Polkadots or Pünktchenmuster

Gymboree Size 5 shirt and leggings btw.

She decided she wanted a pony tail AND that I had to have one, too, today.

Awwwwwww!

I love this half-smile!

But this is the look I'm more used to getting.

I still love that eye color.  I hope she keeps it through adulthood.

Pee-pee

Lulu actually went pee-pee in the potty for a little bit tonight during her bathtime.  According to Walter, she looked up and said, "Potty, potty," so he put her on it.  And she peed a little!

I think potty-training might be a little closer?  Maybe?

Booger!

Tonight we discovered that Lulu knows how to blow out of her nose, so we can actually help her blow her nose into a kleenex.

Oh, sweet happy day!!

Purple Puppy's Wild Ride

Lulu has really enjoyed dressing up Purple Puppy, her birthday present from Auntie Lissa, Uncle Tim, and Jamison.  Purple Puppy (she) regularly gets her diaper "changed" (same diaper, I'm cheap, people!) and Lulu has started dressing her in some of her old clothing.

As you can see, Purple Puppy made an interesting sartorial choice by pairing brown and pink shoes with a pair of turquoise pants and a red headband/bow.  But, I guess when you're body color is purple, you don't worry about matching colors??

Lulu decided yesterday that she would push PP around the house in an old diaper box, like her father pushes her around. Pretty funny stuff!

Photos with Opa

Lulu loved having her Opa here. I have told some of you of her penchant for singing "Happy Birthday" to herself and that song is now, "Happy Birthday to Opa." I kid you not! In keeping with the Opa-fascination, I thought I'd post a few photos of Lulu and her Opa. These were taken during a shopping trip to Whole Foods (hence, the shopping cart).

Getting my Greek on.

We headed up to Grass Valley yesterday afternoon to see our friends, Todd and Delia, and their son, Max (who will always be known to me as Zorba Spartacus--long running joke). He is 4 months younger than Lulu and they're both reaching the age that they'll play together so it was fun to watch them interact together yesterday afternoon.

They colored together with chalk and then Todd brought out a riding/push toy and Lulu really enjoying pushing Zorba around on the patio...until she pushed him into one of the chairs causing him to bonk his forehead and his mother put an end to their playing. You can see a little of the action (but not the accident in question) in this quick video:

Photos from Merryhill

In her latest batch of art projects, Lulu's teachers also included several new photos taken this summer that I thought were too cute not to share with everyone.  Enjoy!

Lulu and Emma

This was during Camping Week.

My little swimmer

I think the overalls she's wearing add a special princess-y touch, don't you?

Not sure if this is a pony or a pig, but either way, I think her expression is priceless.

Doing her best John Wayne impersonation.

Fishing during Ocean Week

It beats running with scissors, right?

Hiking

So, while I went to work last Thursday, everyone one else in my house went hiking in the Sierras. Looking at these hiking pictures though, I'm not so sure I got the short end of the stick though--climbing over steep rocks or sitting in a comfy desk chair all afternoon?

Lulu had a great time being carried around (hey, I'd like hiking that much, too, if I got to be carried around!) and really enjoyed spending time with her grandparents.

Reading

Apologies for not posting pictures during Oma and Opa's latest visit--we were busy having too much fun.  But now that they are back home, things have returned to normal and I have time to post a few pictures.

I must confess that these two are my favorites, even if I did take them myself!

These were taken last Thursday evening after Lulu, Daddy, Oma, and Opa returned from hiking all day while I was at work.  I've got pictures from their hike to post, too, so stay tuned!

Merry-Gram

We occasionally get little "notes" from Lulu's teacher at Merryhill about her day, especially if she's done something good (or bad). This was the note we received yesterday:

This week we are talking about Apples. Louisa and friends counted the green and red apples all morning long. We did talk to Louisa regarding giving gentle touches to friends. She's been pulling and pushing and not realizing she is hurting her friends.

That's right, folks.  Apparently, we are raising a bully or a Wall Street investment banker?

Bye-bye, Koko!

While we were in Germany, we let Lulu watch as much TV in the mornings as she wanted.  It was a complete 180 from our normal routine at home where we don't let her watch TV at all.  She was allowed to watch TCU's bowl game last January, but other than that, it's been no TV (other than the occasional glance at one that happens to be on when we're visiting somewhere).

We made an exception to this during vacation, especially in the mornings as we were all trying to get ready to go out exploring.  I can remember one morning especially when we were in München (Munich) and I walked down the stairs from our bedroom/bathroom to the living/dining room and kitchenette and saw Lulu sitting at the table, munching away on strüdel, happily watching KiKA (the German children's channel).  My reply to Walter was, "We certainly *are* on vacation, aren't we?"  :)

Anyway, the program that she most liked is called KiKAninchen (a play on the diminuitive form of bunny/rabbit in German: kaninchen) that sort of looks like a German version of "Blue's Clues."



Lulu refers to this video as "Bye-bye, Koko" and requests it multiple times a day.  She didn't want to go to sleep last night, asking her Dada for "Bye-bye, Koko!"  I now have "deba-deba-dap" going through my head ALL. DAY. LONG.

Enjoy!

Mmmm.....mustard!

The girl certainly enjoys her mustard.

I think french fries are just a conduit.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of about 30 seconds later when she's grabbing at that water on the table and slurping it all down.

Devilishly Delightful

Lulu is starting to show a devilishly delightful side as she matures into a full-grown (blown?) toddler.  I give you exhibit A (done when our backs were turned this evening):

Hmmm...how else can I be evil??

See what I mean?  If that's not a devilish grin, I'm a monkey's uncle!

Ignoring the applesauce, I like this picture.

As you might've guessed, someone had a bath in her future....