Archive for the ‘Outdoors’ Category
Little Orphan Flora and Fly Boy Charley
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009Monday
Monday, April 27th, 2009
Mondays are “Mommy and Fu” days (well, Chi too, but Flora usually forgets to mention him), and we spent the bulk of the day playing outside in the sandbox, climbing on the climber, and taking our lunch al fresco. Charley didn’t mind snacking on a sand appetizer. And Flora managed to get pretend pie all over her face (above).
Backyard Fun
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
It has been in the 80′s (!) here, and Flora and Charley have been having a great time playing outside now that spring is finally here. Flora’s favorite thing to do is ride her bike along the driveway where we’ve chalked big roadways, bridges, stop lights, street signs, and places to visit like the coffee shop and zoo. Charley’s favorite thing to do is to get into everything he’s not supposed to. Victoria, our neighbor, came over to play this weekend, and the girls had a great time making “pies” and “oatmeal” with the sand and playing on the climber. And Charley held his own and kept pace with the two big girls.
Wash My Ride
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
After Flora washed her trike, she learned how to pedal in the driveway, and was tickled pink at her new accomplishment. She is very into being a BIG girl, and doing everything “by myshelf!”
Walk Around The Block
Monday, July 28th, 2008
To give Charley some peace and quiet while he napped, and to burn off some extra energy before it rained, Flora and I went for an exploratory walk around the block. We collected rocks, pine cones, sticks, and weed wacker strings. Along the way Flora spotted a yard full of clovers, and took a whiff.
Pine Street Playground
Friday, June 13th, 2008
Flora and I try to keep busy on our “Mommy and Fu” days — the Mondays and Fridays we are home together. Our pals Dawn and Henry are always up for some fun, and today we met them at the Pine Street Playground. Henry spent most of his time on the swings, Flora spent most of hers on the climber and slide, and Dawn and I snuck in moments here and there to chat. Unfortunately, the toddlers never pose long enough together to snap a photo of the two of them. Dawn and Henry are on call for when I go into labor, and Flora is hoping to score another sleep over!
Up Your Nose With A Garden Hose
Sunday, June 1st, 2008
Planting A Garden (and 28 Months Old)
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Dad and I filled up the raised garden beds he made last year with soil, compost, and vermiculite … then planted some seedlings of tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, and strawberries. I’ll let you know how the fruits of our labors taste if the animals don’t get at them first! By the way, I turned 28 months old on Wednesday. Mom said she is going to stop counting at 30 — too much math for her Mommy brain!
UPDATE: I got to eat a couple ripe, red strawberries, but the squirrels or bunnies have stolen the rest!
Spring Has Sprung
Saturday, May 10th, 2008
Flora explores part of the yard where some tulips and ferns have sprouted. But nothing can compare to the dirt and mulch — Flora likes to sprinkle it over rocks, on flowers, and just about everywhere else!
“Caterpillar Soft!”
Monday, February 18th, 2008
Leave it to me to pick the one 60 degree day in winter to commit to working. Sigh. But Marty was off from work today, and we did manage to get outside after nap for a walk around the block and some nature exploration. Flora collected pine cones and discovered that a caterpillar is soft … and tickles.
Breakheart Reservation Pearce Lake
Sunday, August 12th, 2007
I’ve been to Breakheart Reservation plenty of times for walking, but Mom and Dad finally took me there to swim in Pearce Lake. As I’ve grown an intense aversion to cold water, I protested as soon as we approached the beach. But with a little coaxing, I soon discovered that the water was warm, the sand was squishy, and it was a lot of fun! I especially liked watching the ducks and geese swim in the shallows and waddle along the shore. And of course staying true to being a toddler, I then protested getting out. In case you had any doubts, it is still my way or the highway.
James’ House
Friday, July 13th, 2007
Now that I am all better, I met my guy pals, James and Henry, at James’ new house in North Reading this morning for a fun-filled play date. We got to eat lots of snacks, play in the sandbox and water table, climb up the big climber and slide back down, and play pretend house.
Whip Hill Park
Saturday, June 30th, 2007
Mom, Dad, and I went for an easy hike through Whip Hill Park — just a few blocks from our house — in Stoneham this afternoon. Well, easy for me because I got to ride on Dad’s back the whole time! It was fun to take a break for a snack when Mom lost Dad’s lens cap and he went back to find it, and see a ribbon snake on our way out of the woods.
New Sandbox
Friday, June 29th, 2007
Marty repurposed one of his raised flower bed boxes as a sandbox for Flora. All it took was some landscape fabric and 12 huge bags of sand! Flora enjoys burying and finding her Fisher Price people, and filling up and dumping cups, but Florzilla’s favorite thing is to smash any sort of castle Mom and Dad make.
Drumlin Farm
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
We made it a farm-themed weekend (apparently peek-a-boo objects for photo taking are all the rage) and went to Drumlin Farm in Lincoln for Family Fun Day. We met friends Boulton and Porter and walked along the grounds where we spotted hawks, owls, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, mules, and more! I liked the mules the best because I got to pat their noses, and they smelled better than the pigs. Then we ate a snack on the grass before heading back home.
Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 23rd, 2007
Verill Farm in Lincoln held their Strawberry Festival this afternoon. There was pick-your-own strawberries, strawberry shortcake, pony rides, hay rides, a big tractor, musicians, and even marionettes! Unfortunately, all the strawberries had been picked clean before we got there, so we did the next best thing … bought a bunch from the farm store and immediately sampled them!
Weekend Poolside
Saturday, June 16th, 2007
With warm, sunny weather both Saturday and Sunday, Flora spent most of her weekend poolside. She enjoyed filling up cups with water, dumping said water on her shoes, and splashing … but best of all she liked getting sprayed with the garden hose! (note: If you view the 7th photo called “Cold Water!” (Marty calls it “Fat Girl Photo”) in it’s large or original size, you can see Flora’s top teeth!)
Picnic and Concert
Friday, June 15th, 2007
The North Suburban Family Network hosted their 8th annual family picnic and concert at Steele Park and Playground in Stoneham tonight. We packed a spread of cheese, fruit, olives, pasta, bread (plus butter, Flora’s favorite), and cookies … and were entertained by the silly songs and stories of Vic and Sticks. Flora was happy to see her pal Raessler there and the two of them had fun snacking, playing, and dancing together.
Dragon Boat Festival 2007
Monday, June 11th, 2007
Yesterday I met my friends Dobbin and Kate at their house in Somerville and we all hopped the Red Line over to Harvard Square in Cambridge for the Dragon Boat Festival. We saw a Philippine cultural dance followed by some Japanese Taiko Drumming (worthy of busting some dance moves!), then walked along the river to watch the Dragon Boats race along The Charles. Afterwards, we headed back to their house for some Szechuan take-out and ice cream for dessert! Here I am enjoying some Cherry Garcia … “MMM!”
Spidergirl at the Stone Zoo
Friday, June 8th, 2007
After Friday playgroup at the North Suburban Family Network, Spidey met her friends Will, Jack, and Myles (with Moms in tow) at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Flora liked the flamingos the best, especially when they squawked and pecked at each other. Most of the other animals were hard to find, though she had no trouble spotting the cougar and the roadrunner. After a picnic lunch she petted a little goat and a big sheep, then played on the really big spider web. It’s no surprise Flora had fun pretending to be a spider — one of her favorite finger songs is “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” with “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” and “Old MacDonald” ranking right up there.
Ah, Al Fresco
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
The only thing better than eating is eating with a cool wind on your face! Here I am dining al fresco at La Bodega in Kansas City. In between big bites of black bean soup, I said Hi to each and every passerby, and squealed each time a big truck rolled by.
Visiting Family in MO
Monday, May 21st, 2007
Me, Mom, and Dad took a road trip to Nevada, MO (a couple hours South of Kansas City) to visit the Brittingham side of the family. At last I got to visit Cubbage Farm … complete with big tractors, rolling fields of corn, and farm animals down the road! Great Aunt Barbara, Cousin Steven, and I posed in front of their retro-cool sign.
But the real reason we visited Kansas City was to congratulate Uncle Andrew on his graduation from the Kansas City Art Institute. I didn’t get to go to the ceremony, but I attended several parties in Andrew’s honor, where I sampled Grandpa David’s famous BBQ for the first time (I like the sauce the best), played with Cousin Brandon, visited with Dad’s old friends, met (and of course showed off) for lots of new people, and shared all the awesome toys (how does a 6 foot long stuffed caterpillar sound?) I had waiting for me when I arrived.
Hey, Gilligan (Pleasant Lake, NH)
Sunday, May 13th, 2007
Marty, Flora, and I joined our friends, The Nerneys, at their cottage on Pleasant Lake in New Hampshire this weekend. Flora got to play on the beach with Will and Jack (plus Chilly the dog!), eat not dogs with lots and lots of catsup, cruise along the built-in deck bench and climb up and down the stairs, play on the playground, and hike on Marty’s shoulders through the Esther Currier wildlife area. She also got to practice walking across the living room carpet.
If the Glove Don’t Fit …
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007
Flora had fun playing with her gardening gloves this afternoon. Turned out the glove really didn’t fit — and she even tried her feet!
It was another warm day in Boston, and in between trips up and down the driveway with her walker, pit stops at the playground (she can climb up the slide stairs now!) , and stroller rides around the neighborhood, Flora created some sidewalk art with her new chalk and hung out in the back yard.
Good Mornin’ Turkey
Saturday, April 21st, 2007
Good mornin’ birds. Good mornin’ squirrels. Good mornin’ trees. Good mornin’ turkey. Yes, that would be a turkey. After going for a walk yesterday, my sitter, Katherine, and I spotted a turkey in our driveway. It ran through the back yard and flew up on to our neighbor’s garage. Turkeys are big. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the slideshow below.