BACKTRACKING #5: ABC'S in the tub? (05.04.09)

ABC'S AND A LITTLE FUN IN THE TUB!

Natalie looks a little surprized in this one. Since it has been about 6 weeks ago since I captured this group of images, I don't remember exactly what this moment was, but I am still glad I have it. She looks so sweet and innocent in it.

Here she is being a silly girl. Since she was a toddler, she has enjoyed laying on her back in tub and swirling around. I think at that time (when she first started) she thought it was swimming. Now almost four years old, she is getting a little big for this fun activity in the tub. Too bad we can't easily, quickly, and inexpensively purchase a bigger tub so that she doesn't have to outgrow this activity.

This was the first image that appeared. I took several, but I am only posting one because they were the same. I guess I should have took images as she was doing this. She put all these letters on the wall in order. After she got further down the line, she would sing the song to remember which letter was next.

" A,B,C'S IN MY TUB!"


Can't put the camera up w/o getting some funny faces first.

An image captured during some of her "tub twirling". I love, love it and you guessed it...because of her eyelashes.

A different perspective/angle: It's nice to see things differently from time to time.

Don't you think?

Okay, 12 more Backtracing posts to go...actually 13 because I think I am breaking up #8. I am going to make a Part A and Part B. It's all from the same day, but two completely different activities. So stay tuned.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

BAKING A CAKE FOR MOMMY

CONCENTRATING FACE? Brittany's birthday was Monday before this Saturday (03.14.09). We had plans to boil crawfish for her b'day celebration when they came in that weekend. Well...things change! The VHS basketball team was in playoffs and they decided that they would rather go there...who could blame them. Brittany and Natalie came up the night before so that she and I could go that awesome $2.99 sale at Kellys Kids sale. [Who knew it was like a rock concert ticket sale...we should have camped out there...really people did! We got there about 15 minutes after the doors opened. It was madhouse! Oh well....]

Cari stayed home with Natlie while Brittany and I went to the sale. After we got back home, Cari and Brittany went to the Cajun Dome to see the final game (a loss) with plans to stay the night with them in Baton Rouge. We had plans to meet up at our favorite meeting spot, McDonald's in St. Francisville...to exhange girls. We had to rush back to V'town because Cari's cheerleader tryouts started Sunday afternoon.

But Saturday afternoon was a special afternoon with Natalie, Mimi and Poppa. First we took a little nap...Mimi was exhausted from the Kellys Kids drama (not to mention not sleeping well the night before). We baked a cake and then played with play doh. Then Nonna came to pick her for some time with them. Randy and I enjoyed the rest of evening by out to eat a the Duck's Nest. The next morning I picked Natalie up for her Nonna's house and then headed to St. Francisville.

CRACKING THE EGG...

ANOTHER ONE...

IT TAKES 3 EGGS...

She's actually pretty good at cracking eggs!

MIXING THE BATTER WITH THE WHISK...

POSING FOR MIMI...


SHE THINKS SHE HAS TO DO A SILLY EXPRESSION TOO...

NOW THIS IS GENUINE......because she gets to use the electric mixer. She was actually pretty good with it too.

It's the simple things that can be so memorable if you have photographic images to remind you of the simple fun!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

[BY THE WAY, WE FORGOT TO TAKE THE CAKE TO BRITTANY. MAYBE THAT'S AN EXCUSE TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE?]

LABOR DAY WEEKEND: PART 2 (08.31.08)

THE LAST SWIM IN THE POOL FOR THE SUMMER OF 2008!

Who would have guessed on the last day of summer that Natalie and Poppa could come up with one more new fun game to play in the pool.

Natlie enjoyed a little bit of everything about the pool this last time for the summer of 2008. Here she is just before sliding down.

And now she is just plain acting silly.

There's she goes!

And she's gone!

Now this was another new thing she did. I think she has been watching some Olympics. She is doing this bouncy thing at her news and then jumping...maybe she thinks it is diving?

the splash...

I tried really (but not really hard since I didn't really play with settings) to capture the different sequences of the jump. This wasn't in the above two images because it was a different jump, but if it is the typical middle shot of the last two. I love this one of her in mid-air. No one would have guessed just 12 weeks ago this little one was afraid of the water.

I liked the way the frame of the ladder framed her face in this one.

We had already packed most of the pool stuff the day before, but saved a few for Natalie's last swim of the summer. The last time she used these spider-man floaties so just as suspected she didn't mind using them again. (If Dalton thinks they are cool...they must be!)

While I was running her bath water and fixing some supper, this is Natalie playing with "new" kittens. They aren't quite 2 weeks old. These really slipped upon us. We aren't very good pet owners. We intend to get Mama Cat fixed along with her other 3 children who have made our home their home since no one else seemed to want a FREE kitten (not cat). With our busy lives, we can't seem to make it a priority. Maybe this time we will before we have cat farm!

So in the meantime, Natalie is enjoying loving Mimi's Kitties.

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

PART 1: IMAGES OF NATALIE'S LAST DAY...

...while still living here for tomorrow (the day after this day) she moves to Baton Rouge with her mommy and daddy.

After church, we left for lunch at El Ranchero.

We don't usually get dessert, but today was a special day. Cari wanted the refried ice cream. So I ordered with 3 spoons, of course.

Isn't that expression priceless! This is the server bringing it to us.

I didn't think she would want the cherry. I offered to take it of her hands, but I was wrong. She does like cherries. Oh...darn! I really like them too!

Doesn't it look delicious, but not as yummy w/o the cherry on top!

How do you like those long "tea" spoons? I guess they don't have regular spoons for ice cream.

They almost have the same look concentration on there face.
I am not sure what this expression is, but it almost seems to be the same again. Funny, huh?

Okay, now they are just plain posing for the camera. Are they beautiful? They almost look like sisters instead of Aunt and Niece. I always loved the way Natalie just looked like she belonged in our family. Her mommy is very pretty, but if Natalie would have looked just like her (they do favor a lot in spite of Natalie light hair and eyes), people would have wondered where she came from!

Being just plain silly...

Natalie had not seen her parents in a few days because them working and getting packed for the move. On the way home she wanted her mommy. So what's the next best thing...yes, a serious phone call.

Then she needed to call her daddy too.

I don't think she has ever talked on the phone this long. It was too cute!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~

A LITTLE SILLINESS ALONG WITH SOME BUBBLICIOUS FUN IN THE YARD

These are the expressions of fun and silliness that my little sweetheart, Natalie gave me when I wanted to take a few posed photographs before playing with the bubbles. Isn't it cool to be 2ish again and your only worry is what silly face I will make next for my Mimi? I do love the beauty in her face and eyes in the first image. The two-pony look is really working for her since her hair hasn't really grown as much as I hoped by now (after cutting it last fall). This seems to be the best way to get all of it in and to stay there...single low or high ponies just don't seem to cut it these days. Good thing she is so darn cute with two!

Hold on...I thought I missed the really silly one that was taken with this group of images, but I just scrolled down and I see that it was posted at the bottom...so just picture it along with these first few images.

This is a typical Natalie "cheese"...my blog readers should recognize it!

This nice day a few weeks ago, Natalie and I were playing bubbles. I am always sooooo busy with work, wedding and life that we just haven't had time to really play with them like we did last fall. So I decided everything could wait just a little longer and go play with her...she prefers that over me giving them to her and letting her play on the porch while I stare (work) at this computer day in and day out. Doesn't she look cute in her new Children's Place clothes? That's how busy I have been...I only recently ordered her some spring/summer clothes. I ordered a few a while back, but I have not had time to order her some more. You really realize how much they grow when you change seasons and you get out the clothes they wore the last time it was warm like this (all the time, not like warm winter days like we often have) from last year. So our little one needed some new warm weather clothes. It's time for a garage sale and/or some ebay auctions, but let's get past the wedding first.

Gotta love the bubble blowing lips! This is what she wanted to do...chase the bubbles and try to catch them/pop them! It was too funny! She can run really fast too!
Where did Poppa find Natalie and Mimi when he got home? Playing bubbles, of course, outside!

This is Natalie doing bubbles for Poppa to catch. She laughed so hard at this. This is the cheapest fun we ever had! Do you see him?
Now can you? See all the bubbles coming his way!
Here's that silly face!
Okay, I have more catching up to do, but that's it for now. The countdown is on and I am trying so hard to catch up on work and blogging before the wedding. Hopefully, sleep really is over-rated!

~~Natalie's Mimi~~