Evansville Otters

Each year the realty group we worked with when buying our current house hosts a night at the ballpark.  The game was last night, and this year, Pa, Gram and Aunt Josie joined us for the game.

Dallas and Reba loved it, but Julianne, on the other hand, did not care for it.  I think the game was too loud for her little ears.

After the game, all the kids in attendance were able to run the bases.  You can see Doug in the middle of the picture (red shirt, red hat) waiting with Dallas and Reba.

If I may be honest for a moment...after the Otters' official opened the gate and all the children started running, I completely lost track of my two!  It wasn't until they were almost done that I spotted them...

Dallas rounding third!

There's Reba after crossing home plate.

Daddy then joined them at home plate

We found this cute car outside the stadium

There was a gentleman that sat in front of us during the game, that gave Reba the balloon animal (it was suppose to be a cat).  She carried that silly thing around for 2 or 3 days!

Ever seen a flying otter?

Yep, there's that balloon cat again!

I believe I have talked about the Evansville Otters before on here.  It is an independent professional baseball league that plays at historic Bosse Field.  Parts of A League of their Own was filmed here, and it is the third oldest ballpark in the nation (behind Wrigley and Fenway)

Until next time...

We did celebrate...

Even though I didn't post about our Valentine's Day over a week ago, Doug did surprise the kiddos and I with gifts when he got home from work...

Dallas and Reba LOVED their balloons!

Surprisingly, they are still floating and the kiddos are still running around the house with them :)

And, I was surprised with this beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - PBS Fun Fest!

Last weekend, my friend Carla passed on some information about the PBS (Free) Fun Fest that was going to be held in downtown Evansville.  She also mentioned that a few of our favorite characters were to be in attendance.

 

Any guesses...

Once arriving, we first saw that the fire department had one of their trucks open so that the kiddos could climb aboard

Then, we found one of the main people we had come to find...Curious George!

Dallas walked up with little no fear, but Reba wouldn't go unless Momma went too.  Thankfully, the mom behind us was kind enough to snap a picture (Daddy was at work that morning)

There were many booths set up at the festival with crafts, coloring, and various games, but the kiddos weren't interested in them...they just wanted to see the characters!

On our way to find more friends, we passed the booth for PBS' newest show, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (think modern-day Mr. Roger's).  Isn't this a "Grrr-ific" kid?

Next, we found Super Why - you might remember Dallas mentioning this as his favorite show in this post

Next to Super Why was The Cat in the Hat - after I took this picture and started to walk away, Reba became upset because she didn't get her picture taken, but again...she wouldn't go near the characters without me.

To help calm her down, we went to visit the clowns who were doing balloon creations!

Dallas chose a blue dog - to match his shirt

Reba picked a purple butterfly - because "that's my favorite"

Reba then saw the chance to paint!

Yes, that is a car she is painting!

After Reba changed paint brushes, another child (I'm going to say somewhere in the 8-10 age range) so kindly ran into her, knocking the paint brush in Reba's hand, and added this bit of paint to Little Miss' hair and face...

Luckily, it was washable poster paint, and it came off (and out) very easily!

As we were getting ready to leave, Clifford the Big Red Dog arrived!  As we were waiting in line, Reba's butterfly balloon popped a wing...hence the unhappy little girl

Lastly, the kiddos each got to pick out a new book!  Don't they looked thrilled?!?!

Overall, we had a great time - here's to hoping for more fun family outings as the kiddos get older and become braver in new situations :)

Until next time...

Reba's 2nd Birthday!

I took the kiddos out for lunch on Reba's birthday.  She chose McDonald's!

That night when Daddy got home, Reba got to open a present (Tinker Bell PJ's and a Princess look and find book)

Momma made a big ole chocolate chip cookie for dessert

add a little ice cream and it was pure delight!

Here's Reba modeling her jammies

On Sunday, we had a party to celebrate Reba turning 2...she sat with Aunt Josie for a little bit of time while opening gifts

The birthday girl loved her balloons

This little girl is well loved by her grandparents and aunts...just look at all those presents!

Here's a combination of some of Reba's favorite presents...new shoes, baby stroller, and earrings

Time for cake!

Happy Birthday to you!

Daddy took Reba this morning for her 2 year check-up.

Height: 2 foot 8 inches (5th percentile)

Weight: 24.4 lbs (39th percentile)

Head Circumference: 18.9 inches (72nd percentile)

Dr. Alex had Reba go to the lab for blood work to check her iron levels.  My little girl was super brave and strong.  She only let out a small whimper when the nurse stuck the needle in her arm; then she was just fine.  The nurse even commented that Reba did better than most adults!

Dr. Alex also wants Reba to come back in three months to check her height once again.  She went from the 32nd percentile at 18 months to the 5th now.

Dr. Alex had a list of basic skills that a 2 year old should be able to to do.  He likes to see the child be able to do about 75% of the skills - Reba could do 100%! 
Skills included:
     Say 5 or more words
     Name 2 or more body parts
     Eat table food
     Use a fork/spoon
     Run
     Walk backwards
Dr. Alex then asked questions from an advanced development skills test.  He said that he would like for her to be able to do 25-50% - Reba was able to do over 50%!
Those skills included:
     Say 50 or more words
     Name more than 7 body parts
     Recognize people
     People to understand her words more than 50% of the time
     Dress herself

Reba now has her front 8 teeth, her 4 first molars, and 3 out of her 4 canine teeth.  (The 4th is trying to break through)
Reba loves to play with her baby dolls, as well as tractors and trucks!
She can climb up and down stairs all by herself.
Reba loves to read books.
She loves to watch movies - especially Elmo's World and Ice Age
Reba loves to pretend to be on the phone, but not so much to be on the real phone with family.
She wants to do everything herself - "Me do myself" she always says
Reba loves her Dora the Explorer and Tinker Bell jammies.
She wants to do whatever big brother is doing.
Reba sleeps about 12 hours at night any roughly 2 1/2 to 3 hours in the afternoon.

I'm sure I'll think of more things to add later.

Until next time...