Fall Break

I needed a break, so I got a last minute ticket to Denver and Ev and I flew to visit the 'rents.  She was a dream on the plane, even though this was the first time we weren't able to have an extra seat by us.  We had a nice seat mate who had a 12-year-old daughter and loved playing with Evelynd.  Then, halfway through the flight Evelynd fell asleep and stayed asleep until we landed.  We met up with Nana Evans at the airport and Ev used the airport potty!  When we got to the house, we immediately had to see the horses.  Now, Dassow Mommy is hoping to get some rest and papers graded.

Rainbow

Evelynd saw her first real rainbow today.  We live in Oregon, so this may seem a bit surprising, but it was a lovely, large rainbow and Evie loved seeing it.



My students had their harp ensemble rehearsal today, which Ev enjoyed since Carolyn hosted and she has cats.  In the evening, we got to play with Mary and Bridget again.  The girls enjoyed jumping off the couch.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday was beautiful, so I had high hopes for today.  Alas, no such luck!  It was freezing and very wet, but we went to meet the Jippings at the pumpkin patch anyway.  We didn't even get a pumpkin since we were all too cold, but Evelynd climbed the hay stacks and we got some delicious apple cider doughnuts.  Plus, she enjoyed seeing the animals in the petting zoo.  So, not a total loss.

Evie's outfit was made by her great-grandmother Jeanie for her cousin Isa.  Maddy had saved it and let us borrow it.  It's warm, reversible, and very cute.  There are even matching mittens. 

Later that day, during a break in the weather, we got to meet up with Mary and Bridget at the park and then ended our Friday with a Country Fair.  Evelynd kept trying to copy the square dancers.  Dassow Daddy's working this weekend, so it's just us girls.

Using the Big Girl Potty

After we got home from lessons today, Evelynd again told me that she needed to go potty.  I again asked if she wanted to try to the toilet and this time she said, "Yes."  So I quickly ran down to the basement to get the Sesame Street toilet seat we had, put it on the toilet, and she went pee-pee!  Hooray!  Let's hope this is a real trend.

Two Funny Stories

1. Today Evelynd threw her plate on the floor and broke it.  I sternly said, "No."  She doesn't hear that word very often and so her lower lip started to quiver.  I started cleaning up and heard her saying, "Nana, Papa, Evie.  Jesus, Amen."  She had her head bowed and her hands folded.  Apparently, she was asking to go live with Nana and Papa instead of her mean mommy.  :)
2.  Later in the day I asked her if she was happy or sad.  She said, "No.  BOLD!"  Well, okay then!

Happy 19 Month Birthday, Baby Girl!

How lame am I?  I totally forgot and didn't get any pictures today!  The 16th just passed me by!  We were busy teaching in Portland so at least Evie got to play with Isa ("Isi") and Ally and visit GG'ma and GG'pa.

So, what's new?  She calls herself Evie quite regularly now, so most of our speech is in the third person.  I'm hoping for early potty training as often as she is telling me she's going poopy before she actually does.  She's counting and talking a lot.  She loves to sing and do finger plays -- especially if we do them "fast."  She's getting more imaginative, able to pretend and play with other kids her age.  Evelynd can even run a little better now, so we could finally pass our 18-month gross motor skills test.  She's a joy, pure and simple. 

Evelynd's New Best Friend

Cinderella!

At the Kids Club today, Evelynd found a Cinderella doll that was even bigger than her and she carried it everywhere.  Then, we saw a Cinderella book at the grocery store and she has Cinderella on a plate the Jippings gave her for her birthday.  Ev loves it and spent all day talking about "Erella."

Happy Birthday, Cousin Fox!

Today is Fox's 2nd birthday.  You can read about his party here.

Tea Time

A new tea shop opened up recently and we called the Jippings girls to come try it with us.  Unfortunately, they don't have the easiest hours to work with our schedules, but we were able to meet up today (although Thalia and Sylvia were unavailable after all).  Evelynd had fun and loved the cucumber and chicken sandwiches.  Afterwards, we had fun at the used bookstore next door.  Plus, it was raining, so it all felt very Notting Hill.

A New Hat?

At GG'ma and GG'pa's today, Evelynd found the basket that holds her toys and decided it would make a nice hat.  Well, it fit her perfectly and matched her outfit, so why not?

Dassow Desayuno

Even though it's supposed to be 80 degrees today, the mornings are cold, so I made pumpkin spice pancakes and cinnamon rolls for breakfast today.  It was yummy and a nice change from eggs and cold cereal.

We ended the day with a prayer -- for colors.  Evelynd would remind me to pray for "pink, orange, blue, purple."

Cheesehead/Packer Backer

Evelynd got to watch the Packers game today (although I don't think there was much watching at all) wearing her first Packers gear, courtesy of her Uncle Michael and Aunt Judy.  I'm sure with all the family influence, she will be a loyal, lifelong fan.

 

Bad Blogger

It's been very difficult for me to get back into the blogging swing of things.  I haven't had my camera in my hands as much either, but I want to get back into it.  I want Evelynd (and baby boy) to have a record of their childhoods.  So, here it is a week later.  Not much to report beyond our usual lessons, library story time, and lots of playing.  Today, though, we were reading "Bedtime Peekaboo," a present from Cousin Maddy, and Evelynd saw a girl with pigtails.  She wanted some.  So here is my quick first version of pigtails on Ev.

  

 

 Then, she took the camera and snapped a couple of pictures of her favorite things: her new boots and her beaky (used to be blanket, then "B," briefly "beak").

 P.S. A very happy birthday to Evelynd's Aunt Cami!