Jenna sayings at two

Some silly things that Jenna says at 2:

bee bee = bee ("share beebee")
lum = some
used to say: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10!, can now count to 14 with help, 10 without help
you = me
gogo = turtle
lala = song/music ("no lala, mommy!)
pacer = pacifier
yet
"-ing"
almost
there
this
"brush teeth Jenna" when she want me to brush her teeth.
num num = watermelon
juice = anything not milk or water

"yawwhh" with eyes and mouth held wide open, meaning "very yes"

"biiiiig" = something that is very big

"oink, oink here, oink, oink here"for the Old MacDonald song

When did she get to be such a big girl???

Jenna Turns Two

So I am really behind in my blogging...

Jenna turned 2 on November 8th, and we had a party for her on the 9th. We invited some of her friends from church and had cupcakes, toddler snacks and pizza. We had something for them to color, an easy beanbag toss (which I made myself - huzzah!) and balls for them to kick around. Theme was zoo animals.

Of course I agonized over how I wanted to do the party. I wanted Jenna to have fun, but I also wanted to invite a lot of people and all of the websites said to keep the invitees to a small number. But I think it turned out okay.

At 2 she likes:
--Her animals! Especially her crib animals: Pig (two), Bear, Coon, Go-Go and Doll.
--Sweeping and using the dust pan.
--Going on the slide and the swings at the park.
--Drawing animals with a pen. She sees us do any kind of writing and says: "sssss"
--Drawing with chalk.
--Feeding the neighbor dogs leaves.
--Going to the library.
--Reading books.
--Watching Winnie-the-Pooh and the Simpsons.
--Approaching animals, but not too close to touch.

At 2 she can:
--Can run and walk like a pro!
--Likes to climb onto chairs and couches. She likes to climb on the back of the couch and scare Mommy!
--Likes playing hide and seek.
--Likes to sneak.
--Says a lot of words! She is very good at parroting words she has never heard before.
--Has a few tantrums but not too bad. Only when really tired.
--Sings ABCs.
--Likes taking baths with jet bubbles with Daddy.
--Plays "sleep" for up to 5 seconds at a time.

More Jenna

I need to have more kids so Jenna doesn't get so many posts dedicated to her...

"Yeah, I'm drinking juice. Jealous?"

.

The belt makes the basket easier to pull.

"Let's see if this fits."

"Hello, can I have cheese?"

"Grandma reads stories the best."

"Daddy helping to wash my hands."

The Underground Gardens

In the early 1900s, a guy named Baldassare Forestiere came to the United States from Italy.  He came to Fresno and partly because it was so hot in the summer, he decided to build an underground living area, with the intent of eventually turning it into a hotel. He had his work cut out for him since the soil was actually hardpan, but he created something beautiful. He didn't have any blueprints or plans. 

Jenna did a good job staying with the group. She is getting too heavy to carry but luckily she is usually obedient. 

There were many trees like this.

Jenna was such a good girl

A walkway - I want!

Amazing shelf

Looking from a reflecting pool into a living area.

Of course Jenna chose to stand in the middle of the chapel.

You slide into the seat and the table slides out.

The summer room. The window in the left looks out to the reflecting pool.

Going to a Pumpkin Patch and Liking It

So before Thanksgiving hits next week I guess I should record our adventures to the Fresno Pumpkin Patch. They had a few fun activities and we all (especially Jenna) had a good time. I am glad that she was old enough to enjoy it this year.

Walking with Daddy

Sitting with Daddy and Aunt Kitty

 

Racing her tricycle

On the train with Mommy

Learning how to run the tractor

Feeding the pig a pumpkin

Racing Stripes

Several years ago we received from the Lopes more blue painters tape than we needed for the house painting. The last couple rolls are being utilized in the automotive industry by Jenna, who uses them to give racing stripes to her animals.

In one picture she seems to be sleeping during the race, so good thing there's a turtle in the race!

The animals are Coon (Steve's old stuffed animal), Theo (Suzanne's old bear), Pig, and Go-Go (the sea turtle).

 

--Steve

The Path of History

So in my previous post I mentioned that our hotel was in historic Monterey. Most people probably wouldn't think that this was a positive. But I sure did! I love to delve into the history of the places I travel to. (And the public library, always the public library.) Monterey is sure rich with history! Monterey is the first capital of California, though not the official first capital. Meaning that California's constitution was written and signed in Monterey, but the signers made San Jose the first official capital of California. Jenna and I saw the signatures of the people who signed the constitution, and one of them belonged to was General Vallejo! In my mind's eye, I can see him traveling from his house in Sonoma to the convention to make sure California had a good constitution. Really cool to connect the dots of my vacations!

Colton Hall. Where California's Constitution was signed.
 

In front of Colton Hall.

Monterey had funding awhile back to restore many of the historic buildings. Afterward, they lost the funding and so the town made "The Path of History". The Path is made up of yellow ceramic circles that are laid into the sidewalk, and lead you past all (well, many) of the prominent historic buildings of the area. I had a map, but I didn't need one since I could just get on and follow the Path. If I lost my way, I would just look for the yellow circles and I knew I was back on the Path of History. In addition to signs outside the building, there is a number you can call, and when you enter in a specific stop number, a recording will tell you a little bit of the history of the place. I think I went to every place that had a stop number. Here are just a few pictures of our multi-week adventure.

Monterey had a lot of enclosed gardens. This one is behind the First Theater. An oasis in the middle of a busy city. And a good place to get out the wiggles!

Customs House near Fisherman's Wharf.

Casa Soberanes

I want this bedroom! In the Cooper-Molera Adobe. The guy who built this place had to take on a Spanish name (Molera) to own the land. And he married General Vallejo's sister. Oh, and when I was in the gardens here I ran into a playgroup!

 

Sherman's Quarters. General William T Sherman (yes, the Civil War guy), spent some time in Monterey in 1847. This building is located in the gardens of the Larkin house (sorry the picture is bad, I should have crossed the street).

View from the Presidio (military base). Yes, that is my German car. I am reading a book called "HHhH" about WWII and every time I think "German car" feel a little bit guilty. But I love my used car! Did you know in WWII, the Polish tried to use cavalry? They didn't last long and around that time the USA decided to retire their own cavalry.

When I went to the Old Whaling Station, a sign said, "Knock for Admittance", so I knocked. Turns out the place is the headquarters for the Daughters of the Revolution or the Junior League or something like that. I don't think the lady who answered the door was supposed to let me in, but she allowed me access to the inside. The stairs going up to the second floor had a second step that was taller than the other steps by a few inches (three?). It was known as a burglar step and was designed to trip and catch burglars.

Upstairs bathroom.

Back sitting room.
 

Back view. The sitting room is the window by the bench and the bathroom is the set of second story windows on the left.