Fun Weekend

Daddy, unfortunately, has been working like a madman for the last while...it's too bad he doesn't get overtime, because he has put in 2 14-hour days and several over 10.  Kinda crazy. 


But we decided to go all out on Saturday...we went out to lunch and then headed to Nelis' Dutch Village, a local place that celebrates the Dutch history of our town.  The best part?  It was FREE!!  I love when military people are shown that kind of gratitude!  So instead of just getting Tooty in free with her pass from the library summer reading program, we all did.  


But I forgot the camera, which is sad, but since the price is so good for us, we might head back before they close for the season and bring the camera this time.  


First we watched some Dutch dancers, and one of them is one of my MiaMaids from church!  I didn't even know she worked there, and I looked up and there she was.  


Then we checked out the carousel, then the swing ride (and Tooty was big enough to ride in a swing right next to me), and then this crazy cart ride that wasn't electric - she had to do the work, but luckily the girl running the ride gave her several big pushes to get around the track.


We also took a look at the goats - we didn't take any for a walk (a super popular attraction there), but we looked at them for a little while.  They attach the goat to a leash and people of all ages take a stroll around the park with them for as long as they want.  It reminded me of one of my aunt's who had a goat that she used take on walks along with her dog.  Except that goat was really chubby and these were not.  They also had some super cute baby goats - SO SMALL!!  


Those are the main attractions that we checked out - we had already been to the shops (since they are free anytime, Tooty and I went with her grandma's when they were in town).

Windmill Island Gardens

We live in a city that was settled by the Dutch hundreds of years ago.  There is a lot of stuff around here that relate to Dutch things, and we spent Saturday afternoon at the Windmill Island Gardens (which, incidentally, was featured in FamilyFun magazine right before we moved here).  It was great.  We didn't stay long, and didn't check out everything, mainly the big 6-story working windmill that's over 200 years old, and the shops and river.  They also have a merry-go-round that is really old, and is now just for kids.  Tooty loved it!!  Here's some pics of her riding the horse.  One of the best things about this place is it's free if you live in the city - all you do is show your local driver's license at the gate and drive on in...saved us about $20, and we are happy to go back anytime!

Videos of Tooty

 

Here is our song from FHE on Monday.  We did it slow and she did great, but wanted to try it fast fast fast!

And here is her washing her hands, which turned into "putting on my makeup".

She Plays Favorites

For the past 2 weeks, Daddy was out of town with the Army for his annual training.  During that time, I tried and tried to get a belly laugh out of Cupcake, but she wouldn't comply.  This was taken right before he left - and as soon as he got back, she complied with another big laugh session just for Daddy the first time he changed her diaper.  So who's her favorite parent?  It's no mystery to me!

End of the Binky?

Not quite.  

 

I've decided it's an old wives tale that cutting off the tip of a binky renders it undesirable.

Tooty's binky is on the right, and it has been in this condition for months!

Baby Girl's binky, on the left, is there so you can see that we have cut off  more than an inch, and Tooty

still insists on using it.  I don't even think it can get any farther into her mouth than her lips.

Tooty's new favorite activity?  "Washing her hands."

She heads into the bathroom with a stool so she can reach the tap and the sink 

and will play for about an hour in the water.  Usually it's not too bad,

but last week we had the wettest bathroom and the wettest girl yet.

Notice the lighter shade near her ankle?  That's the only 

dry spot to be found that day.

 

I don't typically allow her to change her clothes after playing in the water, 

but I did relent that day.

And speaking of binky's....

when I took Tooty in to bed the other day, this is what I found.

Her favorite sleepmate taking a nap and sharing her binky.

Such a loving girl!

If she can't sleep without one, why should anyone else have to?