Last month I got selected by House Party to host a Fisher-Price Playdate. They sent me a huge box of brand new toys for Makena's age group, and a box with goody bags and favors for the guests. It was really really awesome! The toys added up to over $300 worth, and we get to keep them! All I had to do was invite friends and let the kids play, then submit a survey about how the party went. It was so easy, and so fun to plan! The weather was great so I held the party at the park.
Unfortunately we had a lot of people who couldn't attend, and that was a huge bummer. It broke my heart as Makena waited and waited for guests to arrive. She kept seeing kids who were headed to the playground and asking, "Is that me friend?! Why me no have no friends at me toy party? Mommy, me friends no here play with me." I totally had tears in my eyes. It was the first time I've seen her be really disappointed, and rightfully so! It was a tough lesson. I'm hopeful that now she's in this preschool class she'll get some new friends. It's been hard on me to not have many local friends with kids, but it absolutely kills me that she doesn't have many friends her age. I never had a hard time making friends at all, but there's something about motherhood that has felt isolating to me, and I don't know why. Maybe it's my fault because I'm just pickier now about who I invest my time and energy to. But anyway, I even made rainbow cupcakes for the party! We spent almost 6 hours at the park and had a great time despite the low turnout. :) And besides, we still get these fantastic toys, so it definitely was worth it!
Then we went to dinner at Chili's to cheer me up. Lol. Makena was coloring this picture then she picked up a crayon and wrote something that looked a lot like the letter "M" to Pam and I. We thought it must've been a fluke, but then she made a circle with a line on the side that looks like a "p" but we knew she meant it to be an "a." She got very frustrated and said "Oh no, me no how write A!!" (Oh no, I don't know how to write an A.) Pretty impressive stuff for a 2.5 year old!! I took a class on literacy and part of the class focused on emergent writing skills. It's been really awe-inspiring to watch Makena grow in all aspects, but watching her learn to read and write is mind-blowing.
We're been doing a lot of coloring on each other with body crayons and face paints lately. Plus my back has been hurting so it's been nice to just sit and do something easy together!
Forts are another fun thing we do a lot, and then we read books or play Makena's favorite game, "pretend I'm asleep and wake me up," lol. This kid is so cute, so sweet, and she brings so much love and joy to my life... it's still so completely overwhelming how much I love her!!
We spent the last day of September at Gizdich Ranch, picking apples like we did last year! It was HOT out. We've been in the middle of a heat wave here, with temps in the high 90's. So much for Fall! Thankfully, our apartment stays super cool. Walking in the door it feels like walking into an air conditioned store. And we don't have a/c, so that's pretty cool. Literally!
Makena really wanted to climb on these hay bales, but she was hesitant, especially since bigger kids were rough housing up there. So as soon as it cleared out she started climbing and then asking us for help. (She's been in this very frustrating dependent stage these days- insisting that we help pull down her pants/undies before she goes potty and such.) Pam and I were sitting on chairs close by and encouraging her to do it herself. She got to the top and was so proud. Then another kid came up and the top has a few holes and strings across it, and Makena's shoe got a little snagged as she tried to move out of the way. She didn't fall, but she was suddenly terrified, and Pam came to her rescue. It must be hard, balancing between being a needy toddler and a big(ger) kid who can do so many things by herself!
Yesterday we went to the mall, one of Makena's favorite places. I think she likes the indoor playground and the fact that we almost always get a cupcake. We haven't been back to Valley Fair mall too much since we moved, we used to go there more often. She was excited that we were so early that she had the whole place to herself for a bit. And she was showing off her new climbing and jumping skills, I was shocked to see her jump off the little submarine that's about the same height as this octopus! She did it a few times then jumped/fell and hurt her foot. Another favorite was pretending she was asleep on the stingray.
Then more kids were arriving and it was getting annoyingly crowded so we went to wait for the Disney store to open. I had NO IDEA that when it opens they do a whole special thing where they pick a kid to use a big key to open the store, and the lights and music come on and it's so magical and I was totally teary eyed because Disney just has that effect on me!! Makena wasn't the helper, so we're planning to go back sometime so she can do it. It was really awesome. A little Disney magic so close to home!
Inside the store we looked at all the costumes and played with the clubhouse thing that has buttons to press and gears to turn. Makena really liked the music boxes and Christmas ornaments. Then she sat and colored after selecting some music videos to watch.
After lunch (and yes, a cupcake!) we went to Fremont Park, which was our old neighborhood park. It was fun to see Makena on the play structures that she first learned how to climb on. She looked so big to me, I could still see the images in my mind of her smaller younger body in those same places. Things she used to not be able to reach she now has to bend down to use.
Alas, it was way too hot so we left to run some other errands. Then we had some time left before picking up Pam at work, so we checked out Serra Park, which recently re-opened after a remodel. We've been to the fountain area before, but the new playground was fun to see!
Makena was cautious at first about getting wet, then she quickly realized how much fun the other kids were having getting all wet. She kept asking me if it was okay to get her clothes wet. I assured her we had another outfit in the car.
She even sat down then lay back and got her hair wet! Lol. Then she had to use the potty so we rushed to the bathroom and changed her into dry clothes so she could play some more. I really love themed playgrounds. This one has a toddler section with a tree house theme, and a bigger kid section with a steamboat theme.
She got a kick out of the slide because she slid right off it each time and landed on the ground on her butt.
To wrap things up, we had a loooong day today. One of those days where the hours just move so slowly. Makena was tired and grumpy and so was I. Pam has a night class on Tuesdays, but she was able to come home early from work and eat dinner with us. Then Makena and I still had an hour to kill before the bedtime routine, so we walked to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream. Because ice cream solves all problems! It was a nice way to end a tough day.
