Reese Quote

She was getting dressed yesterday morning and our mornings are very early so she isn't always exactly awake and will let me dress her however I want.  Well, I was putting capri leggings on her and she said to me "I am going to have a crazy heart attack if I wear these today!" I laughed and asked why.  She said " because they are not long enough and I have to keep pulling them down and I will just have a crazy heart attack."  I couldn't deny that logic and went to get her other leggings.

Turkey Run Canoes

My mom shared these photos with my this weekend from out canoeing trip at Turkey Run a couple of weeks ago.   Water cameras never turn out perfectly but I'm still happy to have these memories.

Apple Picking Weekend

This weekend we headed up north to the Indiana Dunes to meet my Mom and Marc to go camping.  Last minute I discovered that the Wizard of Oz festival was canceled this year and was very disappointed.  The weather was really hot this week but thankfully it cooled down on Friday.  I was actually very chilly Friday night.  Thank goodness for camp fires!

Since the Oz Fest was canceled, we decided to go to the European Market in downtown Chesterton instead.  We started with breakfast at Peggy Sue's, a cute little diner on the square.

Then we walked around the market and I was just drawn to this antique bookstore.  I found a copy of the Legends of Sleepy Hollow for Reese.  She was awesome all weekend walking around pretending to read it and looking for a bookmark when she needed to stop.  The best part was that this wasn't a picture book.  A great addition to our personal library and a great way to prepare for the Headless Horseman Nights at Conner Prairie.

Then we went to Garwood Orchards to go apple picking!

The apples were gigantic!

Then we picked some raspberries. 

And Reese was able to take a ride on Sugar, a 13 year old pony.

We headed back to the campsite to just hang out for the rest of the day.  Then Reese became this scary skeleton.

Bitty came with us this weekend and Reese was a wonderful mother to her.

Sunday morning we knew rain was eminent so we walked up to the Nature Center then packed everything up and stopped at Big Fish Mountain, which is what I called Bass Pro Shop.  

At Big Fish Mountain, my Mom bought Reese a Roly-Poly Playground.  As soon as we got home, we had to go walk into the woods by our apartment to find bugs to enjoy their new home.  We were not having very much luck, but some boys came by and they were able to find us two.  It makes me a little nervous to have them in the house but seeing how happy Reese is about it makes it okay.

Definitely a memorable weekend!

Reese Quote

"Mom, I have an anchor-chief and an anchor-sore in my belly. I don't think I can eat dinner.  Can I watch Scooby?"

Remember to Live!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

A friend had this posted on Facebook and I had to put it here.  It is in my nature to stay home and safe but it terrifies me to do that and miss seeing this amazing world.  As seriously hard as it was to leave the safety of Arizona, I would have wondered what if.  So, off we go, Reese and I, into the unknown.  Discovering much about ourselves along the way.  I look forward to our explorations.  Here is to hoping we are never look back and feel disappointed...

Conner Prairie, take 2

Knowing what to expect this time, Reese had an agenda for our day at Conner Prairie.

First stop, the Discover Center where she dressed up, played at the garden and kitchen then we finished off at the doll house.

Then the playground and a picnic lunch.

Then we headed to the Civil War town to the kids play center and splash pad just to find out that the splash pad is only open through Labor Day and that the play center was closed due to low staffing.  Reese was devastated until we saw a girl she was playing with in the Discover Center who was marching with a wooden rifle along with a civil war soldier.  We quick grabbed a wooden rifle and went to help the troops.  It was super cute. 

They even attached with bayonets. 

Then we headed back to the doctor's house so Reese could cook in their kitchen.  We talked a lot about Laura and Mary and how they would have done things. 

Of course, we had to stop at the Apple Store on the way home to pick up an apple cider slush.  It was getting hot and late in the day so home we went.  Two long weekends of Indiana fun.  I'm not sure I am ready to work a full week again with only two days off...

Saturday Night Movie at Forest Park

We ate an early dinner so that we could go check out an amazing park that I drive past everyday on my way to and from work.  Reese was able to play at two of the playgrounds before the movie started.

She loved every second on it.

Then we headed to shelter #1 to watch Rise of the Guardians.  The movie didn't start till her bedtime so it was a late night but Reese really enjoyed it.  She has already made recommendations on what to bring for the next time we go to see a movie at the park.

Potters Bridge

Today we hit the Noblesville Library then headed over to the park at Potters Covered Bridge, the only covered bridge in the county where we live, built in 1870.  We had a picnic lunch and played at the park.

We walked along one of the trails.

Then spent some time walking along the bridge.  

We went off the beaten path to walk down by the water.

love this!

I cannot wait to go back and Reese has requested that we bring her bike for the paths which I think is a great idea.  They are having a Fall Festival there at the beginning of October which we will attend for sure!

Check!  Another thing to check off our list of things to see in Indiana!

Reading

With Conner Prairie as our inspiration, I started reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder to Reese.  I never read these books as a kid and I'm so glad that I can catch up with my favorite little girl.  She is loving it and has made me reread certain parts already.  

Reese Quote

"Hey, look at Bitty's awesome set-up!"

Last night we were walking down to the water to feed the ducks and of course Momma Reese had to bring her baby.  She had to put a pillow, blanket and her Pooh in the stroller with her, then she packed a diaper bag with everything she needed.  It included her new princess cell phone that she bought with her own money at Target.  I just love when she plays with Bitty because she is such a good mother to her.

Tipton County Pork Festival

It is here!  The weekend talked about and talked about at the Library.

Tipton County Pork Festival!

Oink!

Maria was amazing and came over to Tipton to take care of Reese so that I could be in the kick-off parade with the TCPL Cartwheelers.  We danced to Psy's Gangnam Style, which we rerecorded to be Reading Tipton Style.  Please see lyrics below.

Maria had the kid's faces painted, which they were very excited about.  

Maria and Dom had to head back home but Reese and I stuck around the festival to look around, eat, and watch the beginning of the Pork Queen pageant.  There is something about this not being my hometown festival that I love about it.  I didn't have the ugh, that I feel when Western Days comes around.  There is something about having a place with people that are mine because I chose it instead of just because that is where I grew up.  It was a fun town festival that I will look forward to next year!

Reading Tipton Style Lyrics

Reading Tipton Style

Tipton Style

Check out all these

Great book that we have for you to read

We have audio books 

So you can listen to stories

Video games, magazines and movies galore

Newspapers, music and a whole lot more

While you're here, come to a fun program

or two or three

Crafts and games, book clubs and 

so much more to do than just read

And don't forget for ages 2 to 3 there's Toddle Time

And Book Buddies for ages 4 to 5

Learn some history, check your email

Read a book

Hey!

Go get a book

Shhhh!

Computer classes,

Put on your glasses

Read a book

Hey!

Go get a book

Hey!

Children, teens, adults and even your grandma...

Reading Tipton Style

Tipton Style

Reading Tipton Style

Tipton Style

Reading Tipton Style

Hey Reference Lady!

Reading Tipton Style

Hey Reference Lady!

Reading Tipton Style

Labor Day Weekend

We hoped to spend some of Labor Day weekend with Maria's family but they had sickness take over so it was just the two of us.  We did some shopping and took care of some things at home but we also went on a couple adventures.

We traded out Reese's big car-seat for her booster seat.  Such a big girl.  It still makes me sweat that she is not as locked into the seat.

On Sunday night we went on an ice cream run then parked and walked around the Noblesville Square, which was on my bucket list of things to do this summer.

I love the architecture!

On Monday, it was a bit cloudy and drizzly but we headed out to Conner Prairie, a living history park.  

It is only about 15 minutes from our home and we had such a good time, I decided to buy a membership so we can go all the time.  (plus you get in free to their headless horseman evenings in October, which we are both looking forward to.)

Reese was able to help the staff by walking the cows down from the barn to the pens for their mock auction that afternoon.

I could not get her out of this kitchen...

Shopping in the trading post.

Here we took the covered bridge to the Civil War camp.  This evoked a lot of conversation about President Lincoln, wars and all the things you should talk about with a four year old.

They have a hot air balloon that we did not brave that day.

Civil War home

Play area.

Every day this week, Reese has asked about going back.  I think we will spend the day there tomorrow.