Peek-a-Boo

I caught a cute moment between Joey and Presley on film the other day. They were playing peek-a-boo when Joey got home from work. I thought it was such a sweet moment between the two of them that I quickly grabbed the camera and started clicking. However, I didn't realize that it was still in manual mode so the picture quality isn't too great, but I still love them. :-) Joey said to me the other day,"it's so awesome, she is actually like a little human being now. She is such a little person." I'm not sure what she was before, but I think I "get" what he is saying. She is definitely a child with personality now. We are having so much fun with this child of ours...and so is Goose ;-)

The River of Not So Much Love, The Carousel of Un-Happiness, and Buffalo Bill's Ice Cream

I love the mountains and I love rivers...so much so, Joey and I actually stayed in a cabin in Oklahoma called The River of Love last January. While we were in Colorado we went up into the mountains and visited Nederland, Colorado. We planned on going fishing, but that proved to be a little difficult with a 15 month old running around...especially one that refuses to be held for more than just a few minutes and is fearless of the water. Presley wanted to get into the river every second. She would put her feet in and then start crying because it was too cold, but then she would cry when I lifted her up out of the river...it was a constant battle. I tried to redirect her attention to all of the lovely rocks surrounding her, which seemed to work for a few minutes, but she was set on getting into the water.

While we were walking along the edge of the river, she decided she would get close enough to reach down and touch the water...which lead to her falling in. Not to worry, it was in a very shallow area. She actually fell down and then fell forward and got her entire body wet without going under...that's how shallow it was. Needless to say, she was freezing and quite upset with her mother for allowing such a traumatic incident to happen to her beloved child.

After I got her dried off and changed, we headed up to the town of Nederland. There is a 100 year old carousel in the center of town that my dad had heard about and we decided to visit it. All of the animals on it were hand carved and unique. Presley didn't quite know what to think about the carousel. The first time she went on one she loved it! Then, a few months ago Sara and I visited a carousel in one of the malls near my house and Presley hated it. It went really fast and Presley shook in fear the whole time we were on it. It was awful! Sara was still pregnant with Grant and we were all dizzy when we got off. Presley acted the same way when I placed her on this 100 year old carousel. My dad suggested that I put her on one of the animals that stood stationary...So, that is what we did. :-) She was still a little unsure, but she looked around and seemed to at least tolerate the ride.

Apparently, I think it's the Carousal of Happiness...lol

After the Carousal ride, we went across the street to an ice cream shop called Buffalo Bills. It was located inside an old train and caboose. I'm not a fan of ice cream, but Presley loves it.

All of my nephews would have loved this little area ;-)

Great Grandpa's Rock Garden

Colorado was so beautiful and the weather was so nice....especially to us Texans who have been having triple digit heat for the past few weeks! Even when the afternoons got up to the low 90s it was still beautiful in the shade! Presley and I spent a lot of time outside and we loved every second of it. Beautiful weather is healthy for the soul and we definitely felt revived and renewed while up there. Presley loved being in the backyard and playing in great grandpa's rock garden. He has a beautiful backyard with lovely flowers everywhere. If you know me, then you know that I do not have a green thumb;-) so it made me very envious to see such lovely gardens in everyone's backyards. Here are a few pictures of Presley exploring the outdoors. I love to watch children explore...they have such little inquisitive minds. She always looks like she's on a mission....she knows exactly what she wants and where she wants to go all.of.the.time. :-)

This is just a tiny portion of his beautiful backyard. ;-)

You could often find Presley having a conversation with the flowers. She would walk up to the flowers and lean over (or squat down) and just start jabbering away. She must have known exactly what she was saying because she would often stop and wait for a response. When she didn't get one she was quite dismayed and would continue jabbering away in hopes that they would one day respond. Poor thing...definitely time to provide her with a sibling....don't ya think? Anyhow, we all just sat in amusement and watched her carry on. She grew quite fond of this little red plant that sat on my grandpa's back porch. I wonder if she misses her lovely friend once she got home? It was quite funny, but obviously not to her. ;-)

Presley has a new obsession with rocks. She plays with them a lot. Just recently, she has become quite the organizer. We have a rock patch in our backyard and she loves to pick out the rocks that she likes the best. She lays them out in front of her or places them on the tree stump we have on our porch. She must have some idea of what she is doing because she sets them out just so and to her liking. It was interesting to see her do the same thing in Colorado. She would look for a rock, pick it up, inspect it, and either toss it back or keep it in front of her on the sidewalk.

My grandfather's neighbor has a huge golden delicious apple tree in his backyard that has grown over into my grandpa's yard. There were a ton of little green apples everywhere that had fallen to the ground...much to my grandfather's disliking. Presley thought they were balls and she was constantly getting into them. Again, she would go in search for the perfect one...round, plump, and green. She would run up to me with one in her hand and say "ball." I had to tell her that they were not balls and I'd throw them back into the neighbors yard...much to my grandfather's liking ;-) hee-hee!

A lot of work to find her perfect "ball" ;-)

Oh, this child....she's a mess ;-)

Purses, Pearls, & the Purple Chair

A few weeks ago we went to Nana Burda and Popo's house for dinner. I was so excited when I walked through the doors, I could barely believe my eyes. There before me sat the most beautiful chair I have ever seen. It was fluffy, purple, and just my size! I loved it. My daddy calls it the 70s chair. I am not sure what that means, but it has to be good because I just can't get enough of it...it was love at first sight!

My Nana is so great, she brought out her pearls for me to try on. OH my! I just love having all that stuff hang down from me.

I also got play with my Nana's purses.

My mommy has been dressing me up in skirts, bows, and pretty much anything that is girly since I was born. I have tolerated it for the past year and now that I am a big girl I just can't take it anymore. I hate to break her heart, but how can she expect me to wear all these bows when I have nothing but boy cousins surrounding me. I am hoping that my mommy will get a clue soon and just accept the fact that "I am my mother's daughter" and will most likely take after her and be a "tomboy." Oh well, she will learn...in the meantime, I will continue pulling out every bow she puts in my hair until she gets a clue and gives up. My daddy gets it! ;-) He loves that I am active and fearless in his arms!

GREAT Fun in July 2010

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through ALL generations. -Ps. 100:5

You wouldn't think so, but I am way behind on my blog posts for the month of July! I have been meaning to post some pictures from this past month, but just haven't gotten around to it. We have been busy, busy, busy, and I am just now sifting through all of the pictures we have taken the past few weeks. Presley and I just got back from a great trip to Colorado last night and I have not had time to do much of anything today, but sleep! We got in at midnight last night, after a very long delay! Today, we both took a nap from 1:30-5:00! We were worn out! Anyway, I wanted to post some of my favorite pictures of Presley with her great grandparents from this past month. I just love these captured moments of sweetness.

Special Times with Great Grandpa Axtell

Having some fun in Colorado. It was their first meeting ;-)

Special Times with Great Grandma Axtell

Showing Great Grandma the rock she found

reading and writing time

Presley loved her pearls!

Special Times with Great Grandma Barb

This would be the lovely look Great Grandma Barb got when Presley walked in the house...hmmmm

Playing peek-a-boo

Special Times with Great Grandad Erwin

Presley loves to give grandad ALL of her toys...and then leave them there ;-)

Reading with Grandad