Installing drainage for new gutters

A couple of weeks ago we had new gutters installed around the house. (The old ones were damaged in the big storm that hit our house last May.) Daddy wanted to ensure the water runoff was going into the field next to our house. So he added some tubing and dug a drainage ditch for the tubing. Obviously, this was a two-person job. Here I am hard at work digging the ditch.

Looking at new homes

Since we’re going to be moving soon, Mommy wanted to go look at some new homes in the “Parade of Homes” this weekend. In some of the houses, we needed to put on these funny blue booties first so we wouldn’t get the floors and carpets all dirty.

In this one I practiced my “let’s scare Mommy” drop back off Daddy’s shoulders. Guess what? It worked! Mommy was scared. (But I had fun!)

Afterwards we went by Mr. Steve’s home to drop a few items off. He’s the one who has a doggie named Piper. Piper really likes me, as you can see from the big kiss she gave me.  I'm really giggling!

Mommy's new shirt

Mommy had bought some new shirts today. Most of them were for our upcoming trip to Florida, but this one is for the Fall. It’s almost my size.

We've been having fun with Mommy

It has been almost two weeks since Mommy got home, and we've been having a fun time.  Mommy's been pretty busy during the day trying to get ready for our move, so most days I do go into school for a little while, but I still get a lot of play time with her and Daddy. 

The first weekend she was back, Mommy, Daddy and I just spent the whole weekend together (mostly at home since it has been so hot outside).  We read, and played, and danced around silly, and just had a great time being together again. 

On Wednesday the 18th Mommy and I had a really special day.  First we went to one of my favorite places, the froggie bouncy-bounce place (Jump!Zone) and played until I wore myself out.  I told Mommy I was ready to go home, but strangely as soon as she mentioned that there's an ice cream place just a little further down the building, I didn't want to go home anymore.  So we both had a little treat.  I got mint ice cream with M&Ms, and I ate it all!  Mommy got cake batter ice cream with oreos, and she ate it all too!  I am definitely Mommy's daughter when it comes to ice cream.  Then we went shopping for some new clothes for me.  After we got home, I was so tired I took a nice long nap with Mommy.  It was great!

On Saturday the 21st Mommy and I went to the Omniplex.  I got to show her how much of a big girl I've become while she was away.  I think I scared Mommy a few times (like going down the super big turny slide), but I was having fun!

On Monday the 23rd it was Mr. Duaine's birthday, so Mommy and I made dessert. I told Mommy we should put in lots of chocolate chips, but Mommy said the recipe didn't call for chocolate chips (it was apple caramel squares).  I said that I should try some anyway to make sure they were still good for next time.  Then we took Mr. Duaine out for dinner (to Texas Roadhouse, so of course I ate a lot of rolls, but I also found out I like peanuts!) and then came back to our house for dessert.  So I got to sing Happy Birthday nice and loud for him.  We had a fun time and Mr. Duaine really enjoyed himself.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the weather finally gave us some relief from the 100+ degree temperatures, cooling down to the 80's, so I finally got to go out and ride my bike again!  Mommy and Daddy walked behind me, but they didn't realize I'd become so fast.  They had to run a little to keep up!  I did enjoy taunting them with "Nanna nanna boo boo, you can't catch me!"  Of course then Daddy or Mommy would try to catch me, and I'd ride as fast as I could.  They'd catch up to me and I'd giggle!

Throughout this time I've been helping Mommy a lot in the kitchen, making dinner (and some desserts), and just learning as much as I can.  Daddy sure likes getting to eat the food too!

I've also become very affectionate since Mommy came home.  Many times a day I will go up to Mommy or Daddy and say "I have to tell you a word ..... I love you!"  And I also come up at random times to them and say "I just have to give you a hug".  They think it's very cute.  Of course, I have also started using these as "delaying" tactics when they want me to brush my teeth or get ready for bed or something - "But first, I just need to give you a hug!"  It's still pretty cute though.

Mommy's home! And she doesn't have to go back!

I've been saying it for a while now - when Mommy comes home, she won't have to go back to Indiana (or Wisconsin, or anywhere else).  And today she came home!  Daddy picked her up at the airport and brought her to see me at school.  I was so excited to see her at the door that I dropped whatever I was doing and ran over to give her a big hug. 

Since Daddy and I went there on Saturday, every time we've passed Rusty's Frozen Custard, I've pointed it out, and mentioned how we "shake, shake, shake them upside down and it doesn't come out!"  Mommy has never been there, but we knew she'd like it, so we decided to go.  Especially since it's on the way home!  I showed her all about how to hold the custard upside down.

Since it was still pretty early, we decided to head over to the library.  I gave Mommy and Daddy a puppet show too.  Are you ready?

After the library we headed on home.  We told Mommy that we had a surprise for her, and I had to lead her into the kitchen with her eyes closed.  It was tricky, but we made it.  When she opened her eyes, she got to see all the decorations and flowers we got for her.  She really liked them! 

Daddy and I also got her some "welcome home" cards.  I picked mine out all by myself.  I thought it was funny because it had a big owl on it.  I told Mommy that my card says "HOOT!" and she said "HOOT!" too!

What is really special about this card is that I wrote my name "almost" all by myself.  Daddy didn't touch the pen at all, but he did have to remind me how to make the E and the R.  But I did all the writing!  That's the first time I've written my name without Daddy or Mommy helping to move the pen.  They're very proud of me!

Mommy had a surprise for me too - some more Dora movies!  I thought this was pretty great (and Daddy is certainly ready for some new ones!)

Daddy and I are so glad Mommy's home, and most importantly, that she doesn't have to go back.  Mommy and I are going to have a great time the next couple of weeks as she gets some time off work.  I can't wait!

Mommy's coming home tomorrow!

Mommy's coming home tomorrow, so Daddy and I needed to get ready.  We went to the store and bought flowers, balloons and cards.  I think she'll like them!

I tried my hardest to blow up some balloons by myself, but I just couldn't do it yet.  So I had a little help from Daddy.

When we got them all blown up, I helped Daddy decide where to put them.  This took a while since I really just wanted to play with them!

I hope Mommy likes our decorations!

Daddy made me dizzy!

Today as Daddy was getting ready for work, I was following him around.  He kept forgetting things and turning around to go get them.  So I kept turning around and following him!  After a few times of this, I said to him, quite seriously, "Daddy, I'm getting dizzy of you walking all over the place!"  He thought that was pretty funny.

I also have taken to saying that large trucks with "dually" rear tires have "chubby cheeks".  When you see them from behind, it sure does look that way!

Omniplex

Daddy asked me what I wanted to do today, and I told him I'd like to go to the Omniplex.  Sounded good to him, so we did!  I had a great time there, as always.  But the most amazing part was that I went down the firepole in the little firehouse all by myself!  Daddy didn't even have to ask if I wanted to, I just ran up the stairs, grabbed the pole, wrapped my feet around it and slid down.  No hesitation!

Great day with Daddy

(Daddy thinks so too.)

I woke Daddy up this morning at 6:45.  This didn't bug him very much because that meant we would have time to fly up to Ponca City for their monthly breakfast.  And it was yummy - I had pancakes and bacon, and ate the whole plate.  We got to see some neat airplanes too, and I wanted to stand in front of them all and have Daddy take my picture!

We got back around noon, but since we had just eaten at about 9:30, we weren't hungry for lunch yet.  But we were hungry for "Rusty's Frozen Custard"!  Another coupon had come in the mail this week and Daddy said he'd take me again.  I reminded him that he should get strawberry mized in with his, since that's what he got last time.  This was over 3 months ago, so he was surprised I remembered!  They say you can hold them upside down and won't spill any, so of course we had to try it.

I really liked the chocolate chips in mine.  And I even let Daddy help some!

After the frozen custard we went home and started to do a puzzle.  We were both pretty tired, and I ended up falling asleep on the couch, and he went and took a nap on the big bed!  About 3:30 I woke up and then we played around for a little while before we were both hungry again.  We ate dinner at our "chips and beans" place and then went to pet store!  I'vve been saying I want to be a veternarian when I grow up, because I love doggies and kitties.  At the pet store I got to pet a few doggies and got a few licks too!  We then walked around some other stores and chased each other around outside a bit.  I think Daddy was trying to wear me out from my late nap, and it sure worked.  I was tired and went right to sleep after my shower tonight.  I got to spend the whole day with Daddy and had a great time!  And so did he.

No more sippy cups!

While I was at Grandma and Papa's house, I only used a sippy cup a couple of times.  I'm a big girl now and don't need sippy cups anymore!  Daddy lets me pick out my own cup at meals, and what one do I go for now?  The biggest one, of course!

I was off in my room playing, and when Daddy came in to see what I was up to, he saw I was ready for anything with my boots and backpack!

Vacation in Owasso!

The past 10 days I've stayed with Grandma and Papa while Daddy was up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for work.  We had a great time!  He took me up there on Saturday, July 24th and didn't pick me up until Tuesday, August 3rd.  Grandma, Papa, and I did all kinds of fun things.

I did get to help assemble some chairs.

And point out the proper instructions to follow!

I really enjoyed playing doctor.  First I checked Papa out.

Then it was Grandma's turn.

I had to make sure Shadow was healthy too (I later told Daddy I want to be a doggie doctor when I grow up)!

Grandma and Papa even let me eat pizza and popcorn on the floor while watching a Strawberry Shortcake movie.  Fun!

I liked having Grandma help me do my hair.

And then we helped Shadow do hers!

We also got to go to the neighborhood pool a few times, a local water park, and "Incredible Pizza" which has lots of fun games like bowling.  What a great time!