Vacation to the wedding

Oscar had a fun vacation en route to and including his cousin Brittany's wedding. Our first stop was the Milwaukee county zoo. It was very nice with some animals we had only seen pictures of previously.
Another two hour drive took us to a camping spot just off the beach at Illinois Beach State Park. We live near a lake and beach, but this one is much bigger!

In response to the rain, we headed to the Kohl Children's Museum. It is geared for kids under the age of eight.

Oscar attended most of the wedding activities including the rehearsal dinner, most of the wedding, and the early part of the reception dinner. For his parents to let loose a little at the reception, Oscar had a baby sitter at our hotel. We introduced him to her at the reception then headed over to our hotel together. After we left, Oscar cried for five minutes. He then went into the bedroom. When the sitter tried to check on him he tried crawling under the bed. She chose to let him mellow out. He chose to fall asleep at a very early hour on the floor. At which point she put him on the bed where he slept for 12 hours.

The rest of vacation was eating too much at Mike's sister house. Very relaxing and fun for Oscar to play with other kids.

Mike was pleased that Oscar chose to sing a blues song while we traveled home through northwestern IN into Chicago. We also assume he was somewhat lamenting the end of his vacation.

In case you can't understand the lyrics...Rain is falling down (repeat for 15 minutes or so)

Burn Season

Hey now, what do we have here . . . ? Lets have a little lookie loo . . . Hmmm, I think there is one just like this in my machine book. Yes, I think it's an A T VEEEEE!!!!!! Lets see, just swing the leg up, pull up on the seat, drag up that other leg, hang onto the handle and voila!

So burn season is well under way, which for me means some late nights, lots of eating out and lots of mama and papa leaving for work early and getting home late. Its a bit crazy, but it's so important to get out and get fire on the landscape that I'm being very flexible and helpful. On Saturday Papa was burning, and Mama took me out to help. I got to drive the ATV! (To prevent child services, concerned grandparents or the NWCG police coming after after mama, the ATV wasn't even on)

I also got to hold the hoses, sit on top of the engine, and watch for spot fires. The smoke went way up high, and the flames raced across the wetland. I wish they made Nomex in size 2T . . . I'd be all over it!

On the more typical 2 year old front I've also been busy easter egg hunting (thankyou Mr CE Bunny!);learning to fall asleep on my own, and sleeping the whole night through. I'm learning to brush my teeth, use the potty (well at least sit on it) and am able to construct real sentences eight or ten words long. And I discovered that since mama won't let me use the camera, her alarm clock is a close enough substitute so I go around asking her to "smile into the camera Mama!" I'm branching out into a few new foods, and actually eating several regular meals a day now. New faves are keifer, tomato juice and peanuts Life is pretty darn good! Hope you are all well. And if you are out there burning . . . Be safe and remember your LCES (lookouts, communications, escape routes and safety zones for you non fire bugs!)

2

Oscar is two. To celebrate both sets of grandparents visited.

There was a drum circle. Even with just one drum it was still LOUD!
A puppet show with some confusion as to who was an actor and who was the audience.

Lots of smiles

Present opening and of course fun with the boxes

A nice meal and even a cake

The only problem was Granddad Spaul refusing to let Oscar sit in Oscar's chair.

8

Oscar can count to 8. Twice he counted the 8 birds hanging from our mantle. I don't know if we should be impressed, but we are.

While we are on the theme of 8. Let's upload 8 photos because we have been so neglectful in posts.

This small cabin at Indian Lake County Park has a small woodstove for heat and cooking. We had sausages, eggs, hot chocolate, and lots of snacks.

Getting there was fun!

Winter adventure with Alden (Alden's blog has more photos of this adventure)

Papa is wicked FUN! His face might not show it, but the horses were a hit.

Cooking and washing dishes are VERY popular activities.

He counts and paints!

Two soon!