk with the dogs and meet some neighbors!!

Apple picking 2008

Another fall means another weekend of apple picking! We got four large bags worth (about $50 bucks in apples) which I canned apple sauce, apple butter and made a few apple pies with! Thea had a great time and enjoyed herself more than last year. Might have been because she had about 4 different apples going at one time. What can we say, the girl loves apples! I also included a picture from last year. Pretty similar pose but boy what a difference a year makes

2 going on 12

Every morning while we eat breakfast I multi task and put on my eye liner and mascera while eating. Thea watches this and some times says "Mommy's make up". Well, the other day my make up was on the table and I was getting her breakfast ready. Thea was busy trying to pick up the cat (key word: "trying"). Next thing I know, Thea is behind me saying "Here you go Mommy" and handing me the eye liner and cap in seperate hands. I look at her and notice a pretty decent attempt at putting on make up. Too funny not to share with you and a note to myself to put the make up elsewhere now.

Video time!

Another video for your viewing pleasure.

I was able to capture her doing her "thinking face" for those who haven't seen it. She is also soft spoken (unlike her parents) so it is hard to hear but she is counting to 10 (except for "9") and sort of does the ABC's.

Our first tent camping trip

This weekend we all went camping in a tent! We've all gone camping before at "camp" but that isn't roughing it like sleeping on the ground, in a 2 person tent, with 2 adults, a 2 year who sleeps sideways and two 50 pound dogs! We had a nice time but Kim wasn't feeling all that well (no--not pregnant-more allergies/asthma) so we took it easy. Mother nature was pretty good to us but we ended up only staying one night to avoid the downpour. We played in the lake, cooked our food outdoors on our new Coleman grill (which is awesome) and play with 5 other couples who also went to Peaks Kenny State Park. Here are a few photos from this weekend.

New York City for Labor Day

For Labor Day, we went to visit Jen and Chris and had a wonderful weekend. They took us to Liberty Park in New Jersey where we flew kites, had a picnic and could see the Statue of Liberty. Thea rode a "choo choo train" which we adults refer to as "The Subway". We went and walked in Central Park and went to the Zoo there so Thea could feed goats and see all the animals she reads about in books. We also had yellow watermelon. We thought it was a regular watermelon but when we cut into it --it was, well, yellow. Tasted the same so that was a relief.

Thea takes over

Cute little video. Enjoy

Yard work

Remember a few posts back where Thea and Chris were planting their seeds for the garden. Well, we have had such good luck this year. We picked some Spinach and made a wonderful salad with fresh raspberries we picked on a farm and made a yummy homemade dressing.

We have a bunch of green beans coming in as well as peas. Most of the peas Thea just picks right there and eats them. We have garlic coming in, onions, several different kinds of peppers, eggplants (about 4) and 8 tomato plants with several green ones coming in and lots of flowers to them. Fun that everything was from seeds this year!!!

The next photo is one of Thea's favorite things to do--ride the lawn mower with Chris. Good thing they did it last night--we just got done with one incredible down pour.

The "Claw"

For those who haven't seen or heard about it Grampie Quint does "The Claw" to Thea when he sees her. She loves it and melts into his hand. She's not afraid of it, yet, and has him do it again and again, which Grampie Quint happily oblidges.

She has now started doing her own version of it as you will see in this video. Keep in mind that she is two and gets distracted easily by simple things such as a camera case, which you will see. Enjoy.

A pinch here....a dash there

Thea helped Daddy cook dinner tonight. She was all set with her apron and chef hat and is such a natural she didn't even need a recipe card. Just a pinch of bread here and a dash of rice krispies there and she was cooking! Daddy filled in the rest with pasta, tofu and sauce but I know couldn't have done it without his side kick to help out.

My 2nd birthday party!

I had a wonderful time at my birthday party. Thanks to all my friends and family who came to wish me well. I certainly missed those of you who couldn't come but I understand because of the distance and graduation parties, etc. Mommy made me a wonderful cake that looked like a beach and water!!! Here are a few pictures of my big day!

New Look for Vacationland Dreaming

So what do you think of the new look? I thought it was time to freshen up the ole' family blog. I have also added a few links to those favorite places of mine on the web.

Enjoy

Thea is taking swimming lessons every Saturday and she is loving them. In this picture it looks like Dad isn't so sure about the swimming instructor.

How is Thea sleeping lately?

Does this explain it? An empty toddler bed and Thea sound asleep on the floor. It's been 5 weeks and that's the best we can do. We have since opted to move her mattress on the floor but still find her asleep on the real floor next to it. Next step, decide if we should put up the crib again or continue to wait it out. As you remember, the reason for the toddler bed was her falling out of the crib.

Green thumbs

This is the year our garden is going to grow!! And Thea seems to have the perfect green thumb to help. Here is a photo of her and Daddy planting seeds about 14 days ago and now look at them!!! These are tomatos so look for updates on a blog near you.....

Next Big step

Well, Thea is asleep as I write this. Why is that a big deal you ask? Because she is sleeping in her new toddler bed! She was with us as we took down her crib and she was fine with that. She was also with us as we put together her new bed and went to it with ease. Bedtime was a different story. It took her a little work to get her into bed...to stay there...etc. We took turns staying with her, rubbing her back, etc until she went to sleep. So far, so good. We will see what happens throughout the night.

What goes up.....

......Must come down which is what Thea found out first hand as she went up and over the crib railing the other day. Chris was in our room and I was downstairs and we heard a loud "THUD" followed by crying.

Both of us made it to her room in record time and found her on the floor a little scared and confused but luckily okay! After lots and lots of TLC she was fine and shortly there after I was online looking into toddler beds. Haven't had any episodes since then so either she learned the hard way or we hear the moment her eyelids open so she doesn't have the opportunity to try again.

No photo to go along with this blog but we will definately have some from Easter weekend to post for everyone.

Walking is tough

Here is a quick blog entry to show you how Thea did on a recent walk. Chris and I went on a walk in the neighborhood with Sadie and Kylie. Thea did well marching down the sidewalk but then was getting tired (as indicated by her wobbly pattern). So Chris put her on his shoulders, which she loves, and then halfway down the street she fell asleep! Chris could hear her snoring in his ear. We then got home (total walk time was only about 15 minutes) and took her out of her snowsuit (which is the other photo).

I get it now......

I remember seeing those shirts that says "Caution: I'm two" on little kids and giving a small chuckle. Sure, I baby sat little kids way back when and I have friends who have two year olds as well as my niece was two once. But I actually "GET" what that shirt is all about. "Terrible two's" was something that I thought wouldn't affect Thea because she is well known for her good behavior. Need to sleep somewhere? Not a problem. Food? Not a problem. Bathtime? Not a problem. That WAS Thea. Now I know what you are thinking....."she isn't even 2 yet." Well then she is advanced for her age. Or eager to get this stage over with. Or something.

We heard it can come early and it has. She is still cute and all but very into wanting things her way. And wants them her way now. And then when she gets what she thought she wanted, it's wrong and she doesn't want it anymore. I want to take her to a mind reader but I already know what they will hear: "I know I asked for Juice and you got me juice but it's wrong and I want something else. Keep guessing. Wrong. Wrong. Right.....no wait, wrong".

Hard to believe it, right? I mean, just look at her.......awwww, what a sweetie.

Happy New Year 2008

Looking back at 2007--I had a pretty busy year. Trying solid foods, switching to regular milk, drinking from a sippy cup, crawling, walking, running, talking, and so on and so on. That's all right up there with the Red Sox's winning the World Series if you ask me.


We all had a nice double Christmas. First, in Colorado with Mommy's family and then at home with Daddy's family. I got a bunch of great toys, clothes, books, and had fun with both families. I even met some new people too (that's right Carey Ella, I'm talking about you). Grandpa and Grandma Quint had a HUGE toy chest made for me and it even had my name on it!



We are "delayed" (fancy word for "late") on sending out our holiday cards. Mommy and Daddy had made some for Christmas and while they looked great, I vetoed them because they made me look like I was incredibly overdue for a nap. So I had Mommy and Daddy re-do them and now they are going to be New Years Cards.

Hope you have a great start to 2008. My New Years resolution is to become a better piano player.