Swimming Through the Wild Rumpus Parade
Abby loves "swimming in the ocean." And she loves lining all of the animals up for a "rumpus parade" -- her tribute to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
The Flamingo
We went back to the LARK today (see posts from January 6, 2006) and took Will with us this time. As we walked in the door, a man said the carousel would be starting in two minutes. Abby got so excited and started to run toward the carousel. We made it just in time and she decided to ride the flamingo first.
Little Orphan Annie
Someone abandoned sweet little Annie at the toystore's door, so she now lives amongst the tin robots!
The Squished Penny Machine
Uncle Alex and Aunt Stephani got Abby started collecting squished pennies. So, Abby and Daddy decided to make a squished penny to send to Uncle Alex and Aunt Stephani. (Abby got her carousel squished penny earlier in the month.)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Abby Simply Loves School
Abby LOVES preschool!!! Each morning she runs into her classroom and doesn't even acknowledge her poor mother who calls, "Bye-bye Abby! Have a good morning at school. I love you."
Today when I picked Abby up, she came charging out of her classroom with her arms up in the air and she was squealing with joy!! She wanted to know if I missed her!
Abby starts school at 8:45 AM each weekday. She has two teachers -- Melissa and Sarah. I'm not certain how many other children are in her class, but I think there are about six.
They start the morning with their "work." This can include: painting, playing, baking bread, cutting, washing dishes, washing windows, etc.. Later in the morning they go to the gym and Abby "rides bikes and plays basketball." She likes to demonstrate how "we have to throw the ball." They then go back to their classroom and have group time which includes stories and singing.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Grandma's 65th Birthday
Abby and I drove to Decorah after Abby got out of school to celebrate Grandma's 65th birthday!! We had a lovely afternoon and evening and Abby sang Happy Birthday several times. But when it was time for cake, Abby said, "No more singing. I want cake!"
A package from Noni (Abby's other grandmother) arrived for Grandma while we were visiting. I told Abby it was a package from Noni. Abby asked, "What did Noni send me?"
Lucky for Abby, there was also a package for her from Noni when we arrived back in Rochester!
Abby Pulls Grandpa's Ear
Abby may look sweet enough in this picture, but the reason Grandpa is flinching is because Abby is pulling his ear!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
You Can't Eat Ducks
I've been wondering when/if Abby would react negatively to references to people eating animals. Tonight I was reading her Toni Morrison's The Big Box. A girl's parents bring her a duck prepared by a chef. Abby asked, "Where is the duck." I pointed to the picture of the cooked duck on the platter. Abby looked at me and said in a rather high-pitched voice, "You can't eat ducks!"
Abby's Goodnight Prayer
Tonight Abby said she would start her "thank you prayer" and I should join in. Here is how she started it:
"Dear God, thank you for people: for Noni and Granddad, Grandma and Grandpa and Max and Clifton." [Long pause.]
At this point I joined in and made sure the rest of the family was included.
Abby then added, "And Langston, Colin Green Jones, Irving and Amy Newt!"
Abby's always on a first name basis with Langston and Irving, but she always refers to Colin and Amy in a more formal manner -- if you can call Newt formal!!!
Three Masterpieces
Today Abby created these three masterpieces at school. Abby told me her favorite is "the purple." I'm inclined to think "the orange" is the finest, but we both do like the mixed media yellow! (It's hard to tell from the scan, but the orange square on "the yellow" is actually a tile that Abby "superglued" to the paper!) All works of art are on permanent display in Minnesota, so please consider arranging a personal showing -- wine and cheese will be served!
First Montessori Artwork
This is Abby's very first piece of art she created at her Montessori school. She made it last week, but I only just now got around to scanning it! She was very proud when she gave it to me. It's been on our refrigerator and will return there momentarily!
Dear God...
Abby just said the following prayer before her nap:
"Dear God thank you for penguins, starfish, Daddy, Mommy, Abby, ravioli, and Tonto!"
With a little prompting, she added the rest of her family (including "Max and Clifton the scaredy cat")!
Fruits and Vegetables
This morning I asked Abby if she knew what type of food the banana she was eating is. She said, "No." I said, "It is a fruit and green beans are vegetables." She asked what oranges and clementines are. I told her fruit. I also told her that peas and potatoes are vegetables. She asked about carrots and apples. I told her vegetables and fruits, respectively and she looked at me very seriously and said, "I don't think I like vegetables very much!"
Monday, January 16, 2006
Polka Dot Kills the Apple
I was just telling Abby about a mommy cheetah that Will and I saw on tv last night. I told her that the mommy had five cheetah cubs and therefore had to kill an animal every two days or so to feed everyone.
She looked at me and said, "I'm going to give my snake an apple so he can kill it!" And with that, she handed her snake Polka Dot an apple and he appears to have killed it!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Filler' Up
Abby and I drove to La Crosse, WI today to "help" Ashley and Grandma and Grandpa move Ashley into a new dorm room. They didn't know we were coming, so it was great fun seeing Dad's face when he came around the corner and saw us! We didn't help much, but we did get a free lunch (thanks Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa). Abby insisted she wanted fish for lunch, so I ordered it for her, but certainly did not think that our little, self-imposed vegetarian would eat it. But, alas, she ate all of it (but not the breading -- good job Abby) and seemed to love it!!
After lunch, Abby and I went to the La Crosse Children's Museum. It's a great place with so many fun things for children to do. In this photo Abby is pulling up to the gas station and preparing to fill up the tank with gas!
Spam Lite
The museum had a child-sized convenience store (Kwik Trip). Abby enjoyed shopping and putting things in her cart. I enjoyed taking this photo! She couldn't figure out why I was laughing, but in the words of Abby, "That's OK!"
Sending Boats Down the River
Abby loved the museum's river display. She sent the boats down the river and had great fun splashing in the water!
Fireman Stott to the Rescue
Abby loved playing on the fire engine. I'm not so certain about her driving techniques, but she more than made up for her lack of skill with her commitment to the job!
Monday, January 09, 2006
Tired Baby
Today was Abby's first day of preschool. She goes to the Rochester Montesorri School and will be there three hours each weekday. She had such a good time today that I think she was a bit disappointed to see Will and me pick her up. She played with Playdough -- "I cut the Pu-ta-doe, but did not hurt my finger." When we came to pick her up, she was sitting at a little table eating crackers. We watched her for a minute or two and saw her finish her crackers, take her bowl to the sink and wash it. We were extremely proud. It was a big day and Abby simply crashed tonight!!!!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Abby Rips Open Her Gift from the Grabers
Abby was so excited to see another Christmas gift -- especially one as large as this one from her Uncle Pete, Aunt Lori and cousins Ashley and Jacob!
Abby Thanks Lori
Jacob Jacob Jacob
Abby LOVES her cousin Jacob! She followed him around all weekend and when he wasn't in view she asked, "Where's Jacob?"
Ashley Zooms in on Abby
Ashley got a new digital camera for Christmas and took a lot of pictures of Abby!
Abby's First Lottery Ticket
Will bought a lottery ticket for each of us. Abby scratched her ticket, but alas, she was a loser. (Grandma did win $2 though!)
A Polka Dot Computer
This morning Abby found a green ribbon with white polka dots and walked around dragging it behind her. She told me it was her rattle snake and she needed to get it a big polka dot computer to work on!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Abby Raids Her Piggy Bank
Today was Abby's last day at home with me before starting preschool on Monday. So, to commemorate the day, I decided to take her to a special toy store and carousel called LARK (Lost Arts Revival by Kreofsky). LARK (www.larktoys.com) claims to be the nation's largest independent toy store and is in the middle of nowhere in rural Minnesota. (Oh, Uncle Alex, when you come to visit us you'll discover that LARK carries more than 100 tin robot toys!!!!!)
Here Abby raids her piggy bank for her shopping spree. I asked her what she wanted to buy and she said, "Maybe some ravioli or the carousel!"
From the Piggy Bank to the Piggy Purse
After getting all of the change out of her piggy bank, Abby fills her piggy purse. Remarkably, she had about $10 in change -- mostly from Grandpa's pockets, I think!
Abby Rides the Carousel
Abby was so excited when she saw the carousel. She walked around and around before choosing the cart pulled by the mommy ostrich for her first ride. The woman operating the carousel said she'd never seen such a young child say ostrich or even know what one was!
Abby and Tonto Ride the Carousel
Abby chose the big goldfish for her last ride and continues to say that she'll ride the duck when we go back again! In this picture, we were trying to get Abby to smile and finally Lisa tried Grandma's line, "Take your smile out of your pocket and put it on!" Abby took something out of her pocket and put it on, but it didn't appear to be a smile. Carousel riding is serious business!
And a Lollipop Too
Because riding a carousel, picking out a cool musical tin carousel toy, and buying one of your favorite books (Angus Gets Lost by Marjorie Flack) at a great toy store simply aren't much fun for a two-year-old, Abby ended the outing with a lollipop!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Abby's Animals' Website
Today in the produce aisle at the grocery store Abby said, "Mommy, I'm working on my com-pooh-ter." I said, "Great Abby! What are you doing?" She replied, "I'm making a website for my animals!" A woman standing next to us looked at Abby, and then at me, and then back at Abby with such a surprised look on her face!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Lemon Meringue Pie
This morning Abby was playing in her playroom. Lynette called in to her, "Abby, what are you doing?" Abby replied, "I'm making lemon meringue pie!" (Abby loves Amelia Bedelia.)
Monday, January 02, 2006
Happy New Year Spaghetti
Abby had a New Year's spaghetti feast! As you can see, she LOVED every bite of it!!
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