Sunday afternoon

There is always so much going on these days that we don't seem to have much time at home to try some new things. This afternoon, I pulled out one of Mary Ellen's new games of Memory she got for her birthday. We laid all the cards out and tried to make pairs looking at them.


Here she is holding her first pair that she found!


She then had more fun building stacks with the cards and counting them, which is one of her favorite things to do these days!

We also painted our toenails this afternoon. When Mary Ellen woke up from her nap, she noticed that I had changed my toenails, so she wanted hers done.


Mary Ellen's showing off her painted toes.


Look, Mommy and Mary Ellen match!

Splash park

We went to the Splash Park in Jacksonville on Friday. Mary Ellen was very excited about playing in water until we got there. It was a little overwhelming for her. But, after sitting on the side of the kiddie pool for a long time, I convinced her to try the slide. After that, we couldn't stop her. She wanted to do it by herself and had a lot of fun. Just had to get use to all of it!


Checking it all out when we first got there!

Enjoying the slide!

A quick visit with cousin Susie!

Mary Ellen and I got to have a quick visit with Susie the other day. She was here with work, and they were making a stop of the Clinton Presidential Library. We ventured down and toured the library and enjoyed our time with Susie. We are hoping that she comes back soon, and we can have a longer visit!


Mary Ellen and Susie getting a look at downtown Little Rock from the window!


Mary Ellen sort of looking at the camera. There was just too much to look at outside!



After the group left, Mary Ellen wanted to play around outside. We did for a little while, which included watching the birds.


Mary Ellen shared her snack of goldfish with the birds. Here she is telling them to come and get their snack!

SPLAT - Water day

Today was water day at SPLAT. For those that know Mary Ellen really well, you know that she isn't really big on water play. In order to prepare her for it, we talked it up a whole lot, and of course, we were the first ones there, so she could ease into it. It turned into a great day, where she loved the water, and she is even saying that she wants a little pool for our backyard. Hopefully, we can do more water activities, so we don't lose the interest and can also cool off in the heat of the summer.


To begin with, she played in the bouncy toy that didn't have any water. A church member had this and the big pool with the slide, so we were very grateful to have the added fun. Mary Ellen enjoyed bouncing, and of course, she came back to it even after getting into the water.


At first, she just put her hands in the small pool and splashed around.


She had to check it out with the other girls, which I think helped the transition.


After watching the big kids in the big pool, she was ready to go into the little pool and play. She even liked having a little slide of her own.


She got excited about running through the sprinklers. I even joined her in my clothes, because it was a nice way to cool off!


Look at me run!


I stepped inside to get the snacks ready. Mr. Paul got her to try the big pool and let her slide from half way down. I don't think that she would have done this with me, but with someone else she was ready. She really liked it!


Snack break!


This sprinkler shot balls up with the water. Mary Ellen was so use to the water by now that she was letting it get her in the face. She loves balls so much that this was such an exciting toy!


And here they were chasing after the balls and the water. So, you can see that it was a great day and a great change in our feelings about water. I think that we will be enjoying some more water days at home and around in the coming days!

Happy Birthday, Ethan

This morning, we went to Ethan's 5th Birthday party! It was a lot of new things for Mary Ellen to try out. We started with "Minute to Win It" games like from the tv show, had cake, opened presents, hit a pinata, and ended with mini golf. A lot of fun, even in the heat.


This Minute to Win It game involved pulling kleenex out of the box as fast as possible. Mary Ellen really liked it and got into it!


On this one, you were suppose to unroll the crepe paper as fast as possible. Mary Ellen thought that it was just as much fun to just swirl it and say, "WHEEE!"


Mary Ellen and her buddy, Sam!


The birthday boy aiming for the pinata as everyone watches on.


Mary Ellen took at a swing at the pinata with Daddy's help. They were able to get it started with the candy coming out.


A few practice swings before hitting the mini golf course.


She spent a little more time carrying her ball to the hole, rather than hitting it in there. I think that she always was enjoying seeing her shadow here!


She was close enough that she thought that she could hit it in!


Daddy trying to teach her the right way to play golf!


Sam explaining how this one works!

Faces of Mary Ellen

Some pictures catching everyone up on Mary Ellen!


Enjoying her first treat from the ice cream truck, or as she says when we she hears the music, "Ice cream cone!"


"YEAH! Daddy is home, and he brought me a Minnie Mouse!"


For some reason, she decided that she had to wear this hat yesterday. When I wanted to take her picture, she also had to show her goldfish in her mouth!

New Bed and our little entertainer

This week has brought the actual transition to a big girl bed for Mary Ellen. We have been talking about it with her, looking at beds, and getting bedding ordered, but we had to wait for everything to arrive and find time to put it all together. She was so excited about her new bed as you can see in this picture.



She tried it out and checked out all parts of it.



But, when she realized that I was not sleeping in there with her, it turned into a different story. The first night was tough, but once she went to sleep, she never tired to get out of the bed and waited for us to get her in the morning. The second night was a little better, and today with her nap, she got in and told me good night. Once she goes to sleep, she sleeps great in her new bed. I think that she really is much more comfortable in there than in her crib. Within a few days, I am sure she will be an expert about it. We will just have to wait and see if she tries to get out without us coming to get her. That may be a whole new adventure!

Mary Ellen loves to sing and dance, so, I had to share these videos of her dancing and singing the other night. One is her singing Elmo's world with her daddy, and the second one she starts singing, but I love her exit. She decided that the show was over!









And these pictures are just because. Mary Ellen saw the camera, and she wanted her picture taken. She actually gave me a good smile, so I had to share them!

SPLAT

We have started a new activity at church called, SPLAT (Summer Preschool Learning Activity Time.) Each week, we have a different activity for kids and their moms to enjoy along with a snack. Yesterday was our first one, and we had so much fun. It was bubble day, with a few balls thrown in, which Mary Ellen loved. We had told her about it Monday night before she went to bed, so she woke up asking about bubbles Tuesday morning. She was so excited when we got there to see the stuff set-up, but she had trouble waiting for the other kids to arrive. It was a great time, even in the heat, but I can say that after a morning of fun, Mary Ellen had a great nap and was asking about more bubbles when she woke up!

Storytime

We have gone off and on to the library for storytime here in Bryant. This past Monday, it was the kick-off for their summer reading program, so we ventured back. Mary Ellen has learned so much from storytime, especially songs that she loves to sing over and over again. Before we went this time, she told me that she was going to "sing, listen to story, and get Clifford books." We didn't get the Clifford books, because she decided that she wanted "Dora stories" this time. But, she did sing and listen to the story!

Corn on the Cob

Mary Ellen loves corn on the cob! When she sees it on her plate, it is the first thing she goes for and asks for more! I think that she would eat her weight in it if I would let her!