Year in Review

It's been quite the year this year! There were some really great moments, and some not-so-great moments.

These were the highlights for me:

January


Before moving from Maryland to Minnesota, I visited one last Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of the American Indian.

February

After I got settled into my new home in Minnesota, I took a day to check out the Nicollet Mall area of downtown Minneapolis. 

March

Needing to get out of the house again, I visited the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. I spent most of my time in the conservatory since it was still very much winter outside.

April

In the beginning of April, the weather improved just enough that, dressed warmly, I could at least get outside and play.

I visited the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

I got pretty excited about the treats left out for me on Easter morning.

May

After what seemed like a very long wait, it finally started to look a bit green outside.

I checked out the Minnesota Children's Museum.

I also checked out Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.

I enjoyed watching Native American dancers perform at the Mill City Farmer's Market in Minneapolis.

And I enjoyed a drive along the St. Croix River with Mom and Dad the next day.

Memorial Day weekend treated us to warm enough weather that I was able to enjoy the community pool when it opened.

June

I visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 

I boogied down at a car show at the Father Hennepin Festival in Champlin, MN.

I listened to live music at the Maple Grove Town Green stage. 

I flew to Utah.

I visited with some of Mom's family.

And I visited with some of Dad's family.

July

This month, I went swimming, a lot.

I watched my first fireworks show.

I channeled my inner Van Gogh.

I played at a splash pad.

I sat in the driver's seat of a fire engine.

Did I mention I did a lot of swimming in July?

And I rode on a boat down the Mississippi River.

August

I traveled to Utah again, but this time to southern Utah. I played in the Zion River in Zion National Park.

I did a little rafting with Dad on a lake.

I rode on an ATV.

And I went for a hike.

Back in Minnesota, I visited the Science Museum of Minnesota.

September

I traveled to Thunder Bay at the beginning of September to visit my grandpa. I crossed a big suspension  bridge.

I made friends with a chicken at Fort William Historical Park.

I walked along the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Minnesota.

I had a late summer picnic at the park with Mom and Dad.

October

I celebrated my second birthday with a trip to the Minnesota Zoo. 

I posed for birthday portraits.

I took advantage of the still summer-like weather we had in later October.

I helped pick out pumpkins at a pumpkin patch for Halloween.

I painted the pumpkin I picked out for myself.

I dressed as a ghost for Halloween.

November

We had some cold days in November, then it warmed up again later in the month. I went for a walk, shuffling my feet through the fallen leaves, with Mom and Dad on Thanksgiving Day.

December

I helped decorate the Christmas tree we cut down.

I showed my uncle around the Twin Cities.

And I was super excited to see all the presents under our tree on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

I fully enjoyed this year's holiday season.

I enjoyed looking at all the colorful lights strung up on houses and trees.

I got excited each time it snowed, exclaiming as I watched the flakes fall onto our back patio, "It's snowwwing!" It's just too bad it did not snow much and that the weather stayed warm enough to melt what little snow did stick to the ground.

I also liked tracking Santa and his reindeer on NORAD Christmas Eve.

When I woke up on Christmas Day, I was pretty excited to go downstairs and check out the presents Mom told me appeared under the tree sometime during the night.

I headed straight for my stocking first. And I found a Llama Llama Red Pajama doll!

Hmmm, what else is stuffed in here?

After I emptied my stocking, I moved on to the wrapped presents.

I got a book from my grandpa. It's one where he was able to record himself reading. It's pretty cool.

I also got Hello Kitty leg warmers from my other grandparents. I love Hello Kitty.

Mom and Dad bought me the book The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera.

It's been my favorite book the last few months (we were loaning it from the library before). 

I also got the book Llama Llama Red Pajama to go with my doll.

I really enjoyed opening presents.

But every time I got a new book, I had to read it before I could move on.

I got so much stuff.

And it's all super fun.

I realized the pile of wrapping paper was getting to be big, and I got the idea to run through it. It was fun watching the paper fly away from my feet and crinkle as I smashed it down.

Then I got back to unwrapping the last few gifts. 

It was another great Christmas, and I already can't wait for next year.

Reading Books

Sometimes I just like to sit down with a good book or two or four and read out loud.

The first is Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney.

And the second is Froggy Goes to Bed by Jonathan London.

Passed Out Drunk

Mom and Dad put me to bed at 7:30. I wasn't ready to sleep. So, I got out of bed to read a few books. The effects of so much reading overtook me after my eighth book.

Twin Cities Tour

We took my uncle, who was visiting for a few days, on a tour around the Twin Cities.

It included a stop at the Guthrie Theater, where the windows on the 9th floor are all an amber color.

And it included a stop at the Como Zoo. I was pretty excited to watch the giraffes.

Oh Christmas Tree

Mom and Dad took me to Krueger's Tree Farm on Saturday to cut down a Christmas tree.

We were given a sled to help us drag the tree back to the barn where they bag the trees, and I was able to ride in the sled while we searched for our tree. I thought that was pretty fun.

After we found our tree and Dad cut it down, I helped bring it to the barn.

Then, we stopped for lunch, and I played with Mom's gloves and headband. 

Once we got home, I was pretty excited to help decorate the tree. Mom and Dad bought some shatter-resistant ornaments just for me.

Even though it was my first time decorating one, I knew exactly what to do. 

I made this ornament for my first Christmas. My feet were so tiny!

I'm pretty excited about my tree and the lights on it. And I can't wait for Christmas morning.

Playing Hide and Seek