A night with birds, beetles, and other desert wildlife

Tonight was teacher appreciation night at the Desert Museum! Mommy, Daddy, and I went to check it out. It was a nice long drive across town, but I liked driving up and down through the mountains and saying "weeeeee." We all enjoyed watching the rain fall on the mountains in the distance. When we got off the car at the museum, Mommy decided to take her umbrella just in case. It was a good thing she did because 5 steps away from the car it started raining. The rain didn't start as a drizzle, it just poured on us from the start! Mommy got wet, but Daddy and I stayed pretty dry:). Within 10 minutes the rain stopped and made the weather perfect for the evening. We went looking for the tortoises, but they were all hiding from the rain. We saw a bird show and I loved watching the birds swoop right over my head. Mommy wishes she could capture my excitement in a bottle. We also saw lots of different kinds of beetles. Daddy and I held some of the beetles. One of the beetles even, "flew on my shirt!" I tried to quickly shoo the bug away, but Daddy rescued the beetle before I accidentally killed it. We didn't walk through the whole museum because it was dark and some of the paths were too muddy for Mommy and ME:). I did enjoy seeing the Gila Monster close up and other desert creatures. We also enjoyed a yummy dinner with Mommy's friends, Robin and Jennifer. I mostly ran around the dinner table and entertained everyone while they ate:). What a fun night at the Desert Museum. I love animals! Maybe we'll go back their soon. Enjoying the museum in the evening is awesome! I was asleep before we were out of the parking lot! Enjoy the photos!

Me and my baby ready to go to the desert museum

Mommy, me, and my baby

Future scientist looking closely at a Moon rock with my very own magnifying glass

Our little desert tortoise

"Don't get me" is what I said when the bird was flying over me

I never took my eyes of any of the birds throughout the entire show

The Harris Hawk is one of the birds that flew right over me. He was able to open a lunch box to get a snack out!

After the bird show, we checked out the beetles. Daddy and I took very close looks at these silly creatures.

Daddy holding a rhinoceros beetle. Notice my hand is out waiting for my turn to hold the beetle.

Now look at where my hand is now. It's better to just look and let Daddy hold the beetle.

A close up look at the rhinoceros beetle

Mommy snapped this photo of Daddy and I walking on the path. Mommy loves that I am looking up at my tall Daddy.

"Look Daddy he's sleeping!" Mommy loves my excitement towards animals.

Taking a ride on the baby javelina before leaving the museum

I told my baby all about the fun we had when we got into the car and then fell fast asleep.

Super Caitlin and Grandpa

While Mommy went to play Bunco tonight, I hung out with Daddy and Uncle Paul. After dinner I called Grandpa and asked him if he wanted to go get some "ipe cream." Grandpa always says yes to ice cream. Grandpa came over to play afterwards and we had a blast. Uncle Paul tied one of my blankets to make me a cape. I then ran around the house yelling Super Caitlin and Grandpa tried to catch me as I went by. This game went on for quite awhile and made me laugh hysterically. Daddy caught some of the fun on video and we posted it below for you to enjoy. I know Mommy had fun at Bunco, but we had tons of fun tonight too. Enjoy the photos and video clip of Super Caitlin in action!

Super Caitlin running by Grandpa

Grandpa tried to get me, but I still got away

Enjoy the video clip of Super Caitlin in action!

Where in the room is Caitlin?

I am definitely a toddler and I confirm that often by my actions. Twice this week Nana has caught me emptying the books from under the t.v., crawling on the glass shelves, and standing behind the t.v. cabinet. Nana takes pictures for evidence to show my Mommy and Daddy when they get home from work. You will see in the pictures below that there isn't mush room behind the t.v., but I manage to make myself fit. This action gets me in trouble with my Nana, Mommy, and Daddy. I promised my Daddy that I wouldn't do it again and everyone hopes I keep my promise. Stay tuned to later posts to see if I keep my promise.

Look closely under the t.v. Can you see my bottom and legs?

This is a picture of my in between the cabinet and the wall behind the t.v.

There's my adorable, mischievous smile as I crawl out from behind the t.v.

The Reading Spot!

By now you should know that Allison and I are best of friends. We love being together during the weekdays. We explore everything together and sometimes even get in trouble together:). Nana always has the camera ready to take pictures of us in action. Today Nana caught us in our reading spot! Allison and I like to play in the spot and read books together. Nana loves the Allison and I love books as much as she does! Next time you are at my house, I just might invite you to the reading spot for story time!

Allison and Me in the reading spot!

Happy 40th Birthday Marty!

Marty turned 40 yesterday and we celebrated with him tonight. Marty and Daddy have been friends since high school. Marty loves kids, but over a year ago he made a loud elephant sound and ever since then I didn't care to be around Marty. I would always hide from him or make sure Mommy and Daddy were holding me tightly. Tonight that all changed. I wished Marty a Happy Birthday, helped him blow out his candles, and gave him a hug and a kiss. Marty was happy that I wasn't mad at him anymore. We wish Marty a Happy 40th and hope that he enjoys this next decade!

Daddy and his girl at the party

Marty, Daddy and Me

Helping Marty blow out his candles! (My favorite thing to do at parties)

Chicken Dance + Disco Caitlin + Baby Beyonce + No More Monkeys = Caitlin's Dance Medley

What do you get when you dance like a chicken, disco groove, shake like Beyonce, and dance like a monkey? You get my dance medley! I was in the dancing mood tonight! It started when I asked Uncle Paul to play the chicken dance for me on his phone. I started to dance right away and asked Daddy to dance with me. Uncle Paul then changed the music to disco and taught me how to move my arms. Mommy put on Beyonce and I started dancing just like her video. Lastly, I danced to No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Mommy put all the video clips together to make my dance medley, but it is too large of a file to post on the blog! Below are the four seperate video clips of me dancing to the four different songs. Enjoy and feel free to dance along.

Caitlin's chicken dance......................

Disco Baby.................

Baby Beyonce..............

No More Monkeys..............

Like Daddy, Like Daddy's Girl

Tonight we were watching the game show, A Minute to Win It. I like watching the people do silly things to win money. If the contestants fail I tell Daddy, "try agin, try agin." I clap and dance when the contestants win. Tonight Daddy laid on the floor and I quickly grabbed a pillow and laid next to him. I even put my arms just like Daddy. I love my Daddy and I love to copy whatever he is doing. Mommy knew this was a photo opportunity that couldn't be missed! I love being Daddy's little girl!

Daddy and Me watching T.V.

Little Reader

When I was a baby I liked to be rocked to sleep in the recliner or glider. Now that I am a big girl, I like Mommy and Daddy to sit on the recliner and glider to read to me or sing to me. Sometimes I even switch places to read and sing to Mommy and Daddy. Today when Mommy came home from work, I told her to sit down for a story. Allison sat on Mommy's lap while I read them Elmo's Alphabet (one of my top 10 book list). Mommy couldn't help but snap photos of me. Mommy and Daddy hope my love of books continues. I love reading books to Allison and anyone else who wants to sit and listen. Next time you are at my house I'll read to you too!

Our little reader

Close up photo

I love taking pictures. Often, the pictures I take come out pretty good and amaze Mommy. This morning I snapped a self portrait and Mommy thought it was just too cute not to post it! Future photographer?

Close up of ME:)

Upholstery 101

When Mommy and Daddy moved into our house 5 years ago, they bought a dining room table set with chairs that had a very light colored material. Mommy and Daddy really liked the chairs at the time, but wondered how long it would take for them to get dirty. We have company quite often which means that the chairs get used and consequently get dirty. Some of the stains on the chairs just wouldn't come out. This morning Mommy woke up with the idea to try and reupholster the chairs today. Daddy thought Mommy was being a little too ambitious, but he went right along with the idea. Thanks to Grammy Linda, we were given a few tips to make our adventure easier. We went to JoAnn Fabrics and within an hour we were back home and starting our project. I helped Mommy and Daddy with one chair and then I took a nap:). When I woke up from my nap, Mommy and Daddy had finished the other 7 chairs! Mommy and Daddy love their "new" chairs and I love pointing out the "new" chairs. I know Mommy and Daddy did most of the work, but I love helping out with their projects! Enjoy the photos of our do it yourself project today!

Using "Stretch" to measure the the seat. Stretch is the name of the measuring tape on Handy Manny, one of my favoirte shows.

Double checking to see if Mommy and Daddy measured the seat correctly

Mommy tried to take a before picture of our embarrassing dirty chairs

Modeling our "new" chair

Daddy tried to teach me how to place my hands to model off our finished product

Another modeling pose

Welcome home Nana and Poppy!

I have been counting down the days until Nana and Poppy were to be home for the last week. Nana and Poppy were in Alaska for two weeks and boy did we miss them! I helped take care of their dogs, Rocky and Buster while they were gone. I love playing with the dogs and giving them treats. Today, Mommy and I met Nana and Poppy inside the airport. I ran up to them right away when I saw them and jumped into Nana's arms. I started talking to them non-stop. I told them all about my trip to San Diego and they told me all about Alaska. When we got to their house, they gave me presents they had brought and we played with the doggies. I started to get a fever so I wasn't feeling 100%, but it didn't stop me from having fun with Nana and Poppy. I can't wait to get back to my regular schedule and spend my weekdays with Nana! Welcome Home!

Telling Nana and Poppy that I missed them

Talking non-stop to Nana as we walked with the luggage to the car

Rocky and Me are happy that Nana is home!

Pajama beauties

I helped Daddy babysit Allison today while Mommy was at work and Nana is in Alaska. After breakfast, Allison and I started to play when we decided we wanted to pose for photos. Mommy and Daddy thought the pictures came out too cute not to post them! Allison and I are cousins, but we are also best friends! It's so much fun growing up together! Enjoy the photos of the pajama beauties!

Holding on tight to Allison and saying, "cheese"

"Family hug"

Cousin love

Close up shot of the pajama beauties

Last day of Movers and Shakers class

Today was my last class for the Summer. I love my Movers and Shakers class. I especially love Miss Gigi, my teacher. I ask Mommy and Daddy almost daily if I can go to gym class. My favorite parts of class are singing songs, racing with the other kids across the floor, running through the obstacle course, and walking on the balance beam. Towards the end of class we play with a BIG parachute and all the parents walk in a circle while all of the kids are in the middle of the parachute. Mommy was the only mommy in the class during this time today, which meant that she was with all daddies. Miss Gigi warned Mommy that we were going to fly with the parachute today. As the parents started walking the parachute in the circle it turned into running. Mommy thought it was kind of fun. I wasn't too sure about it. I can't wait for class to start up again in September.

Helping collect the balls for Miss Gigi at the end of class

Beware of the tickle bug

Today was Mommy's first day back at work which meant that Daddy and I were home together all day. When Mommy came home from work she was ready for a quick nap on the couch. Napping is something Mommy loves, but I love to tickle Mommy when she's sleeping. Today Daddy had the camera nearby and caught the tickle bug in action. Enjoy the video clip!

We love our G.G.

Allison and I are very lucky to have our great grandma and we like to call her G.G. Whenever G.G. comes over she never hesitates to get down to our level. She has been known to crawl like a bear on the floor with us, get on her hands and knees outside in the grass with us, and even sit at the edge of the pool to watch us swim up close! Our G.G. will celebrate her 90th birthday in January, but you would never know she is 90 by how she looks and acts. G.G. works out at the gym 3 days a week and his in tip top shape! We love when she comes over to play with us! Daddy snapped a photo of G.G. playing with us on the floor today! Thanks G.G. for being such a great playmate!

We were getting ready for a tea party:)