First Day of Mothers Day Out

I can't believe what a big girl Langley is getting!  Last week we had an open house at her school, and today Langley was very excited to wear her backpack and go to school without mommy and daddy this time!   Sounds like she had a really good first day!  She told me her favorite was the playground, bubbles, and snack.  And she said she asked the "lady" for her blankie, but she said no blankies at school with a giggle.  We prepared her for that, so I think this is why she was grinning and laughing while she told me!  Way to go Langley!  Mommy just thinks you need to stop growing up so fast!  :)

It's Potty Time!

It just seemed like the time was never right to start potty training, so last week we just went for it!  Before bedtime I prepped Langley for potty bootcamp!  No more diapers, her potty, and a Dora potty chart had her excited.  The next morning she was all ready for her big girl panties.  She was very excited about all the stickers that filled her chart.  We have had a few "uh-oh's" to say the least, but overall Langley is starting to get the hang of it.  We do need lots of practice on telling mommy she has to go!  Right now we cross our fingers and hope that the potty clock, moon, and stars all align!  : )

After every "tinkle" we did a potty dance.  It just had us dancing all day long!  And we had to have our crown on.  Langley kept pulling Daddy's favorite carpet out to be her dance floor.  He told us later this was not a good idea, especially during potty training!  Who knew?

Let the potty fun continue...more to come soon!

Beat the Heat at the Zoo!

We are back in Jacksonville!  And now that most of our summer traveling is over, it is time to get to know this knew city we are in!  Mommy and I went to the zoo with a new meetup group this day.  We weren't so sure about the zoo with all the heat we have been having, but when we found out about the splash park, we were in!

Dolphins and Whales were splashing me all over!

Mommy could only get a few pics, since she was chasing my slippery feet all over!

A GREAT lake day with "Gamma" and "Gampa"

I headed back to the lake and this time I got to take Gampa with me!  

I taught Gampa how to go down the slide.   I thought it was so funny to watch him and Gamma do it!

My favorite place was to sit at the end of the slide and dangle my feet in.

Whoa, catch me!    

I loved another great day at the lake!  And we even stopped for ice cream after which just topped it off!

Loving our stay in Aiken, SC! (They say my back is achin' for Aiken!)

Uncle Todd watering his favorite flower.

Chatting in the pool

Now the fun begins!

Yes for you single ladies out there, Todd is available and in search of the loving, nurturing type.  

Brother, I know you didn't mind me posting this, right?  ha, ha. :)

Langley always loves to husk corn with Grandpa.

Yay for Daddy arriving!  We missed him!  We all headed to a wildlife preserve the next morning.

Yes, this is an unhappy rattle snake that was rattling his tail very loudly!  A bit too close for comfort, but I did touch it!  Langley did not want to touch it, saying "No Way!" and "New animal!"  Someone has been teaching her that snakes are scary?  

Not so sure about the alligator tail either!

Petting the duck with Grandma.  Langley was much happier with the furry animals.

What a treat, we got to touch a possum too!  (yes that is sarcasm, i wasn't that excited about this one either, but langley liked the little critter)

 A nice way to get up close and personal with some wildlife!  Langley kept asking to see the peacocks.  She was a little disappointed about that.  

Thanks for the wonderful stay mom and dad!  We miss all the home cooked meals, and grandma and grandpa's undivided attention!

Getting to know the Slide with Uncle "Tido"

We are in Aiken, SC now visiting with my family.  We spent a fun day at the lake with Uncle Todd.  

Let's start with the baby slide.  Hmmm, not so sure about this?

Langley, this is how you do it.  Join me??

Alright already, here we go!!  (kicking and screaming) 

 I am not torchering you, I am just showing you how fun this can be!  :)

Ok, this isn't so bad.  Second round by herself...baby slide.

By the end of the day Langley was dragging Uncle Todd to go down the big slide with her!  She surprised us all!

This little girl needs a little push now and then!  She always loves it after that first plunge.  She has two fairly cautious parents, yet her daddy is much more the dare-devil!  I love to see how proud she is of herself after a big day of being "brave"!

Langley's First Haircut

Before all our travels the past couple weeks, Langley had her first trip to the beauty salon!  She was excited, yet you could hardly tell, because I don't think she cracked a smile the entire time!  She was a bit too intrigued by this new experience...along with the large man dressed all in black that cut her hair!

What a good girl you were!  Mommy was so proud and shed a little tear for that baby hair.  :D

Chautauqua Institute all the way!

Chautauqua Lake, New York has been part of my life since before I remember. I always look forward to our yearly summer retreat.  I have been so excited to share it with Langley the last couple years.  The Chautauqua experience is always hard to explain... it is a relaxing place, without the hustle and bustle of cars and traffic, bikes and legs are the way people get around, kids have tons of freedom with the lake, parks, fountains, day camps, and it has a calendar full of artsy ballet, daily intellectual lectures, and nightly symphonies and concerts to stimulate my mommy brain!   I always feel completely renewed when leaving Chautauqua and always go through withdrawl!

  Old First Night is a yearly event to celebrate Chautauqua's birthday.  This year Chautauqua was 136 years old!   Here is my mom, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Gary, and Langley walking the Old First Night 5K. The whole fam had to participate...no excuses!!  : )

The final sprint to the finish line!  Go Langley!

Langley and Grandma conducting as the band played for Old First Night in the plaza.

Langley wasn't old enough for children's school this year, but she had so much fun watching all the big kids put on a play for Old First Night.

They had a dance party afterward, so Langley joined in with Aunt Kathy.

Langley loved heading to the concert in her pj's!

Cheering on the air band...the annual lipsync show the boys and girls club puts on.

 

Seeing Airband this year brought back memories of my club days.  I remember performing Grease and the Broadway Cats.

AT THE LAKE

Langley always asked to go to the "deep end".

Langley's first boat ride!  "Faster!"

BESTOR PLAZA TIMES

We love sitting on the fish in the fountain!

FAMILY TIMES 

We had a nice lunch with my Great Aunt Mary and cousin Annie.  What a lady Aunt Mary is...91 years old and still doing so great! 

 

Langley loved seeing her cousin(2nd, 3rd not sure?) Charlie.

After dinner we had a Mama Mia dance party!

Dancin' Diva

Langley LOVED her Aunt Kathy!  After a couple days, Kathy had Langley hooked!

It was great to spend a day at the lake with Aunt Pam!

Charlie and Heather joined us one day at the lake too!

We spent lots of time on the porch.  Langley loved opening and closing all the old windows.

happy hour spot!

Ice Cream with Grandma