Camping

We went on our first family camping trip- and it was great! Thanks to Sarah and Mike for the inspiration.... We went to Tettegouche State Park up the North Shore and had a walk in campsite for one night. We didn't have to walk very far so it was perfect to still have access to the car if we needed it but we felt "away" from everyone. Frannie was awesome. We only had to tell her once about staying away from the fire pit and she kept her distance. She LOVED the tent...all those zippers to play with and seeing through the mesh windows. The bugs weren't even too bad-we were able to get away with using the natural bug spray and didn't require the "real" stuff. We went hiking both days; the first evening we went hiking up and down the Baptism River to see the waterfalls and then the next day to Gooseberry Falls to play in the lake. There was a swinging bridge that you could see through that we had to go over to cross the river and although Foxy struggled and I was super nervous for both Foxy and Frannie, Frannie had no fear. She was looking out the railing and squatting down to look at the river through the bridge. And then she hiked her little legs up a ton of steps and would have kept going on her own, but she kept getting distracted by the flowers and then the bugs would find us. The only tough part was sleeping since it's so light out, she was awake til 9 and then every move she made through the night woke me up since she was between Brian and I. Overall, very successful and I can't wait to go again.

"No"

She may not say a lot of words but she knows how and when to use the ones she does know. This includes "no". Not only does she say it, but she also provides actions to go along with it by shaking/waving her hands and arms back and forth across her chest just in case I didn't understand that indeed she does not want to do that or does not want to stop doing what she's doing. She is VERY independent and I'm learning to be sure to ask if she wants help first before I even go near whatever she's doing lest I ruin it.

The good news is that it doesn't last too long (nor does the mini fit that comes after) and then she will come over to me and either hug and kiss my leg or hand. She's quite the lover....always blowing kisses (sometimes to random people in the store) or patting and kissing me. 

We have scored some fun summer toys from friends and garage sales. She got a wagon with oversized Legos and conveniently for her she is tiny enough to fit in it so that's good times going down the driveway. She has a little car/rider thing that she's figuring out how to push herself on. Bubbles are a favorite both to say and do. Playing in containers of water and throwing rocks are good too. On the other hand, a friend gave us a kid swing that is great and I found a perfect branch for it but Frannie HATES it. She'll go speeding down the slide at Sarah's and at the park but swinging-no thank you. 

We are holding out on a kiddie pool due to the un-summerlike weather we are having. I found two cute suits and now we just wait and see if she ever gets to wear them. We may have to go to Hayward if we want warmth....which we did go celebrate Meemaw's birthday last Sunday-warm weather, eating outside, and ice cream....aaahhhh, it felt like summer.