Music Class, toddler urban hiking and trip to Bloomington

This past Monday was Audrey's last music class for this session.  In the picture below she is waiting her turn to tap out the beat on some cymbals.  It impresses me what Miss Amanda (the teacher) asks and gets from 18 month - 2 1/2 year old. The child chooses to sing about a puppy or kitty.  Miss A always chooses a kitty.  Probably due to the fact she knows one is in her future some day. 

  Still funny that she brought her favorite stuffed animal, "Bailey" to class.  The picnic blanket was set up for the party at the end of class.

 Yogurt pretzels, chocolate chip cookies and apple juice.

 That afternoon we took a really long (for her) walk all over our neighborhood.  Including a trip to the bank and the playground.  Below was when we hung out in front of the playhouse watching the dogs play and making "clover crowns and necklaces".

  Below Miss is enjoying a flavored water on the bench in front of our neighborhood chiropractor's office.

 Which looks out on our main street, St Gregory.  Such an improvement since the power lines were buried a couple of years ago. 

The Indian restaurant next door that is supposed to open at the end of this month!  The chef was the original oe from Cumin which is so promising. 

Last Saturday on the way out of town, heading to Bloomington, we stopped by Wooden Nickel to check out this bookcase.  We were pretty interested until we came home to find out our roof has to be replaced now.

We went to Bloomington to celebrate Uncle Ted's graduation from Nursing school.  The only 2 pictures I took this weekend were of Miss A at Hobbies Saturday night.

Buttering her crackers like a "big girl".

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.

A week of 1st's: magnetic dress up dolls, clay art project, Art Walk, bank account, face painting and karaoke!

 First magnetic dress up ballerinas and Nick Cave sound suit on the side of the refrigerator.  Easter basket presents.

 This past Tuesday we went to our Zoo Color Quest class.  The first part of the class includes the highlight of 3 animal encounters.  

 This is  "Caramel" the coral snake.  Not the first time Audrey has touch Coral as their first encounter was during Textures class.

 Audrey has known colors for a while so in some respects the color conversation might have been old hat to her.

 However playground/ physical play has a lot for her to learn and observe.

 The manatees are still one of her favorite animals at our zoo.

 She also still really adores the Nick Cave Sound Suit exhibit at our art museum.  In the above picture she is watching the video of dancing sound suits.

 This past Wednesday Audrey opened a savings account at our neighborhood bank.  Here she is in the branch manager's office, Sandy Z's office, acting all cool.

 Later she had to perform across the street at Longworth's.  In above picture she is warming up for her performance of

 Snuggle Puppy Your the One. ,,, which I can only imagine is the first time this has been performed on this stage.

 Later that evening we met friends and their kids at Twin Lakes playground.   Above picture include Charlotte & Elizabeth J., Katie and Robby S and Miss A.

 Friday morning "piano" (A described) breakfast before our art class.

 snack time at art class.

  art clay project.

 Saturday afternoon we went on our neighborhood Art Walk with Paula Maureen and Juliette.  In above and below picture Miss A is in  Rookwood Pottery Restaurant room that used to be a pottery kiln.

 I like this picture but in my defense my camera is not great, mostly because I have dropped it so much.  So that is my excuse for focus not being great.

 Saturday afternoon we went to a library event which Paula Maureen's daughter Jen was working.  Jen, a high school Spanish teacher who works part time for the circus, was blowing animal balloons for this event.

 In the above picture Jen is making a blue giraffe for Miss A.

 This is the mascot, Whirl,  for the World Choir which starts July 4th in Cincinnati. 1st time for the World Choir games to be held in the USA.

 Audrey told me she wanted to hug the mascot but when we got close she decided otherwise.

 Here she is holding a shaker in a foreshadowing way for events later that day.

 Auntie Paula Maureen is really the best.

 Audrey had her face painted for the 1st time at this library event.  The best picture I have ... it is a princess paint (crown, eyelashes and pink cheek dots). So after this library event Audrey and I had just enough time to change  clothes (we dressed too warmly for today), do a walk-thru for an apartment turnover and then attend our  Pilgrim Chapel karaoke event at Celestial Towers in our neighborhood.

 I love this picture of Audrey and Paula Maureen singing "itsy bitsy spider".

 and sharing the mic with mama (who is not a fan of karaoke participation, ok with observation though)

 P. Maureen signing a duet.

 A "one eye wink" picture of Miss A.  You can see downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio river from the windows behind Audrey.

 On Stage with Auntie Paula Maureen.

 P. Maureen and Rob C. were signing a duet but A just could not resist getting the attention.