Pumpkin Patch 2011

This past Saturday, our neighbor from the townhouse, Lu, invited us to go to a pumpkin patch with her. We were all really excited about it. They had caramel popcorn, hayrides, pumpkins, gourds, and even a corn maze. Unfortunately for everyone, the weather didn't cooperate.  It was drizzling most of our time there, and it was pretty chilly (about 40°F).  By the time we left, it was pouring. It's a good thing we got there early!  While we were there, Kara had a great time playing in the mud and picking out pumpkins.  She especially liked the little pumpkins (which she called "tiny pumpkin" in a high voice).  We picked out about 5 good pumpkins.  Mommy got a little carried away with the gourds, and we now have enough to decorate everyone's house in the neighborhood.

Recent conversations with Kara:
Daddy: "I love you, Kara."
Kara: "I love Fifi!" Fifi is her nighttime stuffed dog.

Kara: "What's that?" - Her new favorite phrase

Kara walking to Mommy with her hand cupped (and empty): "Eat this!"
Mommy:  "What am I eating?"
Kara: pause...."Apples! mmm"

Link to pictures

Kara's First Visit to the Zoo

This past Friday, Daddy took off the morning, and our little family went to the Denver Zoo.  Kara especially enjoyed the lions, birds, orangutan, and zebras.  We're not sure if it was the time of day or the time of year, but it seemed like they were cleaning and fixing up the habitats of a lot of the animals.  We only stayed for about 3 hours, but that was probably perfect for Kara.  We got to see just about the whole zoo, and Kara was exhausted by the end (she passed out on the car ride home).

After her nap and the next morning, Kara wanted to "go, walk, Zoo!"  She also wanted to "go to Moon!", but that's a different story....

Link to pictures

Hiking Fun

Fall has started here in Colorado. The weather is distinctly cooler than it was in August and the leaves on some of the trees are starting to turn yellow. The temperatures at nights are falling down into the mid-40's, so it's quite cool in the mornings. Perfect weather for hiking! The last couple of weekends, Mommy and Daddy have packed Kara up in the hiking backpack and checked out the great outdoors. So far we haven't hiked too far (usually less than 2 miles), but hopefully we can start working up to some more exciting hikes!

Kara is starting to get into the imaginative play.  Mimi bought Kara a horse stable and toy horses when she was here in August.  That has quickly become one of Kara's favorite toys, and she enjoys galloping around the table with the horses and then putting them back in the stable.  At bedtime, Kara and Mommy put the horses to sleep, and Kara says, "Night, night horsies."

Mommy and Daddy have decided to back off a bit on the potty training.  Kara is just not quite ready, but we're still encouraging the use of the potty.  Maybe in a couple of months!  Mommy sure hopes so!

Link to pictures

Visit from Mimi and Uncle Trey

I don't know where the time went, but August seems to have flown by!  On August 10th, Mimi (aka Grandma H.) and Uncle Trey and  flew in for a visit from Alabama.  Uncle Trey regaled us all with stories of the adventures he had during his year in South Africa, and Mimi had some cool gifts for Kara from her recent trip to Africa.

Mimi and Uncle Trey were hoping to escape the heat of Alabama, but unfortunately they were treated to record August heat in Colorado.  We were able to have some exciting times, though.  One day, we went to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. Kara had a great time looking at all the bugs and butterflies.  We also got out to the Farmer's Market in Boulder a couple of times.  And Uncle Trey was a big fan of our local Thai restaurant (he went three times during his two week visit).

Unfortunately, Daddy had to go to Denmark on a business trip, so he missed most of their visit.  But Mimi and Uncle Trey kept Mommy company and helped look after Kara while he was gone, so it all worked out!

First half of the month


Second half of the month

Potty Training - The Beginning

We have just recently started with potty training. Kara is getting to the point where she doesn't really want to wear diapers and seems to be interested in using the potty. She also starting pointing at the toilet and saying "pee pee, potty." So, Mommy went out and bought Elmo's Potty Time (which Kara watches almost every day) and a training potty. So far, Kara has not gone pee pee in the potty, but she has whizzed all over the bathroom floor on several occasions. Yeah, isn't potty training fun?

We've been keeping ourselves pretty busy for the last month. On the weekend of the 4th of July, our friends Drew and Stacy and their son Dax came over to check out our new house. Kara and Dax had a lot of fun playing in the sprinklers. Later that weekend, Mommy's Uncle Randy, Aunt Tracey, Cousin Brad, and Brad's girlfriend came to visit. Kara had a lot of fun entertaining the crowd.

Temper tantrums are pretty much a daily occurrence these days, with her first "major meltdown" happening today and involving animal crackers and the library...

Kara (who refers to herself as "Tata") has a vocabulary that is expanding quite a bit and she can usually get her point across. "Tata shoes out park!" "Music dance!" "Watch Mickey" "Mama lap sit read" "Tata poot" :) Kara will specify the books she wants to read - as in "Nigh Nigh George" (Curious George), "Chi Chi Boom!" (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom), "Eggs, Ham" (Green Eggs and Ham), "Waan tooo fish" (One Fish Two Fish...). It's pretty cute... when she's not yelling at you. "Bubbles! Bubbles bubbles bubblessssss!!" Ah, toddlerdom.

Link to pictures