Trying to Beat the Heat

The heat has just been unbearable already this summer, so we've been doing what we can to stay entertained while still staying out of the heat.  So, we built a road out of masking tape that travels the entire living room.  She loves taking her cars up and over all of the furniture, and the best part is that you can just rip it off and make a new one really easily. 

We've also been doing science experiments.  I know that there's no way that she will grasp the science behind most of the things we do, but it's still fun to do them and watch her face as things happen and she tries  to figure it all out.  This one uses vinegar and baking soda to blow up a balloon, but we've also made our own bouncy balls, made play doh and slime as well as sidewalk chalk.

We did have one of the balloons shoot across the room because I put too much vinegar and baking soda in it, but unfortunately I didn't capture that moment with the camera...you should have seen her face!

Mani-Pedis

Avery is in to most girly things like make-up and nail polish.  The only thing with that is she only likes to do those things with her dad.  I have no idea how this came about, but she doesn't ever want to paint my nail.  Now, she wants me to paint hers (as opposed to Jeremy painting them).  Luckily for her, her dad is a pretty good sport about it all.  

 So, Avery painted Jeremy's toenails.  He told her she could only do the feet so that he could cover it up with his socks for work.

But, it didn't take much convincing on Avery's part before she was doing his fingernails too!  I'm so grateful to have a husband who does his best to indulge his daughter even if it means going to work with blue sparkle fingernail polish!

Happy Mother's Day...Oh, and By the Way...

Avery loves any holiday, even if it's not for her. She was so excited for Mother's Day that we just HAD to celebrate it at about 7am that morning, thus why I won't be sharing any pictures with me in them.  She immediately "gave" me my gifts, which means that she showed me the package and promptly began opening it herself.  She was so excited to show me the shoes she had made for me.  I got two pairs of flip flops that she had decorated (painted).  

She also gave me a great card.  She's showing me that she wrote both of our names on the envelope so that I would know who it's for and who it's from.  Thanks Avery!

I'm sure it will come as no surprise that we took our annual Mother's Day trip to the zoo.  We went to the St. Louis Zoo again this year, and I think we love it more each time.  I'm going to be so sad when this trip is no longer something that she looks forward to!

Our first stop was the hippos (on our way to the elephants of course...she always asks for the elephants first).  The hippos are so great because you can see them above and below the water...I really like the hippos.

After the hippos we happened to come upon the elephants (yeah right, the hippos just happened to be on the direct path to the elephants).

There was a baby elephant this year, which I don't think we've seen in years past.  Avery kept saying how cute the little baby elephant was.

At the end of the day, Avery and I took a ride on the zoo train.  That was a first for us this year.  I have to admit that I was kind of disappointed with the train...you can't see the animals from the train.  It did go through a cool tunnel, but all in all a disappointment for me.  Avery thought it was great though. (Jeremy stayed with the stroller and the rest of our gear as it was not permitted to ride on the train.)

And...as a side note to Mother's Day...Avery is going to be a big sister!  We are excited to welcome our new addition, due on October 29, 2012.

Swimming Lessons

We've decided that this year is a good year for Avery to start taking swimming lessons.  I'm horribly uncomfortable around the water...it terrifies me!  I don't want that for Avery.  I find her picking up on a lot of my quirks unconsciously, but this is not one that I want for her.  So, we decided to enroll her in swimming lessons.  For the first round I'll be in the pool with her to help get her used to the water and the teachers.  Our first class was a huge success.  Avery just loves the water and she seems to be taking to the instruction really well.  We practiced kicking...

 ...and used floating toys to throw across the pool and "swim" to.  

She did a fantastic job, and I think that increasing her comfort with the water will help to put me at ease as well.