2 Year Portraits

Around the time Mena turned 2 she had the walnut stains on her hands. When the stains were gone we were in the middle of moving. So finally things settled down and I was able to get her in for her 2 year portraits. At first Mena was very leary of the photographer and the big curtain the lady pulled out of the ceiling. I'd talked to her about showing the lady her smile so she could take her picture but up until that point Mena only wanted to show her smile while glued to my leg. Then the photographer let her press the flash button on the camera and the big light in the room flashed and Mena started warming up to the idea of pictures.

Trick or Treating

The first picture is of Mena and Daddy at South Pointe Mall trick or treating. Gene, Mena, and I met up with Aunt Peg, Uncle Jon, and Jake for some trick or treating at the mall. Mena thought it was great fun when she realized what we were doing. The second picture is after supper. She said yes when asked if she wanted to put her costume on again. I stayed home to hand out candy while Gene took her trick or treating.

Carving Our Pumpkin

Mena dug right in to help get the seeds out of the pumpkin. We laughed when she wanted to use the scraper and then "stirred" inside the pumpkin like we were cooking! Mommy has a new appreciation for Grandpa Frye's ability to carve a pumpkin; luckily Mena thought it turned out great!

Sunwest Farms

The Friday before Halloween I didn't have any daycare kids and I thought we ought to get a pumpkin to carve so I took Mena to a small farm on the edge of Lincoln. Not as exciting as Vala's but we were able to take a hayrack ride to the field to pick out our pumpkin which Mena enjoyed. Mena stood to get her picture taken as the cow and as Charlie Brown, but when I showed her the picture, she was most excited to point out the pumpkin she'd picked sitting in each of the pictures! Mena also picked out a gourd before we left. Here she is the next morning carrying her gourd around the house.

In Our New House

October 8th we moved into our new house. Here Mena is knocking on our backdoor while we were outside playing in the yard and then Mena is looking out our big picture windows to the backyard from the playroom. We really love the space we have in the new house. Upstairs we have our kitchen, dining room, playroom, 3 bedrooms, a full bath off the hallway, and a half bath in the master bedroom. The dining room and playroom are actually one room that normally would be used for a dining room and living room but we chose to dedicate that area as a playroom since I have an in-home daycare. Downstairs we have our living room which is big enough to have an exercise area in the back and a sewing area off to the side since the room is L-shaped. Then we also have an office and a huge laundry/storage room that holds both our personal storage and all my daycare supplies.

It was a little crazy to move 6 weeks before my due date. It took 3 weekends to get all the boxes unpacked but it's done now. If Maggie were to come today I would know where to find stuff without having to dig through boxes so that feels good!

Ice Cream

I thought Mena didn't like vanilla ice cream, but I think the key is that if you put it in a cone Mena will eat any ice cream!

Last Few Play Days in the Old House

Here are a few pictures of Mena with during the day with the other kids.  First, Mena and Traven playing with the latches board.  Second, Mena decorating a pumpkin with orange rice.  Third, Mena playing with her cousin Jake.  Fourth, Mena with Traven exploring ice cubes.  Fifth, Mena and Traven in the sandbox.  Sixth, Mena and Traven with the new slide and basketball hoop.  I was looking for a basketball hoop for the backyard when I found that slide with basketball hoop for only $15 on craig's list!

Early Head Start

In addition to the services that Mena receives through LPS, Mena got a spot in the Early Head Start program this year. Ruth comes to play with us once a week at our house. Ruth offers ideas on activities to do with Mena to encourage her development.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

 

Mena had her first 2 night stay at Grandma and Grandpa Frye's house the first weekend of October while Gene and I packed up everything in the old house.  On Saturday Mena went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch with Grandma, Aunt Beth, Peyton, and Tyler.  It was Mena's first trip to a pumpkin patch so I told Beth to take lots of pictures for me--looks like she had a lot more fun than Gene and I did at home!



Traven's Rocking Horse

Traven brought his rocking horse to our house and Mena loved it!!

Mommy's Big Exercise Ball

Compare this picture to the one of her standing next to the same ball in May of 2009. She's grown so much!

Apple Jack Festival in NE City

September 19th we skipped church and headed out to Nebraska City for the Apple Jack Festival. We looked at a lot of craft booths and ate lunch with an old co-worker of mine. Mena's favorite part of the trip was to the petting zoo. The look on her face when the donkey brayed was funny enough to even get the employee to notice and comment to Mena about how loud that donkey was!