A Gift of Snow

Today the snowflakes FINALLY fell for real in Missouri. It's been such a long, gray winter and we were about to lose hope of seeing ANY of the white stuff. However, today it arrived. It made one little 4 year old person VERY happy!

Syd is staying with us for a 3 day visit and she and I headed out into the white stuff just as soon as the grass was covered. We slid down the neighbor's hill, rolled in the snow, threw it at each other, and made the mandatory snow angels. She giggled the entire time and I have to admit, so did I! What is it about the magical combination of cold air and water that can make us drop our stress levels and just act like a kid? I don't know... but I am not about to question this wonder of meteorology! For a February snowfall- this was just right! Thank-you God - and any of your assisting snow angels as well!

A Girl Has Gotta Have Wheels

Syd got her first set of wheels yesterday. We noticed her really loving the pedal cars and tricycles at her sitter's house and figured the time was just right for wheels. Scored the cutest little Radio Flyer brand trike at Walmart of all places. Two trips down the sidewalk and the tyke and trike were doing great. She has to work on her steering a bit, but she's motoring for real now!

 

The 2010 Pink and Purple Radio Flyer Special!

 

Papa lends a hand with the steering.

   

Here she goes!

 

Time to check out what will fit in the "trunk" space. 

Lots of treasures, like stones, clover flowers, and Sweetgum tree balls.

 

Back at it... whee!

 

On her own and doing fine!

Feeling pretty grown up and proud!

Warm Day + Little Gardener + Hose = Fun!

I've written already about how much Sydney loves to be out in my garden. She would play outside for hours, digging and puttering about. Today's discovery? The garden hose! The pictures tell the story... but I've added a few captions for fun too!

Ready to start working.... Syd's got the hose in hand!

 

First. you actually water plants!

 

Are you sure this is work? This is fun!

Whoa! You can stick your hands in too!

 

The next thing you know, you're washing your face!

In for dime... in for a dollar! Besides, I won't need a bath tonight if I do this right!

Syd: "Look Gramma, I'm all wet!"

This is what happiness looks like on a 2 yr. old!

A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Laugh

We buried our dear uncle/brother-in-law, Jon on Friday morning. It was a very sad yet very hopeful morning. The pastors at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stevensville shared many words of comfort with all who came, and the honor guards and ceremony provided by the various police departments present reminded us of all the people Jon had served in his career as an officer. We also were able to share in a post-funeral luncheon which gave us time to connect with a lot of family and friends we hadn't seen in quite awhile.

In the afternoon, after the luncheon, we rested for a bit and the kids napped. When dinner hour came, we headed to the local little park where Gabe had baseball practice. What a great thing to do at the end of our day! The kids played, we all cheered like silly fans for everything Gabe did on the field, and as the day ended we felt very grateful to have one another.
 

 

Walking to the park, cousins go hand in hand.

 

Asher is a cutie in his Cardinal cap!

 

 

The next generation's major leaguer!

 

Gabe scoops up a grounder and we all cheered!

 

Syd liked the teeter totter the best.

 

Rhy loves slides... in ANY direction!

 

This is what contentment looks like.

 

Uncle Leon, Ash, and Syd check out the teeter totters.

 

My girls, Gretchen and her Syd.

 

Rhy loves slides!

 

Asher: "Whee! Catch me Daddy!"

Indiana Jones and the Queeny Park Temple of Doom

Indiana Harrmann.... the boy was totally on an adventure!

I have a photo of Katrina at age 6 in EXACTLY this spot back in 1985... wow, was it
weird to shoot this one 24 years later!

My grandsons got in touch with their "inner Indiana" today at Queeny Park. We packed up the kids and a picnic and headed to the park shortly after the rush hour was over. They had a blast. Even with being prepared for how fun the park was, the first word out of Gabe's mouth as we pulled up was, "WHOA!"

They romped about pretending for the better part of an hour and a half. (with frequent water and snack breaks in between). We frequently heard snatches of the Indiana Jones theme or Pirates of the Carribean being hummed as they crawled up "mountains" and in an out of tunnels in their quests of adventure!

Then when it was time to go, we brought 2 little people home to take a LONG nap while big brother floated in the pool to his heart's content. Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all!

Rhylah obviously enjoys red grapes!

Here are the boys "up on top"....

And here is what they were up on top of! (that's them way in the distance and small!)

Tea for Two

I am certain there are very few things cuter than my grandkids... particularly my granddaughters who have just reached the tea party stage. Today they conducted a joint tea ceremony in my sunroom and what fun it was!

I have also included some adorable shots of Rhylah who took to the pool like a fish on the very first day she arrived in town! Way to swim, Rhy!

Tea Parties, Toddlers, and Time on the Beach

Me and my baby girl, Katrina!

Rhy is so cute... this is her caught by surprise face!

Ash up a tree!

Rhy follows mommy down the beach.

Time for tea!

This past weekend we were able to spend a lovely long weekend with the family in the North. We drove up to St. Joseph, Michigan for some wonderful time with all the Harrmanns, particularly our 3 grandkids, Gabriel, Asher, and Rhylah. It was fun in so many ways just to hang out, enjoy watching the kids play, and to catch up with one another. The kids are changing so much and each time we see them we are amazed at how much bigger they have gotten. Gabe is into baseball now, Asher is teaching Rhylah all sorts of new skills like an ideal big brother, and Rhy is getting into playing pretend. The tea set we got her this weekend kept her busy making imaginary beverages for all of us the entire time we were there. So cute! It was a PERFECT weekend!

Sydney Plays House

"All babies, go to sleep... nonny time!"

Sydney is vacationing at our house for a few days, and we are having a great time. We brought up some "little girl" things from the basement that had been favorites of Gretchen and Kate when they were small. She spent a solid hour or more rocking her assorted ''babies'' and giving them breakfast. The entire time she was doing it she made all the noises we make when we feed her, lots of "mmmmmmm's" and "ahh's" along with Sydney gibberish that sounded like "baby", "eat", and "rock-rock". It was adorable. She is even wearing a little apron that Ed's mom made for our girls ages ago. I have to believe that Great-grandma Irene is smiling somewhere up in heaven today as all this pretending was going on!

"Mmmmmm, eat your cereal!"

"Everyone will get a turn."

"Now it's Hugsie bunny's turn to eat."

A Day with Sydney

Sydney Grace came and spent the day with us today while her mommy and daddy were at work and we had a GREAT time. She played with all her favorite toys; Gramma's piano, the greyhounds on the mantel, Papa's pots on the pot rack, and Chas. She "helped" sort the mail... she loves paper, so we gave her ALL the envelopes after we opened the Christmas cards. And she crawled EVERYWHERE in the house she could go! We had a LOT of fun!

Musically Inclined? Maybe!

In the Staude clan it is never too early to begin fostering a love for music. So when 6 month old Sydney came to play today, it was time to see what she thought about keyboard music. She began by shyly touching one key.... and ended up a rather excited and bouncing new "musician". What fun!

Can't I play some more? Do I have to take a nap???