Spring Snow

I was just going through photos of Rayna the other day, and I was disappointed to discover I never got any photos of her playing in the snow this year. I guess the timing was never right. She was either sick, or I was sick, or it was just too darn cold to even try. But this morning I got another chance. Go figure...last weekend we were enjoying 60 degree weather and this weekend it's snowing! She had just woken up and was still in her PJs but I didn't want to miss the chance for her to see the big puffy snow flakes that were coming down. So I plopped on her rain boots that are two sizes to big, and bundled her up. She loved the snow so much that she just kept laughing. Plus it was easy for me to get some great shots because she couldn't walk in her boots. She found a pine cone and thought she scored big time! I definitely cannot wait until we can spend more time outside this summer. Papa was working all day installing a child seat on my bike. We're going to the mountains in a couple weeks for our annual Johnson/Lenker Kayaking Expedition. Now Rayna will be able to bike along as I take photos of her papa conquering the mighty Pine Creek... or of it conquering him (like last year)! Stay tuned for photos.

A Walk in the Park

It's been a really long winter, and cabin fever is seriously setting in. This weather has been so wonderful and hopefully a sign that spring is soon here. One of the things I like most about where we live is that we're a hop, skip and a jump away from New Cumberland's nicest park. It has ball fields, pavillions, swing sets and two playgrounds. Plus, the Yellow Breeches Creek runs through it, and there's a family of geese that lives there. Rayna and I have walked around the park a few times this winter, but it's so much more fun when the weather's warmer. Today the temperature was a breezy 60 degrees, so needless to say we were out enjoying the day. I remember pushing Rayna through the park this same time last year. Only I have to admit this year it's a lot more fun. She just wants to explore everything. I'm embarrased to say though that sometimes I really do feel like a city girl. You'd never guessed I grew up on a farm. Today I kept catching myself trying to pull Rayna away from the muddy areas, or not letting her slide down a dirty slide. But then I thought back to my favorite past time growing up... making mudpies in my "Mud Kitchen." What if my mom wouldn't have let me play in the mud for fear I'd get dirty? I would have missed out on one of the best memories of my childhood. So I let her run... through mud, stones and even goose poop!

And from the permanent smile on her face, I could tell she was enjoying every muddy minute of it!

A Little Lady

Over that past month we've noticed our baby girl turning into a little lady, from playing with pocketbooks and bracelets to wearing cute little dresses and barettes. She's just growing up so fast! Was it really just a year ago that she was a tiny little baby? It's been such a joy to be home with her watching her grow and learn new things every day. Here are just a few of the fun things that she recently began doing: dancing to music, saying "hello" when she holds her play phone, eating cherrios with a spoon, giving kisses, meowing like a cat, and waving goodbye to Papa when he goes to work. We just got her 1st-year pictures taken (as a gift from Grammy and Grandpa Grove) and she had a blast. We're very excited for Spring to get here. We have lots of plans to play outside and work in the garden.