Rock'n Weekend

Today, Elle and I joined her friends Kaitlyn (her BFF) and Jacob - and their Moms Julie (and Kaitlyn's dad, Chris) and Erica - at a kids concert. We went to see a local kids favorite, Rocknoceros. I had never heard of them before last week but for some reason, multiple parents happened to mention them this week and luckily, there was a concert less than a 10 minute drive from our house.

Jacob, Elle and Kaitlyn patiently waiting in the front row as the band set up. Elle picked the seats and sat there the longest. I don't think I have ever seen her this patient!

I have to say, for being geared to 3-5 year olds, these guys were pretty good. At one point, they even covered a Beetles song (the only cover - everything else was their own).

I think she had a good time!

Quite the little dancer!

The moms even got in on the action.

The band said that they hoped to write a song about all 50 states and they are about 6% complete. Fortunately for me, the one they played for us was OHIO!!

Being the true, new groupies that the kids ended up being, they even waited (sort of) patiently to meet the bass player and get their hands stamped!

All of the groupies!

Kaitlyn and her mommie, Julie.

Kaitlyn and Elle have been friends for probably a year and a half and really seem like they are BFFs. At times, the hugs are borderline tackles...

In a few weeks, Kaitlyn and her parents will be moving to Florida (both are in the Army). It has been so great getting to know them and we are very sad to see them go.

Enjoy Florida, we'll miss you!!

Who Is More Stubborn?

Alternate Title:

"Playing Chicken With A 22-month Old"

Sunday night during dinner, Elle started pointing out the window and repeatedly saying "eat outside". Sounds like a great idea for a spring dinner right? Well, last weekend when we ate lunch out there it was around 80 degrees and beautiful. Tonight, it was a cold, rainy 56 degress.

Try explaining that to a 22-month old.

At some point, she decided that she was done eating in her high chair and insisted on going outside to finish. Fine...I'll let you go outside.

Want your coat or shoes? No! Eat Outside!

Ok - we'll see how long this lasts.

So, I opened the back door, told her to go sit at the table and I would bring her plate out. My little barefoot child headed to the patio. I figured she would put one toe out on the cold wet step and be done with it. But, nooooo. She actually made it about halfway across the patio before she came back to the door.

But, she wasn't done yet. It took about 7-8 times in/out without ever making it to the table before I finally convinced her to just take a blueberry and eat it on the step. That should count as eating outside, right?

Well, after 3 more times in/out (and 6 more blueberries), Elle and her little red feet finally came back in and closed the door.

Final score: Elle - 1; Mommie - 0

Yep, I think I lost at Chicken against a toddler.

Determined and independent barely describe her some days!

Weekend at home

Yes, another weekend at home!

Friday, Elle's daycare hosted "Kinderfest" - complete with a horse, bounce house, balloon animals and McGruff! She went back to him 4 or 5 times. She really does love all characters!

Saturday, we did a few playdates but started the day with Mickey pancakes. Not bad for my first try - too bad she only ate about 4 bites. From the ears, of course.

Sunday, we went to Elle's first concert/performance. We went to see ZooZoo. It was pretty good and kept her and one of her little buddies entertained for nearly 2 hours. Impressive.

I will say, while the kids did pretty good, I think this show was probably better for the 4-6 year old age group. There were a lot of "jokes" that 22-24 month old kids don't understand. And, the ever empathetic, Elle really had issues with a skit that had some hippos falling off of a bed. I had to tell her they were just playing...

Elle Sings!

For the first time tonight, I caught Elle trying to sing a song. I was able to get her to sing it for you :)

Granted, she only uses one word throughout but she is definitely carrying the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep! She has been demanding B-I-N-G-O for about a month in the car - glad she finally found another song. Even better that she can sing it instead of me!

Enjoy!

The 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll!!!!

YES! Elle and I are very fortunate to be friends with Kate, and her mom Kim. And, that Kim is always on the look out for fun stuff to do in the Washington area. And that she remembers to put her name in to lotteries. AND that she was super lucky to get tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll this year!

Oh, and we were super lucky to get to go with them on Monday!

First stop, the Sesame Street stage with Abby and Elmo!

Averelle and I on the South Lawn.

Kim and Kate on the South Lawn.

(In case you were wondering, Elle is not the only kid still carted around in an Ergo...)

We aren't exactly sure who this is, but Elle wanted to meet all of the characters. I think he is associated with healthy eating but she only cared that he was a cat...

You can't see them, but President and Mrs. Obama were on the portico welcoming everyone to the event.

I swear.

One of the few group photos we got. Kim, Kate, The Cat in the Hat, Elle and me - and some lady that was in all of my photos for this stop.

Elle and Elmo!

After her Disney experience, she was ready for this. She just ran right up to him and turned around so I could take her picture. No smiles, but trust me, she was soooo excited!

Then Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Kim and Kate with Clifford!

Kate was not a fan of the big crowd - here is Elle "checking" on her. Such good buddies!

Elle, Kate and me.

With Babar!

Oh yeah - I also got to shake hands with First Lady Michelle Obama!

Seriously awesome.

She is as nice and beautiful in person as you would imagine she would be. She thought it was great that Elle and Kate were snacking on whole apples while we waited to meet her.

On the way out, we were given souvenir wooden eggs like on the WH website. Elle got a blue one with an Easter Bunny on it.

Thanks so much to Kim and Kate for letting us tag along! This was an amazing day and it was great to share the experience with Elle's birthday buddy! We owe you big time for this one!

Happy Easter!

For Elle's second Easter, I had fun making some recipes from my favorite kid's recipe website, Weelicious.

We started the morning with "pink milk" = milk pureed with strawberries and honey. Then she had a carrot, apple, coconut muffin. I also made some banana quinoa that was really good but since she ate a whole banana while I made it, she didn't even try a bite.

After breakfast, we got around to checking out her 3rd Easter basket of the year (yes, 3rd!).

New farm squirt toys for the bathtub, matchbox cars and a farm matching game. Lots of fun!

The Easter egg hunt.

Man, next year the Easter Bunny needs to make her work a little harder :)

Elle's first Easter candy! A hollow chocolate egg. Yum!

For a kid who has never shown much interest in candy, she really enjoyed Easter. Later in the day, she got to find more eggs at my friend Jill's house. She quickly figured out that she likes miniature Reese's peanut butter cups and managed to sneek them out of as many eggs as she could. It's a wonder she ever went to bed that night!

Enjoying the chocolate egg - what a cutie!

On our way to Jill's for Easter dinner. Don't we look pretty?

She even let me put a pony tail in her hair and left it in all day!

Elle and her 'Raffe

Grandma and Grandpa Brown sent Elle a fabulous, super huge giraffe for Valentine's Day.

Needless to say, she still loves it. She was being difficult when I wanted to take her 22 month photo the other day until I offered to let the giraffe join her in the picture.

Oh, yeah. It is also sturdy enough that she tried to ride it too!

Oh yeah, we are THAT neighbor...

We got back from Indy Friday afternoon and spent the weekend catching up with friends, doing laundry and hitting the grocery store (really exciting here in the big city).

After all of that excitement, Elle and I borrowed an idea from the Tallers and decorated our bushes for Easter.

I should say, I decorated.

Elle put about 3 eggs up and chased the neighbor's cat, Ernie.

Doesn't she look helpful? Cute, yes. Helpful, not so  much!

Oh well, good thing I didn't boil a bunch of eggs and expect her to help color them.