Play Time = Fun Time

I think the title says it all.  Playing with L'ie Bear is a blast, and it is getting more fun as she gets older.  This stage is fun because I have been able to put on my "kid hat" and see everything around me through the eyes of a toddler.  Every day items can be turned into a fun toy.  For example, wooden bowls and spoons become drums, pillows and blankets transform into forts, and doors really enhance the game of peek-a-boo.

At 19 months of age, L'ie likes to dress up in my clothes and she also enjoys music.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Dress-up time.

These days it is not uncommon to find the Bear dancing in the living room or playing "drums" with pots & bowls in the kitchen.

DANCE PARTY!!

Playing the "drums"!!

Recently, L'ie has also taken a real interest in sports.  While out at the tennis courts with Grandpa, Aunt Sarah, and myself, she picked up one of the tennis rackets and looked as though she was ready to hit the ball...without any prompting or help from us!  

Picking up a racket for the 1st time.  

And she especially enjoys going to the ice rink to watch her dad play hockey.  Most of the time, Chad's hockey games are way past her bedtime, but occasionally we can attend an earlier game, like today.  This is a win/win for everyone, because it is pretty loud at the rink, and the Bear can run around and make as much noise as she likes.  This morning, when Chad came off the ice, L'ie made a beeline for him and was anxious to check everything out.  She is still a little too young to start skating lessons, but we hope to get her out on the ice very soon.

                                              

          

Watching Daddy at the ice rink

                                       

With her favorite player after a great game!

Also, I have enjoyed taking L'ie Bear to playgrounds, now that she can start to climb on the equipment and play on the slides.  Yesterday, while out shopping, L'ie and I stopped in at the play area in the Tyson's Corner Mall.  They have a wonderful children's area on the 3rd floor, near the food court, and the Bear was able to stretch her legs and run around.  It was nice to take a break from walking all over the mall and I watched her happily climb on all of the toys.  And we even got to take a train ride through the food court.  

Unfortunately, while at this play area, she also encountered her first bully.  An older girl and boy pushed L'ie as she was attempting to enter a play house and knocked her aside as they pushed past her on a slide.  The Bear was not hurt and after I made sure the kids understood that pushing was not an acceptable behavior, there were no more incidents.  I realize that this is bound to happen in public play areas and I know this will not be the last time L'ie is pushed by other kids.  But I am happy that L'ie Bear brushed it off and was still able to enjoy herself.  

    

L'ie loved going in the play house at the mall.

   

Train ride in the mall

Wow, this is so cool.

The play time fun is just beginning and I look forward to many more creative play sessions with L'ie Bear.  I just hope that does not mean she will be beating me at tennis any time soon!

A Bear of a Halloween!

Tonight, we finished up the 2012 Halloween festivities, and they were definitely bear filled...in a great way!

Technically, the holiday began when we decorated our front porch.  We previously purchased a bunch of pumpkins out in Western Virginia and then L'ie and I headed to Michael's to pick up some extra decorations.  I couldn't help myself, and went with a Bear theme this year.

The dressing up began on Saturday, October 27th, when we put L'ie in both of her costumes.  Yes, she had two costumes this year, and before you think we are Halloween crazy, let me explain.  I purchased a costume for L'ie Bear back in August.  After much thought and careful consideration, we decided she should go as a StrawBeary this year.  It was an appropriate choice, since that is the name of Aunt Scareby's car and it was still Bear themed.

I scoured the internet for the perfect costume and finally found one at Babies R Us, of all places.  The costume was adorable, but there was one small problem...there was no strap on the hat.  And anyone who has an 18 month old can tell you that it is nearly impossible to keep a hat on their heads.  So, we headed off to JoAnn Fabrics to figure out a way to keep the hat on L'ie Bear's head.  We found some red elastic ribbon and I sewed it to the inside of her cap.  The first attempt was too loose.  The second attempt was too tight.  And the third attempt was just right.

We were all set, until John Albers showed up with another great costume.  He was planning on dressing up as Calvin, from the classic cartoon Calvin & Hobbes and brought over a Tiger costume so L'ie could dress up as Hobbes. The irony of this costume choice is that John was unaware of Grandpa Pali's nickname for L'ie.  For the past year, he has said that L'ie Bear's ice hockey nickname should be "Tiger Bear", and is anxiously awaiting the day he can paint tiger stripes and a bear face on her hockey helmet.  So, this costume idea was perfect!!

Obviously, L'ie was not allowed to accompany John to a costume party later that evening, so I made him a crotcheted stuffed tiger to use as part of his costume.  L'ie fell in love with the stuffed tiger and I could not resist taking a few pictures.

So without further ado, here is the first glimpse of the future junior ice hockey legend known as TIGER BEAR...

Don't let the cute smiles fool you.  She can be quite sneaky when she wants to be.

Later that afternoon, we dressed L'ie up in her StrawBeary costume and headed out to participate in the neighborhood costume parade.

The neighborhood kids all dressed up.

Excited about her noise-maker for the parade

We then posed for a few photos in front of the house

Mom, what are you doing to me?

StrawBeary and Mommy

StrawBeary and Daddy

The Three Little Bears!!

Then we headed off to the National Zoo for their "Boo At The Zoo" event.  We met up with the Ackermanns and Bloughs and spent the evening trick or treating around the animals.

But the fun did not end there.  On October 31st, L'ie, Grammy and I attended her weekly "Mommy & Me" class.  Since it was Halloween, most of the kids were in costume and they looked great.  I was even surprised to see another Strawberry there.

Playing the instruments

Some of the kids

And finally, that evening, Chad and I took L'ie Bear out for her first Trick or Treating experience while Grammy and Grumpa made dinner and gave out candy.  At first, L'ie was a little hesitant and shy.  She would bravely hold our hands and walk up to the doors, but would quickly back up as soon as someone answered.  And she even grabbed the candy bag and walked off when we ran into a large group of young children.  After Chad and I finished laughing, we convinced her to join the group and she gladly followed them around.

This Halloween thing is pretty fun!

Trick or Treat

Overall, the Bear made it to quite a few houses and then happily walked back to our front door.  She finished the evening with dinner and some M&Ms...one of her new favorite candies.

Although we put her down to bed fairly close to 7:30 pm, it was another 1.5 hours before she finally drifted off to sleep.  I think the excitement of the day, combined with a slight sugar rush, allowed her to spend that time rehashing her Halloween to all of the stuffed animals in her crib.  I just wish I could understand what she was telling them...maybe next year!

Happy Halloween L'ie Bear.  May they all be as wonderful as this one!