Wasem's Fruit Farm

Today I joined Elianna, Selah and Angela on a field trip to the orchard with their MOPS group.

Tasting Different varieties of Apples.

Snacking on FRESH Donuts & Cider.

Our guide Grandma Judy explaining they each could only pick 5 apples.

Selah chowing on her apple.

Elianna took picking out her apples as very serious business.

Tomatoes Anyone??

It all started innocently enough. We were playing in our backyard when Elianna asked, "Can I feed Shadow?" I replied,"No, what are you going to feed Shadow?" "There's no food out here."
(In an attempt to stop her from feeding the dog her own food, we had been telling her for months that Shadow only eats his dog food and that people food would make him sick.)

I went into the house for water. When I came out, there were tomatoes all over the backyard.

Forgetting about her earlier question, I loudly asked, "Elianna, what are you doing?" As she picked a green tomato, she smoothly replied in her special duh! tone , "I'm getting food." Then I told her, "We don't pick the green tomatoes." Right away she grabbed a yellow tomato and asked, "How bout yellow?"

The big question is: Was she skirting the situation of feeding the dog after I had said no or did she really think dogs ate tomatoes?

But more importantly Shadow was wondering, "Why is this little girl throwing tomatoes at me?"

Abygail and a Pretzel

Abygail's favorite way to eat pretzels.

All the salt first.

Turning it like corn on the cob.

Base Beach

After lunch and naps, Melanie was feeling better and offered to take me to their favorite beach. I was more than ready even though it had become colder & windy. (and I hadn't brought a jacket)

Melanie and Abygail collected sticks, shells and sea glass.
Jaycob and I played "You can't catch me!" with the waves. We would let them get as close as possible then stepping backward quickly so we didn't get wet. Jaycob thought this was hilarious and kept laughing at every wave.

Aby & Jaycob loved chasing the birds. I was upset my camera was still acting up and I missed the greatest photo shot. Jaycob was completely surrounded by the flying birds.

Park

It was a gorgeous day and the kids and I wanted out.
Melanie finally agreed to take us to the park. (She wasn't feeling well.)

These Music panels were the most fun I've had myself at a playground in awhile. The bells especially were a blast. We found different size sticks produced different tones. Jaycob really got into the drums with the big stick. Aby's favorite was swinging.

Since the Park was on the water, we hiked down there. But it was clogged with red & purple seaweed. Jaycob was very upset that the beach was so nasty.

Garden

The one thing I had planned for this trip was to visit this garden. Melanie's blog of an earlier mom's group visit really interested me. We went on the perfect day. The sun shone through the trees creating a dappling on the cool shady path as we meandered along enjoying the day.
The Garden is such a gem. I loved it from the start.

A tribute to the Oyster Tonger, A Chesapeake Waterman

was the first statue.

Aby and Jaycob are examining one of the many benches through out the garden. Each bench represented a different type of tree. The concrete seat would have examples of that specific tree's leaves, flowers and seeds embedded in into it.

Every year the garden has a Public Art Project. This year's was titled "PILLARS: Wishes for a Better World."

Melanie and the children had colored recycled bottles at an earlier visit. They were very excited to find their bottle and some of their friends bottles in the display.

There was a side path called the Women Path. It had many statues of different sizes, shapes and ages of women. This is the one I found that represented me the most.

Jump

Today we went to the Jump.

Right Day! Different Grandchildren!

I did not have a Grandma Day with Elianna this week as I am out of state. But instead I had a Grandma Day with my other grandchildren in Maryland. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's!

Warning !

If you take Jaycob to Chuck E. Cheese have plenty of tokens for the TRAIN!

Bath Time

Aby's Doo

I really enjoyed participating in the children's unique bedtime routine with my daughter's family.

1. Have Night Time snack. (As you can see on their faces it is usually 2 oreos.)


2. Clean up toy room. (Preferably children ~ but adults end up helping.)


3. Bath Time. (Bubbles of course!)


4. Get dressed for bed. (Time for Jammies)


5. Story Time with cup of milk. (Heat Aby's for 23 seconds) Story time is and has always been my favorite time of any child's bedtime routine. Nothing beats snuggling with a freshly clean and sweet smelling child and sharing a book. I usually read 2-3 books. This week Jaycob had me read "Over in the Meadow" 6 nights. Ahh! Glorious Repetition.


6. Brushing Teeth. (Jaycob does a very thorough tooth brushing for a 3 year old.)


7. Leap Frogging back to bed. (I never did get this right and wasn't even close to making the special Fly Slurping sound required.) (Reinforcements had to be called in to complete this step) Hey, Grandma's can't do everything ;)


8. Check to make sure each child has their favorite sleeping companions. Aby her baby dolls and Jaycob the trains &/or trucks that he wants to sleep with that night.


9. Kisses and Hugs all around. XOXOX


10. Good Night!

Jaycob is THREE!

I was able to fly in for Jaycob's third birthday. I missed the party Saturday but here is a picture of him on his actual birthday.


P.S. I will be posting all about my week with Jaycob and Abygail. Since I don't see them often expect numerous pictures.

Urban Toddler II

Ringing up my groceries after we shopped.

Elianna pouring Tea for Grandma.

Selah joined us for Grandma Day!

P.S. For more photos check out their mom's blog: Sugar & Spice

Shaving Cream Play

We didn't have a regular Grandma Day this week because Elianna went to visit her Grandma Smith. So I thought I would post a picture of her from our Monday morning play.

(After she spent the night on Sunday.)