Shoo-Shoo's Visit

This week was a fun one for all of us because Susannah's grandmother, "Shoo-Shoo," came to visit.   We were so happy to have her with us.   Susannah especially, was so excited to have a grandparent here to play with.  

 

 

Peter had a long weekend for MLK so that meant he took Susannah to school and let her ride her bike. 

She was so excited to show it to her friends.

Dressed in our new sweater dress before taking Shoo Shoo to church.

We spent one morning at the indoor market.   Everybody bought some treats....this is the special chocolate one that Susannah talked her Daddy into getting for her.

A fountain in the indoor market where other people were having their picture made,

so we decided to follow suit even thought we have no clue as to its significance.

The princess dress obsession continues.   

And lately she has insisted she wear a birthday hat to go with her dress because "that's what princesses wear."

Speaking of birthdays, we had a little party for Shoo-Shoo's birthday on her first night here.   Funny story about this cake:   The ladies at the bakery were Kenyan and they told me that "Shoo Shoo" is the traditional name for grandmother in Kenyan.   So now Shoo Shoo can walk  proud with her multicultural grandmother name.

Make a wish!

Susannah was happy to help with the first taste test.

It was such a happy night.

Susannah helped open presents too.   She also announced "It's jewelry" before they started opening it. 

Thanks Shoo-Shoo for a wonderful visit.   (And for the lemoncello and other presents you brought us from Rome.)   We love you and we miss you already!

Our first movie...and it was in 3D

 

 Nothing too exciting to report this week, but here are a few pics of how we spent our days......

Candyland with Daddy.......absolute best way to spend that hour between dinner and bath-time.

Susannah takes it very seriously.   She has chutes and ladders too and loves them both.

All smiles before school.   She starts asking to get dressed and go as soon as she wakes up in the morning. 

New scarf.   She told me last week that she wanted to have a "big girl scarf" like some of the other girls at school.

She likes the idea of wearing it, but once she has it on, she doesn't like it and asks to take it off.   Already indecisive like her mama.

Saturday was a rainy day so we decided to head to the movies to see "Frozen."   Susannah liked riding the U-bahn as much as she liked the movie. 

Waiting for it to start.   We saw the 3-D version and Susannah wore her glasses the entire time.   When I asked her what her favorite part of the movie was, she said, without hesitation, "The popcorn!"   

Dressed in our new sweater coat and ready for church.   She insisted on bringing the phone from her kitchen so she could "make some calls in the car."

Taking pictures of the bulletin board at school is part of my daily routine.   I'm sure the other parents think I'm crazy, but I'm too embarrassed to keep pestering the teachers to translate for me.   So I snap pics and take them home to google translate everyday. 

So far, the system has worked and Susannah hasn't missed any big events.  

And here  are some silly faces before school this morning.



 Such a character.

 

A funny character.

The only other news we have is that Shoo-Shoo arrives tomorrow and we are all so excited to have her here!   We hope that all of you are having a good January and staying warm.   We miss and love you all!

Back to School, Back to Reality

Not much new to report this week except that we are finally back on a normal schedule, which for this type-A momma, feels so wonderful!    Peter is back at work, Susannah is back in kindergarten, and I am so thankful for the sense of order that has been restored.    Susannah is so happy to be back at school.   She ran right into her room without even hugging me goodbye.  

I don't have too many pictures this week, except for these from our Saturday excursion to the indoor play-park.   We were all losing our minds with all the rain that was keeping us in the house, so we found this place and spent the afternoon there expending all of our pent up energy.   All three of us had a blast.  

Susannah tried the trampolines first.

So fun to bounce from one to the other.

Then she headed into the huge multilevel play maze.

Ball Pit!!!  (the slide into this thing was so intense.....like a straight 2 story drop.   Susannah opted out to our relief.) 

Peter and I took turns going around with her.   It was really fun.

She had a blast.

This slide was definitely her favorite part. 

Her face looked like this every. single. time.

She quickly got the hang of carting her rug up the ramp.   She was so exhausted when we got home from doing this 37 times. 

They even had a little section with kiddie rides like this train.

Susannah was excited to be the conductor and drive the front car.

And these little swings were fun too.

 4 year old birthday party, anyone?  

When we first arrived, Susannah was intimidated by the inflatable toys, but by the end, she was fighting her way up this big mountain like a trooper.

She never actually made it to the top, but it didn't stop her from trying.

Princess Susannah

This is the third rainbow we have seen outside our window in the last week.   They are so beautiful and Susannah and I get so excited when we spot one.

That's it for this week.   Hope all of you are off to a happy and healthy 2014!  We love you all.