Family Snaps

In addition to the pictures above in the header, here are a few more of my favorites from our second annual Easter family photo shoot. I'd like to give a shout out to a friend of my sister, Tina, took these. She did a great job last year as well. (Check them out here. And link to her blog here.) Despite uncooperative weather, plan B location due to about 25,000 people invading City Park for the Crescent City Classic, and an irritable toddler who was getting over her first ear infection and a bump to her forehead at the beginning of our photo session, I'd say Tina did a hot diggidy dog job.

Enjoy. (Sorry they're small. Technichal difficulties. Click on a picture to enlarge.)

The BIG Park

Today was Kendall's first trip to the BIG park a little further down the road. (Actually, she has been here once as a baby but she doesn't remember it.)We had a play date with some friends today. This time she got to climb and run and play and eat lunch out of her school lunch box.

So much for the baby swings. Only the big kid swings will do now. And she wasn't scared to hop down either.

I did manage to convince her to play on the "little people" side where the climbing structures were much lower. Which, in turn, lowered my anxiety level also.

Climbing through the tunnel, a great confidence accomplishment.

Brianna and Abbey, our play date friends joined Kendall as well.

Kendall decided to become braver when she saw Brianna race around the perimeter sidewalk. We soon, though, lost sight of Brianna.

Where did Brianna go?? That's really what she was wondering! (Kendall didn't take into account that she likes to stop and pick up rocks on the way, just as she does in the church parking lot.)

Oh well, Kendall decided to park it right then and there and play with her rocks until Brianna made it back around.

Preparing for the bar exam early by studying her rocks in the mean time.

Content as ever to bask in the rays (the first-and possibly only-of the week) and enjoy the day. Pretty soon, though, this busy toddler was up and at it again. But I do think she will be a serious thinker like her Daddy. She's already started with the playground.

Oh You Better Watch Out, I'm Telling You Why!

Kendall and Mommy spent day one of Christmas at Nana and Grandpa's in the doctor's office so Mommy could get her pink eye treated. Fun! Well, fun is what Kendall and JuJu had in the waiting room-so it seems from the picture-for the TWO HOURS Mommy spent waiting for her coveted eye drops. I guess she figured she should show off her diamond-studded sunglasses to the doc.

To be rewarded for being such a fine princess during the wait (Kendall and JuJu read the same three books OVER and OVER, walked around in the hall, climbed on and off the couch, pointed to all the cheesy Christmas decor, and waved to all the patients as they entered and exited), Mommy and JuJu took her to the park. She had a blast. Someone forgot to remind her she is still a little kid. The little dare devil climbed all the equipment, and even walked up the slides.

Here is Mommy showing Kendall the correct way to go down a slide.

And here's Kendall teaching Mommy the more fun way to do it.

The Princess at Story Land

While visiting Grandpa, Nana and JuJu, we took Kendall to Story Land in City Park. I remember going there as a kid. Mother Goose nursery rhymes and Disney are depicted in fun ways for the children to play. Here is the entrance (yes, even for the adults) under the "Hickory Dickery Dock" clock.

Kendall thought the fountain was the best! Hold on tight, Daddy!
AAARH! Peter Pan's pirate ship.

No wonder Jack and Jill fell down. If the hill was as steep as this slide, they had no chance! Not like the slide at the park by our house, it took help from Mommy and Daddy. But that didn't stop Kendall from climbing the hill and sliding down twice.
A much needed rest on the bench.

Um, Daddy, Did you REALLY think this one through?? Mommy just saw two boys slide down at breakneck speed. (Did they grease these slides???) JuJu was the photographer. Mommy was covering her eyes.
Click on the picture to get a good look at Daddy and Kendall's faces. This was definitely an "Oh CRAP!" moment! Daddy said he used the 2.2 seconds to figure out what to do when he reached the bottom. And Kendall used the next ten minutes to get over it.
Safely back on the ground and in Cinderella's pumpkin carriage.
Climbing in and out of Cinderella's pumpkin.
Alice in Wonderland's crooked house.
One baby, slap wore out. Story Land was a success!

First Trip to the Park

We took Kendall to the park for the first time last week. Daddy had the day off and the weather was perfect, so it was the perfect time to go. She loved it. The first ten minutes or so she just stood looking around and watching the big kids to see what all there was to do. But it didn't take long for her to realize this was a FUN place to be. She loved the slide and picking up leaves the best.

Mommy and Kendall returned again a few days later. Kendall watched a four-year-old boy climb up the "big kid" slide. She was determined to do the same, so with a little push on the rear from Mommy, she made it to the top. Three times. Mommy was scared for the both of them. Kendall just reveled in the joy of her accomplishment. Bye bye baby...hello toddler.