Mira at the Mall

Another girls' night out, but it's Mira's turn this time.  We were doing some shopping at Gateway Mall.

Mira loves to climb up on chairs and benches (maybe she's tired of being short?)

 

She was very patient in posing 

while Grandma took pictures.

I was trying to get her to smile, so I said "Boo!" 

at her, and she immediately went 

into peek-a-boo mode.

She was in a good mood tonight, and was a very pleasant shopping companion!

The playground wasn't overly-crowded, so we spent some time there.

She looks so little up on top of the slide, 

but she's not scared at all.

Sometimes she would prefer to 

push the stroller, rather than ride in it.

She's trying to get the automatic doors 

to open again, but she's too short 

to trigger them when she's this close.

She has this toy at home--I think she's 

wondering how it got into this box, and why mommy won't let her play with it now.

Getting a little bored?

The drinking fountain is always a 

big hit with little kids.  First a drink....

....then it's time to play in the water.

We had a fun evening, but I'm still not getting any of my Christmas shopping done!!

Girls' Night Out

I'm very lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with my daughter and granddaughters!  We actually have quite a few "girls nights out" so I thought I'd do a blog post on our little outing tonight, just so I'll be able to remember it in the future.  (Mira wasn't with us tonight, but she often comes too).


Our goal/excuse was looking for a new hat for Danica (the weather is definitely turning colder now!).  We just went over to Gateway Mall, and spent a little time in Ross, Target, and Kohls.  Melissa was excited to find that the long black coat she saw at Ross's a few days ago was even cheaper today, so Danica has a new coat for next year (she insisted on putting it on as soon as we got out of the store, at least until she got too warm). 

We found her a new hat at Target.  Isn't she cute?

 

I took another picture out in the middle of the mall, so I'd have a cuter background -- the Christmas decorations are up (Santa will be there tomorrow!). 

After going through three of my favorite stores, I had not purchased anything!  Normally, that would be a very good thing, but I really need to get going on my Christmas shopping, so I wish I had made more of an effort tonight.  But I'm too tired on Friday nights.


We were walking out to the car, and noticed that something smelled really good.  We were parked fairly close to the Original Roadhouse Grill, and even though we weren't sure the good smell was coming from that direction (as we were surrounded by restaurants), we suddenly realized we were all hungry and that sounded like a good place to go.  (Danica was excited about the bucket of peanuts). 

Melissa and Danica shared a steak salad.

It's always more fun when you have a child with you because you get crayons and coloring sheets to play with while you wait for your food.  Guess who the artist was?  Danica didn't think it looked like a pirate, even though he was saying "Aaargh".

We all did the word search game together.  Then Danica and I did this Unscramble the Words game.  She did the first 3, and I did the last 2 words. They tried to throw me off by sticking an extra "R" in the word "motorcycle", but I didn't fall for it (although I was puzzled for a while -- I was that tired).

I love hanging out with my girls!

Self Portrait (and other misc.)

I know I haven't blogged our vacation road trip yet, but that would take too much effort, and I've been sick all week, so here are some random thoughts instead.

I've been checking out the Brain Age programs that came with the Nintendo DS.  They're supposed to "exercise" your brain, working towards a goal of achieving a 20 year old brain (meaning younger is better -- although who on earth thinks a 20-year-old has the optimal amount of intelligence and/or wisdom????).  

Anyhooo...the program first asked for my birthdate, and then wanted to take a picture of me for my file (the DS has a camera in it).  I said no to the photo, so it asked me to draw a picture of myself.  I drew a quick sketch, and then took the first test. 

So I guess if you tell it you're 53 years old, but then you draw like a 5-year-old, it averages the two and thinks you're 29.   Works for me!
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I was amused at the Eugene Public Library's acknowledgment of the quirkiness of living in Eugene (see bottom of sign).  If you're not from around here, you can Google "Eugene Celebration" for an explanation.

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And finally, oh the indignity of being the object of Danica's experimentation with fashion.  Meet "Tigger-ella" --

 

Actually, he looks pretty good in a dress.  And so does she!

Danica is 6!

It's hard to believe my first grandchild is now 6 years old!  It seems like only yesterday that she was just a little baby.  
She asked for "Grandpa's spaghetti" for her special birthday dinner, and he was happy to oblige. 
Here is the birthday girl (with one of her kinda silly faces she's fond of making).

Showing off one of her birthday presents -- a brightly colored skirt.

Here is part of the family as dinner is getting started -- everyone is refusing to acknowledge the camera.  Neil is especially camera shy.

Mira is enjoying her spaghetti.  She prefers it without sauce, which is much less messy.  (Sorry about the lawnmower in the background - I realized it was there after a couple of pictures, but I like her expression in this one best).

Mira wanted to help Danica open her presents from Grandpa and Grandma.

She is excited to get her very own camera. 

She is taking a picture of me while I'm taking a picture of her.

Mira was excited about the rocking horse Melissa brought down out of the attic.  It's adorable, but why do all the toys have to make noise nowadays, and can someone tell me how to get this song out of my head now (one of the songs the rocking horse plays): 
"De Camptown racers sing this song,
Doo-dah, doo-dah
De Camptown racetrack five miles long,
Oh, de doo-dah day."

I don't know the reason for the funny face while bike riding, although she did get a little frustrated trying to get on it while wearing a long dress, so maybe that's it.  ;-)

The girls like having chairs that are just their size.

Danica was kind enough to share her ducks with her little sister.

Summer Fun

Now that we finally have some hot weather, the girls decided to try out the swimming pool Mira got for her first birthday.  They came over to our house to set it up (no privacy at their apartment and probably against the rules anyway).  


I was reading in my bedroom and heard a commotion in the living room.  I came out to find that I now had an indoor swimming pool:

The girls had a great time playing in it (we decided it would be a great way to keep Mira out of trouble), but our living room just isn't big enough for an indoor swimming pool, so out it went. 

They didn't put a whole lot of water in it, since Mira is only a year old, but the girls had a blast playing in it.  Mira laughed and laughed, and didn't even seem to mind that the water was ice-cold at first (Melissa was bringing buckets of warm water from the sink in the garage, but the girls didn't want to wait for warmer water).  

Danica tried to practice her swimming skills (she took swimming classes earlier this year), but there just wasn't enough water.  She enjoyed splashing, though.

I was invited to join the pool party, but said no thanks (seeing myself in a swimming suit is depressing, and my white skin would have blinded everyone). 

Here's a short video.  My favorite part is the look of surprise on Mira's face as her feet slip out from under her.  It happened numerous times, but she always just jumped up again, laughing!

Another popular summer activity is bike riding.  Danica is very proud of herself (and deservedly so!) now that she has learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  

Danica really wanted to go for a bike ride with Grandpa, so they decided to go "around the block" (our neighborhood doesn't really have "blocks" but it's a close equivalent).  

Here they are getting ready to go....  No, Mira is not going to ride her "bike" -- she'll be in the bike trailer, but don't they look cute in their bike helmets?

Melissa went along to monitor Danica's progress.  (It was kind of a big "production" for such a short bike ride!)

 Before.....

 ....and After.

She didn't last too long before conking out!

Mostly "The Girls"

Last Saturday, Clay and I decided to hike to the summit of Mount Pisgah, and Melissa and Danica wanted to come along.  We used to bring our kids here all the time when they were young, but we always just walked around the lower trails.  I have never hiked to the very top, although everyone else in the family has.  I was determined to do it this time, but.....

.....It was too hot and sunny, and most of the path to the summit is out of the trees, and I just couldn't bring myself to attempt it.  Maybe next time.  So we decided just to hike around the lower trails, which are mostly in the shade.  Aren't Melissa and Danica cute in their "matchy-matchy" outfits and hairstyles.

Clay is the designated "pack-horse" -- he doesn't mind carrying a backpack with all our essentials.

There are a lot of benches along the trails.  I am in favor of lots of resting places.

The Mount Pisgah Arboretum is next to the Coast Fork of the Willamette River.  The girls are looking for the perfect rocks to try skipping them.

I'm not sure Danica understands the concept of "skipping" stones -- it was more of a big "ker-plunk"!

Melissa even caught a fish (I added the arrow to help you see it--you'll need to click on the picture to enlarge it).  Danica wanted to catch one to take home, but we talked her out of it....this time.

Here is Danica's fake pouting face, which looks remarkably similar to her real pouting face.

Danica picked up a hitch-hiker early in our walk.  She is very fond of these "roly-poly" bugs.  This one was named "Suzette".  Danica really wanted to bring it home with her, but we convinced her that Suzette couldn't leave her family, so she was deposited in a nice shady area at the entrance to the park as we left.

Later that afternoon, the girls showed me their "mad skillz" on their scooters.

This is just a picture of some pretty flowers near Melissa's apartment (I was waiting for the scooter-riders to return from checking the mailbox).

On July 4th, Melissa and the girls came over for barbecued steak (while Rob took a nap at home).  They were dressed very patriotically for the holiday, and wanted their pictures taken.

Clay and I were both taking pictures at the same time, so there was some competition for their attention.  I got the baby this time, while Clay got the attention of the other two.

Mira had enough of the picture-taking, but the other two stuck it out a little longer.

Clay took some pictures of the girls playing in the backyard.

We cannot convince Danica that we didn't plant any edible-pod peas this year (as we always have in the past).  So she just chews on the regular ones anyway.

Isn't Mira as cute as a bug's ear? *

*Where did that expression come from anyway?  I've never even seen a bug's ear!