Cutty’s Converse Debacle.

So we stopped at this RV park that is ENORMOUS.  It’s called “Cutty’s” and they have two pools, a spa, tennis courts, a lake, a Western village and even a restaurant.  There are also more than 500 spots here!  We found this place by chance in a discount book we have and were pleasantly surprised at how nice it is.  Our spot is particularly nice because we are by the lake with no one on either side of us.

There is a little playground right next to our campsite with swings and huge tires to play in.

When I was bored with the playground we took a walk.

We found some friendly geese!

The geese ran away from me so I chased them. (Note the dark mucky puddle to my right.)

While Mom was busy taking pictures of me I made a sharp right turn and did this to my cute pink Converse tennis shoes.

I’m not sure if this is just mud or goose poop or a combination of the two, but it’s really icky.  I hope Mommy can wash them because they’re my favorites!

A note from Mom…any idea how to get thick black mudd off of canvas shoes???

One More Family Lunch!

Before leaving Topeka today we stopped for another family get together at our favorite restaurant Panera Bread!  This time the Brinkman side of the family met up for lunch and we had a great time.  Daddy’s cousins Jessie and Shane came, along with Shane’s wife Darci.  Great Grandma Brinkman was there and so were Great Uncle Dennis and Great Aunt Vera. I was a good girl and ate lots of yummy “bed” (bread).

Jessie, Darcie, Great Uncle Dennis, Great Aunt Vera, Great Grandma, Daddy, Mommy, and ME!

After lunch we were back on the road again for a 5 hour drive toward Nonna and Nonno’s house.  We stopped in Des Moines for the night where we found quite the extravagant rv park. (More on that later.) It was good to see everyone in Topeka and maybe next time our visit can be longer!

Topeka Steakhouse

Last night we enjoyed dinner with my Great Uncle Bill and his family.  There were 11 of us in all.  The Topeka Steakhouse was our restaurant of choice and dinner was delicious!  I even got to run around a little with my 2nd cousins Zachary and Ryker.  It was a really fun time.

Daddy thought this sign was photo worthy. :)

The whole gang!

All the cousins together - Daddy, me, Susan, Zachary, Ryker, Billy, and baby Brynna.

Daddy with Ryker.

Mommy with the newest member of the family, baby Brynna.

It seems I am into "older men" these days. I gave Zachary numerous hugs!

Us kids had fun playing after dinner.

Can’t wait to see you all again!

Naked Time.

There’s nothing better after a long drive than a warm bath and some naked time! Or in this case if you manage to escape your parents during bathtime and run fast enough, then you can do a quick jig in the window before being drug back to the bathroom.

You better be quick if you wanna do a jig!

Wowee Kazowee! I made it! (And I'm quite pleased with myself.)

A Break Before Wichita.

About an hour out from our destination we stopped on the side of the road to take a break.  I was thrilled about this!

Yay a break!

Bella was happy for the break as well. (I thought she could use a hug from blankie bear.)

On our break I got a cup of yogurt "balls". Bella begs to have some too and I'm happy to oblige.

I was coaxed back into my carseat with the promise of some cartoons.  One more hour and we landed at our interesting RV park.  Imagine a mowed down corn field as far as the eye can see with a teensy gravel RV park plopped in the middle of it.  There is also a major Interstate running beside it which only adds to the embiance.  Tomorrow is 3 hours to Topeka where we’ll see some of Daddy’s relatives!

Storm Driving

It’s pouring rain and we are making our way through Dallas/Fort Worth.  Our destination today is 6 hours ahead in Wichita, Kansas.  Dad isn’t thrilled about driving through the rain but we’ve got to make tracks!  I’m busy watching Blues Clues and drinking from my sippy cup.

This could be a crazy day!  We just saw a HOUSE that fell off a truck bed on the freeway bridge!!!

Garland (Not Like Christmas or Judy)

Calvary chapel Garland (a suburb of Dallas) had us out this morning to sing at their church.  While my parents were sound checking, nine year old Caleb entertained me and I REALLY took a shine to him!  Every time he sat down I plopped myself in his lap and after church when another little girl had the gall to sit in Caleb’s lap I resorted to lightly pinching her arm until she got up…at which point I quickly commandeered my position!

Don't even think about taking my seat!

After church we all went out to Jason's Deli. As you can see I was way too busy eating frozen yogurt to look at the camera.

Pastor John Stewart knows my pastor John Milhouse back home in Moreno Valley and he asked me to say hi to him.  So, hi John!

I was one sleepy girl on the way home. zzzzz

“The Littlest Ballerina”

These are a few of the pictures that were taken at my photoshoot back in June.

Pway?

I have just discovered the joy of prayer!  When my food arrives at the table I put my hands out and say “pway?” Then we all hold hands, as I make a really serious face, and I put my head down while Mom or Dad says the prayer.  At the end I say “AMEN!” About halfway through the meal I say “pway?” again and we have another prayer.   When the food is all gone and the plates are taken away I say “pway?” one last time and we thank God for the food we gobbled up…“AMEN”!

Bedtime is another opportunity to talk to God but at bedtime my prayer style is a little different.  Mommy reads me a book and then turns off the light.  I then get cuddled in her arms while she tells me in the dark all about the fun things we will do the next day.  After that she says “are you ready to pray?”  “Pway?” I say in a giggly voice.  Then I repeat the words Mom says, sort of like this…

“dear Jesus (de zus?), thank you for Daddy (daddy?), Mommy (mommy?), Bella (bewa?), Adessa (baby!), Nonno (nono?), Grammy (gwammy?), Nonna (nowna?), Grandpa (gwampa?), help me to sleep well (sweep?), help me to have sweet dreams (dweems?), and keep us safe on our trip (twip?), in Jesus name we pray (AMEN!).”

I’m a pretty good prayer!  Some nights I even prattle off all the words in my arsenal, praying for pigs, moo cows, crackers, ducks, and even my sippy cup.  Not sure I’ve totally got the concept but I’m learning.

PeePot!

For some reason my Mother thinks it’s really funny that I want to go “sleepy in my peepot“.  Isn’t that what it’s called?

Me in my peepot!

Ohhhh, PEAPOD! (I still don’t get what’s so funny?)