Fall Fun!

We were in Minnesota in October for Sara's 20 year high school reunion.

We were able to experience a corn maze in MN with Grandma Cheryl.  It was about 70 degrees that day, so a nice glass of beer was an added bonus in the maze.

On our way home to Wisconsin we got some leg stretching time in a parking lot in Osseo, WI.  I love this photo, because it shows how Belinda has grown up and we can take real "walks" with her.

This past weekend we went to a local corn maze.  Belinda enjoyed exploring the grounds before everyone arrived.

We also had some fun posing with big smiles during snack time on Sunday.  She can be a big ham if she wants to be one.

She's 18 months old now and learning more every day.  She doesn't tell us "no" yet, but she practices saying it over and over when she's riding in a car.  She watches others play and learns from them. She spent a good 10 minutes at church watching a 4 year old friend play with his legos.  Not once did she try to taste the legos.  She loves to read and play with her animals.  When I carry her, sometimes she says "Walk" and wants to get down on the ground to do it herself.  She's pretty independent yet still loves a good snuggle when she wakes up from a nap.

Hope your October has been as fun as ours.

We're still here.

Mom has a new job, which means time for blogging is few and far between.  But Belinda has adjusted well to daycare.  Since our last blog in July, Belinda has made new friends at daycare, learned how to walk, learned how to use a spoon some of the time, and learned many new words and signs.  She's getting more fun every single day.  She loves playing with her stuffed lion, her little animals, her Dora kitchen and also she loves reading books.  Her favorite foods are cheese and strawberry jam on toast. 

Belinda had her 2nd taste of Cream Puff at the Wisconsin State Fair.

We went to the West Bend Geocache Ba$h.  We were supposed to camp, but we ended up sleeping in our own beds.  We still managed to find 11 caches on Saturday.

Belinda practiced her bus driving skills at the Betty Brinn Children's museum.

Belinda got ready for the regular season Packer games.

While mom cooks, Belinda bangs on pots and pans.

She discovered the joy of balloons.

She's going to figure out the vacuum no matter what.

Just being cute!

Hopefully it won't be 2 more months until we blog.  Enjoy the end of September.

Cabin Time!

Ok - We've been back a week now, but have made another trip to the North - therefore giving me no time to make an blog entry.  Enough with the excuses.  Here are some highlights of our trip to Chippewa Falls.  Thanks so much Lindsey and Andy for hosting us.  Belinda loved the water and seeing all her cousins around her.  We loved the delicious food everyone shared and just hanging out with no place to go.  Tubing behind Bill Bailey's (aka Dad or Grandpa) boat was a highlight for me.

 On the road to the cabin we passed an amusement park going somewhere.  This time it was a REAL amusement park!

Belinda swam every day!  She really enjoyed it.

For our hat lunch - we ate outside under the giant circus tent.

Belinda was thinking about if she wanted to be a cheesehead or not.

The Bailey family together again.

The extended Bailey/Halvorson/Felber/Farwell family!

Cousins like goofy photos.

Tim shows off his new bike riding skills!  We're so proud! No training wheels!

Belinda learned to put hats on - on the way home.  Now we need to work on putting them on right side out.

Thank goodness for books!  They keep her entertained in the car!

We had a fabulous trip and we're glad Lindsey and Andy shared their cabin with all of us.

Happy 4th of July - one week late

We hosted 20 people or so on July 4.  Belinda loved seeing all the people.  We celebrated and ate delicious food.  This post with the highlights is a bit late, because we were off in Chippewa Falls, WI at Lindsey and Andy's cabin for a week.  That post will come tomorrow.

Belinda is ready!

Brad is wearing his party shirt.

Elizabeth F. is checking out the Dora House.

Jr. Cowgirls celebrate the 4th.

Belinda is proud of her climbing skills.

 The kids table.

Thanks David for being the grill master to the end.  Yoli likes sitting with you.

Sunshiny Day!

Danger Baby!

No walking yet - but climbing has begun.  Belinda likes to get herself into high places.  We now have to keep an ever vigilant eye on her, or we discover her feet aren't touching the ground anymore.

She is only interested in climbing when the TV is on.  Clearly hanging it out of her reach hasn't discouraged her from being interested in it.  Obviously I don't let her do this all the time, but I had to get a photo to remember her.

Today I discovered she can climb the recliner.  This is a safer option, yet still not preferred.  Mommy Patrol has to get serious about climber prevention.

When Belinda isn't climbing furniture and being rambunctious, you can sneak up on her and catch her reading a book.

She's quite fond of animal books right now.  I love encouraging her reading habits.

Summer is too busy to post

Hi faithful followers of Belinda, if you're still out there.  We've been having too much fun this June to find time to sit down at the computer. 

Belinda became a homeowner.  Thanks to her cousin Isabelle, Belinda now has a Dora House to play in.

Belinda was chauffeured around by her friend Benjamin.

We visited the Central library with our friend Aurelie as well.  As you can see, it is harder to get people to sit still as they grow older. :)

Belinda took her Dad on a tour of the Art Museum.  Belinda has been here 3 times - it was Brad's first time. 

She modeled in her favorite chair at the Art Museum.

 We took the Metra train to Chicago for the day.  We visited our friend Marly who was in town from Italy.  Thankfully it only poured rain while we were on the train.

It was a humid day in Chicago, but Belinda was happy to meet Marly.

On they way home from Chicago, we enjoyed a Mango-agogo Jamba Juice.  Yum!

We went strawberry picking in the rain!  So delicious and so WET!

We're having a fabulous June! I hope you are too! 

Vacation!

It's been a while since our last post.  We've been to Washington DC and back!  While there - we geocached in 5 states and 1 district, visited our dear friends Monica and Tim, saw the Atlantic Ocean, and ate food from at least 5 different countries.  Belinda flew in her first airplane, rode her first subway car and rode on her first bus.  Now we just need to get her in a boat.

Here are some of the highlights.

Hot Ocean City, Maryland

Sunny Belinda explored wherever she could.

Belinda enjoyed reading her books.

She took her first Metro ride.

 We explored the city of Washington, DC.

 We saw airplanes at the Air and Space Museum.  Belinda didn't want to be in this photo.

 Tim entertained Belinda with his mini torch on his keychain.

Belinda explored all aspects of our living quarters.

Belinda had such a good trip that she fell asleep on the plane ride home.