I love the I Heart Faces photo challenges even though I don’t participate as often as I’d like. But this week’s challenge seemed fun and very timely for me and I couldn’t let it pass me by.
Recently, Emmalynn realized she can make a heart with her fingers and she is quite proud of her new found talent. Seeing her freckled face smile peeking through her little heart-shaped fingers warms my heart.
It’s the best Valentine’s Day gift ever.
Allan and I have a rather unusual obsession with manhole covers. Tampa has some unique ones, but St. Petersburg does as well. While strolling along sidewalk with my sister a few weeks ago, I spotted the St. Petersburg sewer system for the first time and of course, I had to stop and take a photo and embarrass my sister.
With all the races I’ve done in St. Pete, how have I missed these magnificent pelican manhole covers?
Last Saturday, our scurvy crew loaded into The Black Pearl for a voyage to beautiful Bayshore Blvd, Tampa for the Gasparilla Children’s Parade. For Grandma Elizabeth, Papa Rusch, Uncle Erich and Cousin Meghan, this would be their maiden voyage as they had never experienced a Gasparilla Parade before.
The parade forecast was freezing by Florida standards, therefore, warm winter coats covered all our pirate apparel, but Meghan’s hook and dress were still visible.
Our new pirate recruits quickly caught on that the Gasparilla Parade is all about the beads.
Grandpa Rusch and Allana tucked in close to the railing, however, Emmalynn and Meghan had an unfair advantage sitting on their Daddy’s shoulders. Even Grandma and Liam tried their hand at catching a few beads.
Although the girls decided they’d collected enough treasure, the Dads and Grandpa decided they need just a few more beads.
At the end, the girls proudly posed with their new found treasures.
Even Liam licked liked his booty.
Argggg!
Since it rarely ever snows in Florida, we usually make our snowmen out of sand. But over winter break, Auntie Kirsten and Meghan taught the girls and me how to build snowmen out of Ivory soap, toilet paper and a little warm water.
And as if that wasn’t messy enough, the girls made edible snowmen out of marshmallows, pretzel sticks, orange Tic Tacs, black decorating gel and jelly beans. A little icing between each marshmallow glued the snowman’s body together.
Meghan, Allana and Emmalynn loved their sticky, soapy, “snowy” day fun.
Little Lion Man is loving real food, especially bananas.
Liam, 5 months old
A tooth fell out and left a space,
So big my tongue could touch my face
And every time I smile I show,
A space where something used to grow,
I miss my tooth as you can guess.
But then, I have to brush one less!
- Author Unknown
When Mommy to a lil lady {bug} announced her blogger ornament swap, I signed up to join in the fun. I love ornaments, especially cute ones like the one she sent me.
I Ho-Ho-Ho-hope she likes the one I sent her even if it was over a week late.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev’rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. – Harlan Miller
Gobble up some fun this Thanksgiving!
This funny drumstick was part of a relay race at Emmalynn’s school yesterday. The directions on how to make the drumstick and play the game can be found here.
Happy Turkey Day!
Allana had another piano recital last Saturday. For this recital, she had to wear a costume to accompany her piece of music. Since her selection was Bullfrog Blues, she wanted to dress like a frog.
I offered to buy her a Tiana Princess Frog gown, but she had other ideas. She requested a green leotard and green stockings. To finish off her frog look, she carefully constructed two large eyes and taped them to a headband. Given how girlie Allana usually acts, I was very surprised that she turned down a frilly fancy gown to dress like a giant tree frog, but I have to admit, she did look quite cute.
In the end, it was very rewarding for Allana to not be swayed from her decision as she won second place for her fabulous frog-like look. The prize was five dollars.
I am so proud of my creative and talented frog princess
