Laowai

I have fond memories of playing with a set of Playmobile toys when I was little. I especially remember playing with my cousin Jason. I had an indians/stagecoach set of Playmobile and we’d each set up our own little homestead so the living room was turned into a vast prairie dotted with homes and roads. 

I bought Bea a set of junior Playmobile recently – a house set with a little kitty that I’ve shown on the blog before. Then I struck it rich soon after when I found a farm set and an emergency vehicles set at the used kid’s stuff store. So now we have a good sized collection that Bea has been spending a lot of time with. I can wait to get this set or this set. or this set…. I could go on and on. I love Playmobile!

Another picture from our trip to the farm. Grandma took this one obviously. Bea is finally getting into the activities. They have a cute little exhibit in their barn where kids can collect plastic eggs from the chickens and then put them in a drawer. When the drawer closes all the eggs tumble back down into the nests ready to be collected again. They also have a big plastic cow that you can “milk”. You have to pretend the water that comes out is milk. And they have a little pig that you feed with real corn. It’s all very cute and it’s just a little place – perfect for my little one. Oh and it’s free, that’s nice too.

I forgot I had these photos on the camera. I really like this photo. I like that they are looking so intently at the chickens. I like that Bea is paying such close attention to what grandma is telling her about chickenss. I also like the light shining in on them. 

I love, love, love this mini LL Bean vest that Bea got for Christmas last year. It’s so handy and cozy for the in-between weather of spring and fall. 

We got back from our weekend trip to Wisconsin yesterday afternoon. It was a good little trip despite the wet weather. It rained and rained and rained. We managed to get in a biking trip on Saturday. I was only able to go about 15 miles up and down the big hills. I think I might have gone a bit further if it hadn’t been raining but I was completely wiped out by the hills. Brian went back out and did about 55 miles – also up and down. Later, I met him in Merrimac where he took a ferry across Lake Wisconsin. Then while he finished his ride I took a long bubble bath back at our hotel. I had a fun time mainly because it was the first time we’ve been away from Bea for a weekend. Even driving in the car was different. I didn’t have to be prepared with toys and wipes and snacks – I could just relax and enjoy long conversations without interuption.

Here’s Brian buying a snack before getting on the ferry:

Here’s the view from the ferry:

Here’s Brian refueling on the ferry:

Off he goes into the hills of Wisconsin. Doesn’t he look just like a professional biker? And he’s very encouraging and patient while his pokey wife huffs and puffs up those hills. 

Thanks Grandma for staying with Bea and giving us the gift of a weekend to ourselves. 

Did I ever show you my one quilting masterpiece? I spread it out on the floor the other morning and Bea got a kick out of running around on the squares.

Making polenta – mmmmm I love carbohydrates.