Easter weekend in Bloomington

 Miss A playing with "big Panda" while we were packing up to go to Bloomington.  We only stayed 1 night but the way I packed it looked like we were staying a week.  Just when I think I have improved I backslide.

 So Miss A wore this "rocking the tu tu" outfit our neighbor Helen gave her this week for this trip.

 We stopped at Red Lobster to try to encourage her to sleep as we wanted to go to our nephew Peter's 7K race once we got to Bloomington.

 So who takes their kid into Red Lobster with a blue Hitler moustache.  Well we do as I needed the picture for our blog.  She was using the washable ink markers in the car and got it all over herself and  her "manket".

 We barely made it in time to see Peter run this 7K.  He came in 2nd and had an excellent time. My sister, Peter's mom, is on the left in this picture.

 Sharing "manket" with Uncle Tommy.  She recently decided on her own to call my brother Tommy instead of Tom.

 and sharing with Granddad whom she is now referring to as Grandaddy off and on.

 Easter morning egg hunt in Mom-mom ad Granddad's living room.

 with her cousin Cece.

 A very deceptive picture of Miss A in church.  She was hardly attentive or quiet for very long.

 Fortunately the Children's message was early.

 I stayed with her in the nursery but she might have been OK on her own.

 This turtle has been around since I attended nursery school at this church.  We drove back to Cincinnati after lunch with my parents and brother Ted after church.

 Sunday evening after dinner Audrey and I took a walk through our garden to see any changes.  The scilla (campannlata 'excelsior') is starting to bloom.  I was happy to see this as it is in a fairly shaded area.  This plant is supposed to naturalize.

  The Solomon Seal is coming in.

 and this ground cover (Lamium maculatum or Dead Nettle 'Pink Chablis') is coming in nicely on our lowest tier.  This picture does not show how beautiful the Dead Nettle leaves are and how they feel like lambs ear. 

Finally a picture of Miss A in the hydrangea bushes.  Right after I took this picture she took a header on the stone path and scratched up her nose as well as a knot on her head.  I couldn't reach her in time even though it seemed like a slow motion fall.  She cried pretty hard and requested we get manket and then be carried through the garden again. I was happy that this calmed her down and that she was able to communicate what she wanted.

Easter pictures, Reds Opening Day and spring bloom

 Miss A on her way into music class Monday morning this week.  2 days later in Miss Kelly's Movers and Shakers class she walked into the class room announcing "I am a rock star".

 Tuesday I took her to the mall to get Easter pictures.  The wool beret was her choice. Based on the mall posters (kid with live bunnies) I was expecting a different kind of setting than last year (see picture below). Sadly it was the same creepy bunny and since I didn't want that picture I walked down to....

Glamour Shots where they have live bunnies.  They also asked me to stop taking pictures right after I shot this one.  Anyhow they don't expect you to take photos without an appointment or need them in 3 days but they also were able to accommodate.    The pictures are much nicer however I wasn't given a disc to upload for this blog.

 Playing with Pottery Barn's kitchen.  We still have not purchased a play kitchen, nor will we be buying the $350 one.

 Or this half off $125 red sink.

 Even though they are pretty cute.

 That afternoon we watched Baba mow the lawn.

 It is a city lawn so it doesn't take that long.

 Miss A decided to play with her Easter basket once I pulled it off her bookcase for Sunday's hunt.

 At Rahn's Nursery this week.

 Thursday afternoon Audrey napped too late for us to attend the Reds Opening Day parade.  So we walked up to Immaculata to watch for the flyover plane before the game started.

 In this picture John is explaining the map sculpture to Miss A.  You can also see the purple flags on the fence in the background set up for the Good Friday "praying the steps" for the following day.

 The flyover plane which we thought was not nearly as exciting as the fighter planes.  Our friend Tom said it was the plane bringing in Joey Votto's money.  Votto just signed a 10 year $225 M contract.  He also lives in our neighborhood.

 

 Afterwards we went to Crowleys to watch a couple of innings.

 Miss A cheering when the crowd did.

 She also scored some caramel corn from one of the patrons.

 We met up with Paula Maureen and went to Bow Tie where we watched the rest of the game. Interestingly this was the first time we opened the doors on this piano which allows you to see how the piano sound is made.  So cool.  Audrey kept mentioning it was like a harp.

 Friday afternoon we took a walk around the neighborhood.  This is a picture of Good Friday Catholics praying the steps at Immaculata.

 We also walked up to Celestial to see their Easter display.

 Afterwards we hung out in our garden.  We saw "Mao Mao" (neighbors cat) on their deck and both of us kept saying his name that he finally climbed the fence and came over to be petted.  This reminded me of Lucy.

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.