Pin Oak Update and Tracing Letters

My oak has baby leaves on it!

And I'm learning how to trace letters. 

Mom found these write and wipe cards at a garage sale for $1. I've been very interested in learning the alphabet, and I like to draw, so Mom picked them up. I keep asking to play with the cards. I have a lot of fun going through the letters and copying the lines with my marker.

Elm Creek Pond

We took advantage of the hot weather today and headed to Elm Creek Pond, which opened yesterday. Unfortunately, it's going to get a bit cool again before summer really hits. Still, I'm glad I got some time playing in the sand, water, and sun.

Rainy Day Arboretum

We visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum again today.

Because the day started with heavy rain, we first headed to a building called the Learning Center where there were some kid activities.

I played at a table filled with sunflower seeds.

I pretty much could have stayed all day in this one spot.

I moved on, though, to planting a sunflower, one that is supposed to grow taller than me, taller than my mom, and probably taller than my dad.

After planting my seed, I glued some other seeds to a picture of a sunflower and colored in the petals of the flower.

Then I helped water some plants in a greenhouse. 

I took my job very seriously.

We left the Learning Center to walk through the gardens behind the visitor center. 

We seemed to be the only people visiting the arboretum. It was nice.

Hey, look!

I'm going to jump!

Although the sun was supposed to peak out a little (according to the weather forecast), it stayed cloudy ALL day. It was okay, though. The rain did make all the plants and trees look nice and lush. 

We took our chances walking a path through the woods to get to a boardwalk that crosses a bog and gives a nice view of a pond. I found a thin, flexible stick along the way. I bent it into a tear-drop shape and pretended it was a camera. Here I am taking a picture of Dad taking a picture of me.

It ended up being a really nice day despite the wet, grey weather.

Northern Pin Oak Buds and a Western Painted Turtle

The tree I planted a few days ago is beginning to bud out. My flowers are beginning to grow, too.

Earlier today, Mom heard a clicking noise on the patio (the sliding glass door was open). She looked over and there was a western painted turtle making his way across. I had to go out and get a close-up look. 

The turtle didn't like me much.

In fact, he hissed at me.

He noticed a chance to escape.

And he took it.

Bye bye turtle!

What a Busy, Busy Day

This morning I channeled my inner master gardener with my dad before he headed out for work.

First, I planted a tiny tree in a pot.

I dumped a little soil in to the pot.

I added the tree.

Then I poured more soil around the roots.

Dad added water.

We patted down the soil, then we moved on to planting some flower seeds.

Who needs a shovel when you can use your hands?

Dad sprinkled the flower seeds, then we finished filling the planter with dirt, and moved on to planting some sunflower seeds.

I took the seeds out of Dad's hand.

And I pushed the seeds into the soil of our third planter.

Lastly, I added water to all of our pots.

After Dad left for work, Mom took me to Lake Camelot Park for a walk. I got a new toy umbrella stroller yesterday, and I had to bring it with me and take my baby for a walk, too.

We spotted pretty little purple flowers along the trail.

We looked for turtles and barn swallows on the boardwalk.

C'mon Mom! No more pictures!

Along our walk I picked my baby up so I could add some pretend groceries to the stroller.

Then we continued along.

And we came across more pretty purple flowers.