Cinco de Mayo, Music Class, Derby Hat contestand Zoo class

Miss A opening presents from Paula Maureen's recent trip to Seattle.  This was at our routine Friday night dinner at the B&G.

 The next day at Findlay Market where Paula Maureen is holding Audrey up to see the "lobbies" (lobsters).

 Saturday afternoon we went to the Cinco di Mayo festival on the square.

 Due to a late nap we missed many activities but she was happy to see Cookie Monster.  We decided to head down to Vine Street in Over the Rhine to see if any of the restaurants would be opened early for dinner.

 Not only were they opened they were packed.  We had dinner at 4:30 at A Tavola (pizza place one of our neighbors owns).

 Sunday was Derby Day at our church and the above picture shows the children hat contestants.  Both won.

 Close up of Miss A's prize winner hat.

 Blowing bubbles (one of the hat prizes) on our back patio.

 Below is a picture from her last Stroller Safari class this season at the Zoo.  They take a break over the summer due to the crowds.  Anyhow this class was Sharing Shapes.

The 3 banded armadillo that the children got to touch which represented an oval. 

This past Friday after dinner we went to Oakley Square because Jen was blowing up balloon animals for a neighborhood festival they celebrate.

I love this dress, which was her choice to wear this day.  It was a referral gift from one of my co-workers at Krohn. 

Above is my mother's day gift.  I love the size, smaller than an index card, and hope the case will help me protect it.  I have been so rough on cameras since becoming a mother.

Palm Sunday and the weekend

 The Children's Processional at church this past Sunday.

 I started crying when she came around the corner.  I was a little surprised to get this emotional.

 Charlie M dressed as Jesus.

 In the nursery afterwards.

 And in our garden after her nap Sunday afternoon.

 Here she is holding a piece of coal.   

Occasionally, usually after a storm, we find a piece of coal or some other item (doll's leg, broken china, etc) in the garden.

 Beautiful blue cloudless sky.

 Miss A crawling on top of me while I continue to take pictures.

 Waiting for baba who took the scooter to pickup food from Susie Wong's.

 Earlier this weekend we went bed shopping at Macy's.  We decided to buy a platform bed for our (john and my) eventual bedroom when the current tenant moves out.  In a perfect world that would be this June as the bed below is being delivered mid June.

 A basic black Asian platform with storage.  The plan is to be minimalistic.

 We bought the side pieces too.  In this picture we have the side shelf pulled out.

Storage under the platform.

Random Miss A goofing at breakfast Sunday morning.

 I wish this picture was in focus and centered better.  But I like it because it is a different expression.  Maybe a glimpse into the future.

 This one I think is cute too.

Garden, Crusade Castle, Findlay Market and Pregressive Dinner Party

 Miss A hanging out on the kitchen banquette, or as she calls it "couch".  She is wearing one of the outfits Paula gave her this week. 

 While John was traveling in Texas last week Audrey and I weeded a lot as well as put in 12 five cubic feet bags of dark mulch.

  After her nap Friday we went to the art museum andI had planned to run a few errands but she fell asleep in the car.  So I just drove around and stumbled on this interesting home in Mt Lookout. I  was curious enough that I had to look up info online when i got home.  There was plenty.  Most of these pictures and info are from Mt Lookout Community Council website.

 Which also had this interesting info about this building:

In the 1840's an unusual Italian villa style building was constructed known as "Crusade Castle."  It was the national headquarters for the Catholic Student's Mission Crusade, and was a center for organized promotion of Catholic missionary work throughout the world.  The property was reportedly surveyed by George Washington, and the structure included a massive bed that, according to legend, was slept in by the First President of the United States of America.  The land in the surrounding area was very fertile, and was used to harvest large vineyards which inspired renowned poet Henry W. Longfellow to write "Catawba Wine."  Perhaps those vineyards prompted Longfellow to write the famous lines "The Queen of the West in her garlands dressed on the banks of the beautiful river".

  A picture of the current owners who aren't Catholic and are selling the vineyard, apparently as a fsbo which is why I couldn't find out more info online.

So back to us...

John came home late last Friday night from a week in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Saturday morning the 3 of us went to Findlay market.

Miss A has chocolate on her face from the Shadeau Bread croissant she had for breakfast.

  This 25 cent horse ride near Silverglades is not only cheaper than most but also way more fun the your average ride.

  Audrey unwrapping gifts from Aunt Nancy that arrived Saturday morning.  One gift she ended up wearing to a neighborhood progressive dinner party that night.  We were hosting the dessert part of the dinner party and ironically were ready early so we took Audrey up to Bow Tie to kill time.

  We also ordered a smoothie for her as the dinner was starting later than she is used to eating.

Ready to go to the diner party!

 Our neighbor Tom B. giving Audrey a Barbie (this time cheerleader) at Patti W's house.

  Audrey was exhausted at this point but still stimulated by the energy of the party.  I took her home shortly after this and put her to bed before guests arrived at our house for dessert.

The party was a blast and we always learn so much about our neighbors.

The next day we were ready early for church, which isn't hard since it starts at 10:30 and is only  15 minute walk from our house.   So we killed time in the garden. 

In this next picture she and I are pulling "helicopter" weeds... "roots and all Mama".

 

Sunday after her nap I had planned on taking her to a play at the Art Museum but she slept too late so we missed it and instead sprayed buttermilk on the garden stone walls.  I read in Garden Gate that this will encourage moss to grow.  If it works on this tier we will apply it to the next wall.

Audrey used a watering can as she can't manage a squeeze bottle yet.

  This lovely , I assumed dead, snake was on one of the stepping stones in the grass area.  To my credit Audrey never saw it or recognize my issues with it.  It wasn't there the next day.

Just another cute picture so this blog entry doesn't end with the snake.