Sunday, June 20, 2010
FRED'S PLAY ROOM
I and probably all my cousins can remember grandpa's (Fred) play room. The play room is located in the basement of my grandparents house and is an amazing model railroad. It features all the houses my grandparents lived in while my mom was growing up, I think 7 in all. They are amazing replicas. It has mountains, tunnels, and even a long bridge.
My grandpa used to run the trains for us when we were kids, and I remember he spent a lot of time in the basement working on the model railroad. Since he passed away nearly 15 years ago, my Uncle Mike has taken it over and has completed more of it. It is a work in progress.
While we were at grandma's house for our weekly visit, Uncle Mike was working on the railroad so we took Zoe downstairs to see it for the first time. She was in love. Uncle Mike even ran the trains for her. It was great to see the smile on her face and ask "Where did it go?" when the train would go into the mountains.
The trains in grandpa's basement continues to bring joy and amazement not only to Zoe but also to me.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
No longer my baby
Zoe started sleeping in her toddler bed this weekend. We assembled her toddler bed, which we have had for months. I bought it on Craigslist long before Sophie was born thinking we would move her out of the crib before Sophie was born. We realized a couple of months before my due date she was just not ready to move out of her crib. She LOVES her crib and sleeps so well in it.
On a whim John and I decided to put the bed together and she how she would do on Saturday for a nap. She did pretty well going to sleep in it, although we didn't think about the fact the bed is under two windows so she spent some of her time in bed opening and closing the shutters. I had to go up after about 10 minutes and remind her it was bedtime and not to get out of the bed. She wasn't getting out of bed to play with her toys -- oh no -- she wanted to get out on the side and climb in over the foot board, my little climber. She slept really well until she fell out. John and I were concerned about that because she moves so much when she sleeps still. She still does laps around her crib at night. So she got scared when she fell out and that was the end of her nap -- still about an hour, not bad for the first time. We ended up putting up a guard rail that is meant for a twin bed that we got from Jeanetta. It actually fits perfectly the entire length of the bed so she can't fall out. This also makes it feel a little more enclosed for her which I think is what she loved about her crib. In time, we will try to remove the guard rail in hopes she learns to not move as much when she sleeps.
Last night John and I were out and my dad put her to bed in her new bed and she went to sleep without a problem. Slept all night and woke up a little early this morning and again played with the shutters. My hope is the novelty will wear off after a while.
Again today she napped and is sleeping in her bed tonight. This afternoon I had to go in a remind her again it is nap time, not play time. But after that she settled down and went to sleep for her normal two hour nap.
This started because when Zoe was at Veronica's, her babysitter, on Friday she slept in a toddler bed rather than the normal pack-n-play. Veronica said she did great, so John and I figured maybe she is ready. John thought maybe now would be a good time to try it since she does nap and go to bed without any problems. She actually asks to go to bed occasionally.
I had a hard time with her sleeping in the "big girl" bed last night for two reasons. It made me realize she is growing up and no longer my baby. It was also uncomfortable know she can get out of bed and roam around her room and the house. Until we can gate her room we decided to lock her door tonight. I am sure in time I will get more comfortable with the idea she is up and possibly play in her room while I am sleeping.
On a whim John and I decided to put the bed together and she how she would do on Saturday for a nap. She did pretty well going to sleep in it, although we didn't think about the fact the bed is under two windows so she spent some of her time in bed opening and closing the shutters. I had to go up after about 10 minutes and remind her it was bedtime and not to get out of the bed. She wasn't getting out of bed to play with her toys -- oh no -- she wanted to get out on the side and climb in over the foot board, my little climber. She slept really well until she fell out. John and I were concerned about that because she moves so much when she sleeps still. She still does laps around her crib at night. So she got scared when she fell out and that was the end of her nap -- still about an hour, not bad for the first time. We ended up putting up a guard rail that is meant for a twin bed that we got from Jeanetta. It actually fits perfectly the entire length of the bed so she can't fall out. This also makes it feel a little more enclosed for her which I think is what she loved about her crib. In time, we will try to remove the guard rail in hopes she learns to not move as much when she sleeps.
Last night John and I were out and my dad put her to bed in her new bed and she went to sleep without a problem. Slept all night and woke up a little early this morning and again played with the shutters. My hope is the novelty will wear off after a while.
Again today she napped and is sleeping in her bed tonight. This afternoon I had to go in a remind her again it is nap time, not play time. But after that she settled down and went to sleep for her normal two hour nap.
This started because when Zoe was at Veronica's, her babysitter, on Friday she slept in a toddler bed rather than the normal pack-n-play. Veronica said she did great, so John and I figured maybe she is ready. John thought maybe now would be a good time to try it since she does nap and go to bed without any problems. She actually asks to go to bed occasionally.
I had a hard time with her sleeping in the "big girl" bed last night for two reasons. It made me realize she is growing up and no longer my baby. It was also uncomfortable know she can get out of bed and roam around her room and the house. Until we can gate her room we decided to lock her door tonight. I am sure in time I will get more comfortable with the idea she is up and possibly play in her room while I am sleeping.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Peach picking
Yesterday the kids and I along with Trenton, Kristen and Alexa, loaded up in the car for a trip to Schnepf Farms to pick peaches and apricots. We managed to fit three car seats across the back seat for the three girls and then Trenton climbed in through the back of the car to get in the seat in the 3rd row. We still even had room for the peaches and groceries on the way home. I am amazed how much fits in the car sometimes.
We had a great time. We went about 9am so that it wouldn't be too hot - it was about 90F. The mosquitoes were much worse than the heat. I think Zoe, Trenton and I walked away with who knows how many bites - we have red bumps all over our legs and arms.
Sophie wasn't too enthused about picking peaches since it was her nap time but she was a trooper and let us have fun picking the peaches. Zoe needed some direction to pick the ones on the tree, most of which weren't low enough for her, rather than picking them up off the ground. I think she had a pretty good time. Zoe has enjoyed helping me make things with the peaches. I am trying to figure out how I am going to use all of them. So far I have made peach puree (aka baby food) for Sophie and peach tarts tonight for dessert. We have also eaten several of them because they are so juicy and flavorful - way better than any peaches I have bought in the grocery store. I still need to come up with another idea to use the rest of them.
All in all, I deem peach picking as a successful adventure with the girls (and Trenton). I think both girls will enjoy it even more next year. We may even pick some apples and plums later this month although it may just be too hot by then.
To view all the peach picking photos visit our Flickr website.
If you are interested in picking your own peaches, apples, plums, etc you can visit the website for Schnepf Farms.
We had a great time. We went about 9am so that it wouldn't be too hot - it was about 90F. The mosquitoes were much worse than the heat. I think Zoe, Trenton and I walked away with who knows how many bites - we have red bumps all over our legs and arms.
Sophie wasn't too enthused about picking peaches since it was her nap time but she was a trooper and let us have fun picking the peaches. Zoe needed some direction to pick the ones on the tree, most of which weren't low enough for her, rather than picking them up off the ground. I think she had a pretty good time. Zoe has enjoyed helping me make things with the peaches. I am trying to figure out how I am going to use all of them. So far I have made peach puree (aka baby food) for Sophie and peach tarts tonight for dessert. We have also eaten several of them because they are so juicy and flavorful - way better than any peaches I have bought in the grocery store. I still need to come up with another idea to use the rest of them.
All in all, I deem peach picking as a successful adventure with the girls (and Trenton). I think both girls will enjoy it even more next year. We may even pick some apples and plums later this month although it may just be too hot by then.
To view all the peach picking photos visit our Flickr website.
If you are interested in picking your own peaches, apples, plums, etc you can visit the website for Schnepf Farms.
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