Mommy & Me Time!

In an effort to help socialize L'ie Bear, we have enrolled her in Mommy & Me Fun Fit classes at our local parks and recreation department.  Most Wednesday mornings (we have missed a few because of my court schedule), at 9:45 am, she and I head to class.  The Bear gets to burn off all of her energy with the other kids, complete with plenty of screaming and squealing.  She loves every minute of it, and is even slowly learning how to share and clean up her toys.

The class starts with the "Hello" song and the "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  After that, we quickly stand up and pretend to be animals while running all around the room.  It is actually a great little workout for the moms too.  Then the instruments come out, followed by the parachute, bouncy balls and hula hoops.  We finish the class with the "Good-bye" song, and each child gets a stamp on their hand.

Running around

Picking out an instrument

Putting away her toys

Parachute time!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee

She loves it.

                                   

Don't let it fall down on us.

Showing off her new stamp on her hand

This class has been a great addition to L'ie Bear's routine and I can honestly say that I enjoy it just as much as she does.  My hope is that she will become more comfortable around other kids her age and I look forward to attending more classes through the parks and recreation department.  Maybe a dance or music class next?  We are very fortunate to have these local opportunities and this class even comes with an added bonus...a much needed and extra long nap time!!

L'ie Acknowledges The Turtle!

Unfortunately, there has not been much to fear lately when it comes to University of Maryland sports.  So, this fall, L'ie has quickly learned how to acknowledge the turtle instead. (Thanks Uncle John)   We have resigned ourselves to this sad fact, and hopefully we will be back to fearing the turtle when the Bear becomes a Terp in 17 years!

But don't worry, this downgrade has not stopped us from having a good time.  We have enjoyed a few awesome tailgates in Lot 9B, complete with visits to see Testudo, walking the Bear around the parking lot, shopping at the Team Store in the Comcast Center, devouring some great food and spending time with friends.  The only thing we failed to do was make it up to Byrd Stadium for the football games.  We will get there eventually.

OCTOBER 6, 2012

Go Spret!!

Checking out the trophy...National Champs!!

Walking with Grumpa and Grammy

Dancing on the Maryland Tray

Posing with the Maryland Tray

Rubbing Testudo's nose for good luck.

The long walk back down the steps

OCTOBER 20, 2012  (HOMECOMING)

The Homecoming Tailgate Crew!

Hanging with Ella and Elizabeth

Walking with Grandpa and Mee-Maw

Letting Ella play with her new pom pom

This is how we "acknowledge the turtle"  (Thanks to the Shafer Family for the t-shirts)

Taking a break to watch Elmo on the iPad.

The kiddos

Playing with Uncle John and an ice cube

Taking another break with a snack in her very own Terps Tailgate chair!!

Next year, we will have to buy an extra ticket to take L'ie Bear to the games.  Right now, that will not be a problem, but if the team gets better, I am not sure how many games she will get to attend.  But regardless of that, I hope the Bear will enjoy many years of amazing tailgates and will always be able to look back fondly on her time spent in Lot 9B!! 

A Weekend Full of Jacks!!

This weekend was filled with Baby Jack and soon to be Jack o' Lanterns.

On Saturday, we babysat Jack Blough, and L'ie Bear had a blast.

She was so excited to see a "baby" and could not stop bringing him toys, hugging him, and following him around as he crawled throughout the house.

We spent the late afternoon playing with all of L'ie Bear's toys and then had snacks (and a bottle) during an episode of Baby Einstein.


L'ie helped me give Jack his bottle and wanted to make sure he was paying special attention during the good parts...she will make a great big sister one day!

Chad came home around dinner time, and soon it was time for L'ie to go to bed.  We took both cuties upstairs for diaper changes and pajama time.  Once they were both ready for bed, they settled into Chad's lap for some bedtime stories.

We placed L'ie Bear in our room and she went right to bed.  Since it was not Jack's bedtime yet, the three of us headed downstairs to watch college football and play a little bit more.  Jack especially loved L'ie Bear's tunnel and basketball hoop.  A few hours later, I took Jack upstairs.  We read a few more stories, rocked a bit in the glider and he quickly drifted off to sleep.  It was a wonderful evening and we are already looking forward to seeing "baby" Jack again!!

On Sunday, Chad, L'ie and I headed out towards Western Virginia for some pumpkin picking!!  We went to Hollin Farms in Delaplane, Virginia and it was the perfect spot.  The weather was gorgeous, we had our pick of the pumpkins and L'ie enjoyed all of the space to walk around.

Out in the pumpkin patch.

Now that is a good sized pumpkin

And this pumpkin tastes GOOD!!

L'ie loved watching the chickens.

On the way home, we decided to stop and visit a winery I have been stalking on the internet.  It was for sale a few weeks ago and if it is still for sale once we hit the lottery, Chad and I will be purchasing it immediately! =)  The wine was surprisingly delicious and we enjoyed a plate of meats, cheeses, chutneys and rustic bread.   L'ie did not join us in the beverages or food.  Instead, she enjoyed a snack cup full of chocolate chip goldfish and water.

Here are a few photos from our stop...

Entrance

Tasting room!

And walking around the patio.

L'ie loved playing in the gravel.

The fall weather and pumpkins certainly helped put the Fisher Family in a Halloween mood.  Next weekend, we will begin carving some pumpkins, and we have a special project in mind for the pumpkins we purchased today!  As for L'ie Bear's costume...let's just say that she is "beary" excited about it!!

Sunny Days at the Civic Center!

Excited group shot before the show at the Civic Center!

Almost a week ago, L'ie Bear attended her first live show...Sesame Street Live!!  She and I headed down to Salisbury for a few days, and watched the show at the Civic Center.  Grammy, Mee-Maw, Grandpa, and Aunt Scareby came with us, and I can honestly say that everyone had a great time.

With Grammy & Mee-Maw

Getting her first taste of cotton candy from Aunt Scareby

Waiting for the show to start.

I think it is starting...is that Murray with the "Word on the Street"

ELMO!!!!!

Our view of the stage

Watching the characters and playing with her new Elmo Wand.

She LOVED that wand!!

Such a fun show!

Given the fact that the show did not start until 7:00 pm and L'ie Bear was only 18 months old, I was a little worried that she would quickly lose interest and we would spend the majority of the time walking around the Civic Center lobby.  I should not have been so worried, because she did amazingly well during the show.  She was a little restless before it started, but as soon as the characters came out on the stage, she was really focused on what they were doing.  She was especially excited whenever Elmo or Abby Cadabby made an appearance, and she loved the music.

It was definitely a fun night out for L'ie.  She got to watch Elmo live, stay up past her bedtime, eat pure sugar (aka cotton candy), and she got her first concert t-shirt!  Plus, the adults also found the show entertaining.  Add it all up, and it equals a successful first live show for the L'ie Bear!! 

Saying Goodbye!

Recently, Chad and I have watched as L'ie Bear has become more adventurous.  Her latest move is to quickly walk away from us.  She will then turn around, wave and say "bye bye".  And the irony is not lost on us, that as we witness this new development, we recently had to say goodbye to a wonderful woman.  Last week, Chad's grandmother and the Bear's great grandmother passed away, and we traveled up to Pennsylvania to celebrate her life.

Although it was very sad to say goodbye, it was nice to see the Kushinka side of the family again and we were able to take away so many great memories.

L'ie Bear's first car-ride facing forward.  She enjoyed cuddling
with Clark & Baby, and watched an Elmo movie.

She especially loved the backyard at Grumpa's childhood home.

She was able to roll down a small hill...

She received an impromptu boxing lesson.

And she picked it right up!

 The next day, we headed to Bethlehem, PA for the service, and L'ie was such a trooper.  Even though she was not able to sit still during mass, she did enjoy walking all around the church.  And she also enjoyed exploring the cemetery, where she fell in love with a small cat figurine on a gravestone.  I was concerned that she would try to take the figurine with her, and kept trying to explain that she could pet the cat, but that it had to stay there.  When it was time to leave, she angrily collapsed to the ground and refused to move until Grumpa came to the rescue and picked her up!  Then it was on to the luncheon, where she watched Sesame Street on the iPad and spent time with family...all without a nap.

Playing with great aunt SA's bracelet 

Walking with Daddy to take some photos

Group Photo.  It was way past her naptime and L'ie was at her
breaking point during these photos.

Cousins!!!

Walking back to the cars.  Just minutes away from naptime.

She was asleep 2 minutes after putting her in the car.

On the way home, we made a special stop at Premise Maid Chocolates, which is owned by a Fisher Family friend.  L'ie Bear enjoyed stretching her legs for a bit and Chad and I gladly picked up a few treats for the rest of the car ride.

L'ie Bear's first taste of milk chocolate nonpareils

She LOVED them!!

L'ie Bear may not remember meeting her great-grandmother as she gets older, but I will always remember the first time the two met.  When the Bear was four months old, Grammy brought her mother down to Salisbury for a visit and we went over to say hello.  We walked into the house, and L'ie immediately settled into her great grandmother's lap.

They would see each other a few more times over the year, and there was no doubt they enjoyed spending time together.  I am sad that there will be no more meetings, but I am also grateful for the times they did have together.  And Chad and I will make sure that L'ie will always know how wonderful her great grandmother was, and how happy the Bear made her!!

The first meeting!

A get-together in Bethlehem, PA over the summer.

At Christmas 2011