Daddy's Day Off

Yesterday Rob took a day off from work to visit a few area preschools. Sign-ups for 3 year old classes for the Fall start next week already, so went spent the morning checking them. Ella jumped right in and started playing, and seemed like she will enjoy the activities that they do.

standing next to the tree before we visited the schools
(she looks so grown up!)

We walked up to the playground and after Ella's nap, she and Rob did a "project" together--putting together a wooden dinosaur model. She enjoyed helping him take the pieces out of the molds and fitting them in the correct grooves. Later they took me out for another birthday dinner and then to the bookstore.

taking the dinosaur pieces apart

figuring out where the "bones" go

We had a great day!

Briar Bush Nature Center

On Wednesday, Ella and I went to Briar Bush Nature Center to look at the animals and to walk in the woods. Ella enjoyed watching the turtles eat their lunch--"salad--lettuce, carrots, oranges, and strawberries," looking for the guinea pigs in their cages, watching the snake eat a mouse, and reading some nature books. Later, we went outside and walked along the trail to the bird watching cabin, where we didn't see many birds, but saw several squirrels. Ella liked using her walking stick that she borrowed from the center and also finding her own, which she brought home for Rob. We collected rocks and stones and also found a few crunchy leaves to walk through.

pointing at the turtles who were "eating off of plates!"


the snake eating a mouse


watching the giant rescue tortoise, Ms. Tortellini


using her walking stick to "mix some yummy broccoli cheddar soup"
in a bowl shaped rock


looking at the birds up in the trees


relaxing with her feet up and sitting quietly for the birds to come


reading an Eric Carle book in the reading area


I called her name and she said, "What?"...
such a serious look
(wearing her dragonfly Canada shirt from Pappy, which replaced
the moose one that she outgrew)


Nature Girl

Birthday Weekend

This past weekend, Ella had a sleepover at Rob's parents' so we could celebrate my birthday. With beautiful weather and temperatures in the low 50's, we headed to Tyler State Park. We drove with the windows down, the wind blowing, and the music loud. It was so nice to be outside and it made me very eager for Spring to arrive as soon as possible. We stopped at Tanner Brothers Dairy Farm on the way home for some produce, fresh bread, apple butter, and, of course, had to share a scoop of their famous homemade ice cream! Later, we had a delicious dinner at Bonefish Grill, where, thankfully, we had a reservation and avoided the 2 1/2 hour wait. Rob got me a really nice birthday card and a gift card for Williams-Sonoma.

starting out

The Nashaminy Creek--a little frozen and a little melted

the creek up close


Rob skipping rocks in the creek


another creek view with rocks


trickling waters


trying to do an "L" on the bridge


Rob's "L" attempt


together


together on the bridge


the two of us

On Sunday, when the weather was rainy and cold, we were able to catch up on our sleep and slept in well past toddler waking hours. We went shopping before coming back home and relaxing. I read The Help (Stockett) with a cup of tea and Rob watched football. Rob's parents had a birthday dinner for me when we went to pick up Ella later that evening, which was nice.