UNO

Liesl has been working dilligently on getting potty trained. And why not? She gets all kinds of treats for "being good on the potty". Yesterday we celebrated a whole day of being dry. She had a very good day. Mostly she plays with her animals on a little table in the bathroom. Yesterday she worked on puzzles all day. Last night before bed when she needed to go we played about 7 games of UNO which she won all of the games (and no I didnt just let her win). She is really good at it and likes to play. I have a Whinnie the Pooh version of it for her. She is really rocking out the trainer pants and panties. Sometimes wearing 2 trainers and 2 panties stacked on top of each other. Hoping that she keeps up all of the hard work. She has been dry every night as well in either a trainer or diaper.

She has also been sleeping very well in her toddler bed. She loves to go and sleep there and drag her chosen stuffed animal of the night to snuggle with. For the most part she has not been found without this round plump soft sheep that she calls Lammie in there. She has recently acquired a T-Rex called Rexie and a fuzzie little bear that Daddy is calling her Courdoroy Bear. She sleeps in there all night on her own like a big girl. When she wakes, she sings Mom-ma over and over until I come. ifk I do not wake up she will crawl up and turn on the light in her room and leave, closing the door and then come into our room and close the door climbing up with us to snuggle until her "POST TEST" has completed. Sorry a little computer humor we use.

Dennis brought her some books again this weekend. Courdoroy Bear, Where the Sidewalk ends and one other I cannot remember that was too old for her as of yet. She is loving Courdoroy Bear and read almost all of the poems in Where the Sidewalk ends. She really liked the cadence of the poems. We have been reading nonstop lately for her.

This past weekend Oma Gabi and I took Liesl to see the dinosaurs at the Detroit Science Museum. They have an amazing exhibit with anamatronic dinosaurs showing proof that many dinosaurs has feathers. Very super interesting. She watched both the IMAX and most of the planetaruim shows both on dinosaurs cuddling her Rexie the whole time. She really enjoyed all the fun dinosaur facts that she learned there. She is fascinated with how dinosaurs become the fossilized bones that we see today and tells everyone that they fell in the mud and became bones. That evening we BBQ'd with Aunt Gloria who gave her this cute little hawaiian outfit that she has been parading in ever since. We then watched the 2nd Pirates of the Carribean movie to get ready for this Friday. We plan on going to see the new 4th movie at the drive in at "the Dome". Sunday we had all of "the Halsalls" and Ota over for BBQ rescheduled Mother's day dinner. We have been having a great time with our new grill I got on Mother's day. I think we have almost gone through a whole tank of gas with it.

With all of the vacation I took in the past couple weeks I have gotten a lot of gardening done and I am really ready to to for the spring planting. I have some veggies indoors waiting to be planted. Jim put in an edible cherry on the side of the house to replace my cherry that blew down this winter/spring and I have a peach that I am hoping to put in soon too. All of the flower beds are ready for more flowers and I had daffodils and grape hyacinths come in. I am also getting my bearded irisis budding now and the lilacs have bloomed. I am so excited about getting my lavender in the garden I have been working on too. Just wish it would warm up enough to do it and even mow the lawn again!

Playing Catch up

Dee, there is no shame in getting busy and not being able to blog regularly but I am sure that the updates will flow a lot more freely for you. Hopefully I will be in the same situation that you are in now soon too! NOT WORKING! I have been off alot in the last week because mom and dad are on a bike trip in New Orleans. having a great time. Basically, sitting for Ota and Liesl. One of them teases the other incessantly... you can guess which one which makes the sitting more difficult. Other times he is a great "Mother's Helper" which allows me to get some housework and gardening done.

Which reminds me, Liesl is starting to get interested in our garden prepping. I have been cleaning out the beds out back for my "Salsa Garden" and the flower beds on the side of the house with her help. She loves to be shown all of the different "creatures" as she calls them when I come across them while digging out the overgrown grass and weeds. We found a hibernating toad, worms, a grub and some spiders in there. She doesn't want to touch them of course but she loves to look at them when I announce them. She has her own Dora Gardening Gloves, shovel and rake (pink of course). I am hoping to get more done this Friday when I am watching the 2 of them again. Last week I bought a chainsaw to remove the tree that had fallen between the houses and shocked daddy.... I don't know why that would shock him. It was fun to be able to take care of that myself. I am hoping that it gets moved to the back (by his big strong hands) this weekend. I have aspirations of getting the front yard weeded and edged too this week since I have few plans through Tuesday. We shall see.

Easter was great. Thanks to uncle Dennis for the special Easter treasure chest, gold doubloons, booty and special riddle story that I would LOVE to make into a book. You put some serious work into that mister. Thank you also to the Perrys and especially the Perry kids for sharing Easter with us and our 93 egg hunt. It was a blast! Cant believe the eggs all got found so fast! Also thank you to the Easter bunny and helpers for all their hard work hiding all of those eggs and coloring them for the kids to find! Thank you to Oma Ronnie and Opa Peter for the fabulous Easter dress that Liesl wore (pictures will come soon) Like I said this is catch up time here.

I have been able to get a lot of organizing in Liesl's room done in the past week too which was my 2nd project on the "list". I put up a shelving unit for her to organize her endless supply of plastic animals. Melisa and I were talking yesterday about how great her pretend play is. She really does play by herself well and make up stories with all of her animals. They talk to each other and act out great screenplays in the back seat or living room. I have moved a lot of her toys into her room including her desk and I am looking to put in shelves in the closets of her room to hide her toys. Got rid of all the "baby" toys and boxed them up too. Thanks mom for going on vacation!

Liesl has been sleeping strait through the night in her own bed for some months now. We are so proud of her but miss her so much cuddling next to. She loves having her own room and her own space to sleep in. Next to go through is the hard core potty training which she has actually been more than half way to most of the time. When she is at home she will ask to go to the potty 50% or more of the time which is good but when she is on the road it is much harder for her to focus on it. Potty treats really have been encouraging for her.

Last week, Thursday we visited the U of M Museum of Natural History with Ota and Daddy. Liesl loved the Dinosaurs as usual and wanted to take pictures with every one of them. She really knows what all of their names are too and can branch similarities with them and modern day "creatures". She has quite an extensive Dino collection now too which is super cool for her to be into "boy stuff". We finished off the day with a dinner at the Blue Tractor which has killer burgers which Liesl really seems to be into as well. Driving home was not the greatest though. I was sooo tired and Ota was teasing her a little and she hadn't had a nap either so was babbling and yelling and at one point had to tell the two of them that I needed 5 minutes of quiet or I was going to pull the car over.

Monday, we visited Kiki and Sydney (Sydney is a little younger than Liesl). The two of them had an awesome time at camp. We went for a flower hike and took a lot of pictures and stream jumped. it is so funny watching the two of them because they look so much alike and sound identical and have the same weird sayings that I cannot come up with right now. They played alot with babydolls, and horses (which Liesl is also way into) and Barbies. What a great day that was. Been too long since we all got together.

Tuesday, Aunt Melisa and Liesl and I went to the zoo via the Science Center... apparently the Science Ctr is not open on Tuesdays. Who knew. Guess we will try the Science Ctr Friday Maybe so we can see their new Dinosaur exhibit. The zoo was great. Liesl wanted to run the whole thing though. We got her some frog figurines which she has been playing with. She says the frogs are Hoppy... we thought she said Happy and she corrected us. Think she had a little joke there without knowing it. Thanks for all of the fun for the past 2 months. pictures hopefully to come soon!

Oh yes! and dinner on Easter was great Melisa and Scott. Thank you so much for your hopitality

Adorable kid things

I forgot one adorable thing the toddlers were doing before we drove to go to get pictures taken. Liesl would hug Gavin in a big bear hug and then look at him and say " Gavin, do you love me?" and he would nod his head up an down and then she would give him a big bear hug again. I wish that I had gotten it on video. They had some very nice play time. I love it when they get together. Something new always seems to come out of the play. I just wish that Liesl would get a nap in before they play together just once but it never seems to work out that way so sorry to Gavin for some of the mood swings she may have. 

Easter Pictures with the Perry Kids

I think I love doing Easter pictures the best with the kids. It has been a year since we have gotten them done together. i am so glad that the Perrys planned the outing and found that wonderful place in Macomb Mall with the live bunnies and duckies! The kids all behaved so well and they had a Romper Room for them to play in while waiting for the pictures to be taken or printed. There were lots of kitchen toys there to play with and also a flat-screen on the wall to watch movies on (Toy Story 3). We had a little lunch before going from the new Rochester Mexi -Resturaunt and then some more Tacos while waiting for the pictures to be developed. That was super great being able to take the pictures home with us. I have prints for anyone who might want some and many more poses than I am going to post here. PLUS, we have a disc we can print them from. Let me know what you would like and don't be shy.

Aunt Gloria is going to take some pictures of Liesl in my wedding dress sometime soon. We are planning on taking the same picture every year for her scrapbook. I am excited. I went through a trial run with her but my camera is really screwed up. Hope to get a new one soon. Maybe by the end of the month? I am hoping. Looking forward to our photo shoot Aunt Gloria!

Liesl is really into wearing a "beautiful dress" every day she asks to dress up. So she has been wearing all of her dresses lately. I love to play with her long hair and braid it and run my fingers through it. She is really excited about wearing her flower girl dress and crown in Amber's wedding in August. I remember Amber so well when she was Liesl's age. She was such a fun little kid.

She has been having a lot of fun with all of her little plastic toys. I have gotten her more mommas and babies of her animals and have been looking for more dinosaurs but not finding any. Today I found a sale on the Schleigh toys and bought a bunch of them really cheap to add to her collection. She is going to have to earn them though my "doing her chores". She has not been napping still during the day except when I have her and a few scattered times (which I am grateful for). I am not blaming anyone for not accomplishing the nap. It is not your fault Omas don't worry about that. I know it is not for lack of trying. She can be an awful stubborn little girl. A couple weeks ago we were looking after Ota while mom and dad were on vacation. Liesl enjoyed being home with me and Ota for those 5 days in a row. She has been asking to talk to me more during the day and getting very stubborn and upset and asking for me and wanting to go home. It passes quickly though and she is patient enough to wait for me to pick her up. She has been a lot easier to pick up in the evenings because she is looking forward to going home to spend time with momma and daddy. She does have an awesome time with the Omas. I am not taking away from that. thank you for all of your hard work all day Omas.

Thank you also for all of your support with the passing of Liesl's Uncle Allan. It has been a hard couple weeks for us and we really appreciate all that all of you have done for us. I have been trying to get out thank you notes but have not had much time for it yet. I have not forgotten though. I hope you all understand.

Looking forward to Spring! I hope these pictures help it along

Love, Momma

Adventurous Little Girl

Liesl has been doing some adventurous things lately. She has really gotten into the dinosaurs since she visited the U of M Natural History Museum and the dino bones there. She also really loves elephants (which makes her love the Whooly Mammoths too) those were her favorite. She has some dino figurines she loves to play with and makes up stories with them too. Last week she visited cranbrook and the dinosaurs there and the farm center (her personal favorite). Cranbrook has a hands on exhibit that she really enjoyed to be a paleontologist and unearth dino bones. Kind of like the exhibit in Animal Kingdom but smaller.

This past weekend, Liesl and I went to Frankenmuth with the Omas, Opa, Ota and Grandad and stayed the night in the Bavarian Inn. Because she was such an angel she got some new dinosaurs to play with on the trip and a baby whooly mammoth (Schleigh toys). She had a wonderful time eating chicken dinner with her grandparents. Frankenmuth has a bunch of pools to play in and a lazy river and kiddie pool that were pretty awesome. She was really brave and was walking around (not holding momma's hand) up to her chin in the water. It was a little cold in the evening in the pool so she wanted to go into the "hot dog" with Oma to warm up. She liked floating around in her new turtle tube and playing with Grandad the alligator. She has not stopped talking about the lazy river and her alligator family and names us all off and says we were alligators. She also got to go on a few rides there in the arcade and the German play Village which was super fun. She went down a huge slide by herself there and amazed her Oma Gabi. She also loved making and handing out Valentines to her Omas that day too. We will have to go back and stay again another day. What a fun weekend.

She is still really into pirates and since Valentines day there has been a new show on the Disney Channel called "jake and the neverland pirates" that I can bribe her successfully every time with. Momma is loving it. She is very much of her own mind and very stubborn. I often have a hard time getting her out the door because no matter how much I warn her that we will be on our way soon she still pitches a fit. She really enjoys staying in with momma and playing with her figurines and dressing up in "beautiful dresses".

Winter Wonderland

I have not seen snow like this since I was living in the UP. Well it was much deeper up there. Down here it hasn't been this deep since I was little. I remember digging caverns and igloos and tunnels in the snow and having huge block snowball fights with our friends. Liesl enjoyed the snow very much this weekend in Pentwater with Mimi and Aunt Ann and Momma and Daddy. We made a gianormous "Noman" with a carrot nose and coal for eyes, daddy's scarf and Yooper hat and momma's pretty red mittens on stick arms. She had fun sledding down the hill and driveway and rolling and falling through the huge snow piles. The snow is even deeper there on the lake. We are so glad that we got the chance to visit with Mimi and Aunt Ann while Mimi was in town. Liesl even got a cake and candles this weekend from Aunt Ann for her 2 1/2 birthday. She gave both of them home made cards this weekend which they really enjoyed. She has really charmed them. They were "watching her like TV" all weekend.

It was a wonderful change from last weekend/week while we were all deathly ill with the stomach flu lying near dead face down on the carpet. So glad that is all over. So glad that Wednesday night some guy with a 4 wheeler with a ploy came by and asked to plow our driveway. I dont think it has looked so good in months! Too bad we missed the snow fest that we planned on going to with Oma and Opa Fritz and Oma and Grandad Halsall but we are planning on going this weekend for Valentines day again. It should be a blast and maybe some of the sculptures will be intact. We are looking forward to the fun pools/waterslides/waterfalls that they have in the hotel and the huge German village play structure that they have in there for Liesl to play in. Especially looking forward to Chicken! Too bad I will have to leave early Monday to go to work a late shift.

A couple of weeks ago Ota, Liesl and Oma Gabi and I went to the U of M Natural History Museum to visit the Dinosaur bones there. Liesl loved taking the tour and getting to touch all of the bones and get a more hands on view on everything. She really enjoyed the Mammoths and those are her favorites. We ended the day with the gift shop. She got some dinosaur play figures and some dinosaur books there. Then we went to the Blue Tractor for some comfort food. Good thing we bought the figures and books for her to play with. She really enjoyed the day. Thanks Mom!

Right before Liesl got sick on Friday Mom and I took her to the Warren pool to play in the lazy river because it is a "free day". We got an inner-tube and floated around, went in the main pool to play ball and in the play structure with the waterfall and mini water slides. Liesl really enjoyed herself and has been talking about the lazy river and the waterfall ever since. I even got a chance to ride down the water slide a few times. It was really fun because it was pitch black in there. The day before we had planned on going to the Children's museum in Detroit but mission was aborted because she fell asleep about a minute from the museum so we went back home, visited McDonald's and then she woke up just in time for the library. Momma checked out our new Shelby library and checked out a few books there which she really enjoyed. Too bad she desperately needed a diaper change and we had to leave.

Scott's Birthday last month was fun. We went to the Rathskeller for dinner and then back to the "new Halsall's house" afterward for dessert/games. Had a great time playing games with the Sheys and Fritzes. We were sad to have to leave early for bedtime. Liesl really enjoyed the restaurant. Maybe she was in such a good mood because of her beautiful dress she was wearing. That usually does the trick.

I haven't been able to take many pictures lately because our camera has been damaged. There is a little light getting into our pictures and it isnt really worth taking them with that camera. Waiting to get a little money together to get a the new Sony model. I am pretty excited about it but hoping it will be sooner rather than later. 

Wonderful New Year

It's been a long time since I blogged. Christmas was wonderful, New Years was wonderful. We had a great cozy Christmas Eve Party. Thank you to everyone who brought Liesl gifts and shared their holiday with us. The food and company was truly magical. I am so serious about that. I used my Oma's 60 yr old  electric roaster to cook the turkey. It's not any fun without the threat of fire! it was...again... it tasted magical. You would think that Liesl would have been beat from the day but she stayed up until midnight! Thank god I got her down for a nap before anyone got there. She was very well for being up like a little zombie for so long but her schedule was severely thrown off by all of the holidays and we have just finally got her on track for sleeping. She got some really cool puzzles, beginner beads, books, DVDs, clothes, figurines, dress up magnet dolls, barbies and Kens and laptops  and too much more to even try and remember. Just know that she loves ALL of her new things and appreciates them. When she gave you all a kiss and hug and thanked you for them she REALLY meant it. Thank you for all of your support and love this season! I need to start putting some of her other things away and or cycling them through usage.

We were surprised when Oma Gabi's surprise party came along what Liesl did not give us up to Oma. because she is such a chatty little one. The party went without a hitch. Oma was teary eyed she loved it so much. We were not so lucky with the nap time that day and we ended up leaving a little early to take Liesl home to go to sleep. I did manage to go back and play some cards with the Omas until 3 AM. Liesl ended up sleeping in until noon I think it was the next day. that was just craziness.

I wish that I could have had more time than just one day off for the holidays (Christmas eve) but I guess that is my lot. It will be changing soon. We are planning on getting me out soon. Gonna be a prison break! I will be so happy to be able to stay home with my little girl and do arts and crafts and nature time. I dont see her enough with my work schedule and her weird sleep schedule.

Liesl has been sleeping in her own bed all night. She doesn't wanna crash in our bed anymore. Becoming more independent every day. She still calls me into her bed 3 times a night though. Thank god I am small enough and that little bed is strong enough to support me. Although my back is not appreciating it. That bed is a little more firm than I am used to. I am not getting much sleep either. I was joking with Daddy that my sleeping habits are becoming more and more extreme!

Liesl has quite the imagination. She tells us stories all of the time that she makes up. She does a LOT of playing with her dolls and figurines and a lot of roleplay. One night she was telling us that we were all going to the Dinosaur farm to go ride the dinosaurs and she told us that we would all have different size dinos and what color and size they would be. They would all be our favorite colors and she let us know what they all were. Ota has a little purple dino BTW and L:iesl has a big pink one. And dont think you were left out of this excursion. EVERYONE was included.

She has figured out how to call people on my phone. I handed it to her while I went to the bathroom one night before bed and she called her Oma Ronnie on purpose and started up a conversation. Oma and Opa were quite happy about that. Liesl was quite proud of herself.

Looking forward to uncle Scotty's birthday tomorrow! Liesl has been practicing singing to him. It will be fun going to the Dakota Inn