The Circus!

Samantha saw a billboard for the circus about a month ago, and has been begging to go ever since that day. We couldn't decide if we should go or not, but then we decided that if we got the cheap tickets it wouldn't matter if we had to leave. She was very excited and was in sensory overload. They let you go on the floor before it started to meet some of the animals and performers. Needless to say, it was pretty crazy! She tried on one of the outfits, but was still a little unsure of everything at this point in time.

She settled in pretty quickly, and wasn't even scared of the clowns. She even high fived one, and I must say it freaked me out more than her.

Woody was very good, and enjoyed looking at everything. He was his normal chill self.

It was hard to get her to stand still for just one picture. They had so much stuff that you could buy, but was sooooooooo overpriced that it wasn't even funny.

We broke down for one cotton candy, which was twelve dollars--yes, I said twelve dollars! She at least got this snazzy hat with it, and Ernie kept telling her that it better be the best cotton candy that she ever tasted. I didn't even want to know what a drink or popcorn must have cost. We saw one lady with five bags of cotton candy, and all we could think was that cost sixty dollars.

The show was interesting, but we must admit a little lack luster. People kept coming and going down the aisle, and anytime something good was about to happen the people in front of me would stand up to let someone in or out of their aisle. I thought Ernie was going to hurt someone. All of the dads looked totally bored, but most of the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves.

If it tells you anything, Samantha fell asleep about thirty minutes after it started. Only Samantha would fall asleep during the circus! Needless to say, we left at intermission.

Woody had a grand time, and stayed awake. He just sat there and watched. He had a little melt down, but he just needed the pacifier to suck on. Samantha did not want to go once we woke her up, but we knew it was in our best interest to leave early. Ernie says the circus that goes up and down the shore is much better. We will have to wait and see.

January Fun

I had to catch up on the blog, so I tried to lump a couple of weeks into one long picture collage. Woody is sitting up like a champ, but is in no hurry to do anything else. Samantha is as funny as ever, and still has her little engine running at all times. She loves the library, museum, park, and JCC. She likes to sit in the front seat of the car, and discovered how to open the sun roof on this day. We have had some rain, when everyone else has had snow. She loves to wear her rain coat, and I only let her wear her boots on special days. She still has a little trouble walking in them for a long period of time.

She looooovvvveeesss Woody! She hugs him, lays on him, tickles him, and basically mauls him on a daily basis. You can tell he doesn't like it very much;)

She now thinks that she must wear a dress everyday! She loves this polka dot one, and I only let her wear it when the weather is nicer. She begs me every single day to wear a "pretty" dress.

We were in Decatur, AL, with Ernie for an ODP training session. I went on my normal mission to find a park, and I found this play area in a housing addition. Samantha was demonstrating "working out" in this photo.

This airplane was pretty neat, and was kind of like a teeter totter. I like Woody hanging out in the background.

Samantha still likes to help in the kitchen. She eats more than she helps, but still has a good time doing it.

She begs to wear her princess dresses daily. We usually get the trunk out right before we put her pajamas on, and this night she passed out in her dress. I didn't have the heart to wake her up, so she had a fantastic surprise the next morning. She was very happy!

She loves to change into all of the different outfits, and carries her wand around everywhere.

She enjoys climbing on anything, which includes daddy. She would climb up his back, and then he would flip her over. She did this over and over and over...

She likes to take her hammer and test everything. I asked her what her head was made out of, and she tried to figure it out.

Baxter had a rough day, and the cats decided to join him for a rest.

Woody likes to play with anything he can try to get into his mouth. This phone is very entertaining to him.

Don't tell Samantha that she is not supposed to eat popcorn until she is four. That could start a fight!

She still climbs into his crib whenever she discovers that he is awake. Once again, we probably shouldn't let her, but she is so quick.

They absolutely adore eachother, and I am not making it up. I hope they stay like this as long as possible. I know my days are numbered.

Some Extracurricular Activities

We try to keep Samantha and Woody as busy as possible. She already likes to do all sorts of things inside or outside. We take advantage of the sunny days, and then have little things around the house that keeps them both amused. It also helps to have hard wood floors! She likes to push him around the park on the new paths they have just finished. She gets easily distracted, but Woody enjoys the break in the sunshine.
Samantha likes to push Woody in the stroller. She does a decent job since she can barely see over the top.

Baxter thinks he is a little boy, and was trying to go down the slide with Samantha. We get some odd looks from people passing by, but Baxter wants to play like the rest of the kids.

Samantha still asks to hold Woody as much as we will let her. You have to keep a close eye on her, because when she is done she just lets him go. He will end up being tough after all of her "lessons."

Woody thinks Baxter is hilarious, and Baxter could care less. It is fun to watch Baxter let Woody do whatever he wants to him, and I think Baxter is just glad it is not Samantha attacking him.

Ernie takes her for a "spin" around the house. It makes me laugh to see her in all of the "equipment" when she is roller skating. She keeps talking about wanting to go ice skating, but she is going to have to wait until the move up north.

She wants to roller skate whenever we give her the chance, and needs close supervision. She is very serious about it.

Samantha looks like she has played all day by the time the sun has set. She never stops, and lets you know it.

Woody likes to play with his train. He will sit on the guest bed and play for long periods of time. It is such a different experience to have a child that will sit and play with things. Samantha would have been off of the bed by now and climbing something at this age.