Playing in the Garden

The Missour'ah Botanical Gardens has a special garden just for kids and they don't even charge for it until you're 3. It was a lot of fun. There were slides and tree forts, a general store with lots of real-looking fruits and vegetables. I really wanted to take a bite out of those bananas and limes and apples. Yummm. The best game they had there was this one where you take the carrots, climb up on a crate and then throw them into the basket. I'm pretty sure that's what you're supposed to do. I mean, it only makes sense.












We put paddle boats in a river and had a snack in the gazebo.
I also discovered that water squirting from the ground is not scary, but actually FUN. But those water squirts are tricky. I was waiting for one to squirt and was looking down at the hole where the water comes out and SPLAT! My face was so wet. My clothes, too. Can you believe my mom didn't remember to pack extra socks for me?

Letting Dad cut my hair

But only if Mom feeds me M 'n Ms while he's doing it. What do you think, should I let him do it next time or go back to Great Cuts? Also, what do you think of my "on demand" smile. I've been working on it because sometimes people tell you to smile and I do try to be cooperative when at all possible.



If he cuts it just a little shorter in front then we'll REALLY look a lot alike.

Eating corn on the cob!

Farmin'

We went out to a real farm (sort of) a couple weeks ago. Well, they had real animals, anyway.

I pat pat patted some bunnies. They were so nice.

I looked at some chickens and horses and even milked a cow!

Look at me! Doesn't my dad look so proud? Maybe he hopes I'll be a dairy farmer when I grow up.

Beatin' the Heat

This summer has not been so bad weather-wise, but it was really really really hot a few days ago. Luckily we were prepared with popsicles, a little pool, and AC. See, I'm all ready to go splashing in my pool.




Want to see me do a BIG splash? Ok.















Ready . . .


















Set . . .


















GO!

Crazy fun

There's a cool museum here called the City Museum where they have lots of things to climb on and look at. It's crazy.



There's a place to run around on skateboarding jumps. They were pretty steep.

I like to try things out on my own, but sometimes a little boost helps get things done.












There was a place to play with blocks . . . and lots of steep, narrow things to climb through. And I can't forget the real-live Bob's Big Boy and the world's largest pair of Y-front briefs! There was also a train for small people to ride on. Ask me about it and I'll tell you. My story goes something like this: "Nini down choo choo. Daddy wave. Mama wave. Boo hoo, ah, waa, hoo hoo hoo."

Meeting mom and dad's buddies from the corps.

I've made quite a few trips already this summer. One was all the way to Kansas to meet some people that Mom and Dad just call RPCVs.


It was a pretty good time, actually. There was good food (cake and hotdogs) to eat and dancing, too.









There were lots of nice people and fun activities!










Luckily, there were also some other kids. Here's picture of us eating popsicles. Mmmmm.

Chicago!

I can't believe I didn't tell everyone about my awesome trip to Chicago! We went a really long time ago. We visited our friends Emily and Joe and they took us to see all the best stuff in Chicago. We went to the aquarium and saw a dolphin show. We saw the second best view of Chicago! We visited Millenium Park and saw the bean and splashed in the spitting face fountain. It was great. And then we ate at this fantastic Italian restaurant. And the whole weekend I didn't spill anything staining in their entire apartment.

Riding my bike

"Nini biseble!" It's fun to ride on a big bike, though it's not always very fun to wear your hat. Well, in theory it's fun, but when it gets down to it, I just don't want to wear it. But, you have to wear it if you want to ride the big bike. We rode the bike to my friend Joseph's house the other day. But we had to walk back because I wouldn't wear my hat, or get in the seat . . . . . or stop screaming. I'm just practicing for being two.