By: Ann
Hi all. I decided to get a quick post in before our trip to Cleveland for Christmas. As some/most of you know, our little burst of undying energy turned 2 last month. We wanted to take her some place where she could run around and have a good time; unfortunately, all the places we looked were closed for private birthday parties or it was raining, so it wouldn’t have been too enjoyable (for at least Jason and I).
We found a place called Habitot Children’s Museum in Berkeley. It was a bit of a drive, but we figured it’s definitely a special occasion. She loved this place. This place has a model spaceship equipped with costumes, phones, and all sorts of buttons that she is usually told not to touch. The museum also had a toy train set, grocery store filled with mini-size grocery carts and fake food galore, wind tunnel, reading room, water play area, and art room to paint and make cool clay masterpieces. She was in paradise. Although, she did spend a lot of time in the gift store just playing with toys, too. This is where I couldn’t resist and bought her two stamp sets, one including planes, trains, and other things that go. The other one included barn animals. These stamps have revived potty training in our household and daycare. I know it has been a good potty day when her legs, arms, and belly are filled with potty stamps.
Later that Wednesday, we flew to D.C in order to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. It was really nice having my mom and Bob take care of Athena while we slept in until 9:00-10:00 every day. I can’t remember the last time I slept in that late. It was definitely pre-Athena, though.
On Thursday, we had my mom’s delicious Thanksgiving meal that included veggie lasagna, rice and peas, chicken, green bean casserole, and purple sweet potatoes. I’m probably forgetting some yummy food. I blame it on the food coma that I suffered. We all suffered from food comas that day.
We had to keep a close eye on Athena, because she knew how to escape from the condo. She would even close the den door (where Papa was) in order to make a quick an unnoticed escape several times. She’s a sneaky one.
The next day, Papa and Nana took Athena to a children’s play place a few towns over while Jason and I relaxed at home. I took a bubble bath. That hasn’t happened in years.
On Saturday, we headed to Tyson’s Mall in order to play in the play area on the third floor and ride the train that we had been hearing so much about. It was great. Athena was, again, in paradise. She had this goofy grin on her face the whole time. She kept on trying to escape from us several times in order to hop back on the train. Super cute.
Athena had her own personal laptop on loan while we were at my parents house. My mom gave her free reign of all the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” cartoons on YouTube. It somehow mutated into some sort of eastern European Christmas cartoon marathon. I’m not sure what happened.
It was great seeing my parents again. Being that we have little help here in California, it’s always nice being spoiled a bit with some free daycare, good food, and lots of love. As you can see below, it’s getting tougher and tougher to get portraits with this wiggle worm. Just in case you were wondering, the third picture below, Athena wants you to know she is wearing shoes.
Here’s some cute pictures if you haven’t overloaded on cuteness, yet.
**And, yet, when it’s totally appropriate to wear a hat, she doesn’t want it.