Weekend Update: Promised Land State Park

We spent the Memorial Day long weekend in Promised Land State Park, in PA, with Matt's Brother Andy and his family. We stayed at "Whittaker Lodge", a rustic cabin, located on a Peninsula in one of the lakes in the park. We were surrounded by water on three sides, and while we were not far from others, it sure felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. Here is the view from the front step. Just down this hill was a private dock for our use only. In the second picture, you can see Abby sitting on the front step.
Norah and her cousin Abby seemed to have a good time playing with each other, despite their 3 year age difference. The first day Norah pretty much followed Abby everywhere she went, though she started to exercise her independence as the weekend went on...

On our way to the cabin, we took a side trip to Nazareth to see Matt's Grandmother, who has since passed away. We were also able to stop by to see Norah's cousin Katelyn's school play. Katelyn had to return to class after the play, but Norah managed to fit in a couple of snacks with her cousins Adam and Olivia.

Norah and Dad

Pic for Zie

I tried to get a few pics to post this morning, but Norah didn't really co-operate. Here is what I got

Another pic for Zie

For Aunt 'Zie

My sister Susan gets a little anxious when I get slack about updating the Bugle - she needs her Norah fix on a regular basis! We've been out of town and a little busy lately, so last night, while I was moderating a training session at work, I uploaded this picture from a week or so ago.

We got Norah this "Kangaroo Climber" a few weeks back, and it's been a big hit! Not only does it mean that we get a break from chasing her around the yard to make sure she isn't eating too many sticks and rocks, but she also gets quite a sense of accomplishment from making it to the top of the slide. Lately, she has figured out how to scale the outside of the thing, as shown in the picture. I think she gets her monkey-ness from her Aunt 'Zie, who was known to climb doorways in her youth.

Ready for School!

Not really of course, but this is what she looked like this morning, and she was very anxious to leave!

Pub Time

Here is Norah hanging out at a local watering hole last weekend

Norah News: Running Away from Home?

Boo Hoo... poor me... As my Dad would say to me when I was feeling sorry for myself when I was a kid "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I think I'll eat some worms!"

That's it, I'm outta here! I'm running away! Anybody watching? When I was young, and threatened to run away, my Mom would offer to pack me a lunch! I would be furious at the time, but it must have worked, because I never actually did it! I guess Norah didn't need that lunch before she took off... GONE! Down the driveway, got my pack on my back, and the world is waiting for me! Things to do, places to go, people to see!

eh, maybe it's a bit far to walk... I'm taking my car!

Whoo Hoo Look Out World! Here I come!


Of course, Norah didn't try to run away... I just made up a story to go with the pictures :) A little creative licence, like we sometimes do here at the Beantown Bugle! I know she looks like a little boy in the first few pictures, but trust me when I tell you that there are ruffles on the bottom of those pants (which are covered in muddy water as you will see below) and pink trim on the jacket... the hat, well what can one say about a Sox hat? I wear one, she wears one!

Anyway the last in this post, as you may have guessed, is a short video clip of one of Norah's latest fascinations - puddles!

Norah News: Oatmeeeee!

Norah has been steadily adding words to her vocabulary, though she doesn't really use them all that much. This weekend, she graced Erin with saying "Berry" for the first time, and this morning, she said "Oatmeeeee!" when I was getting her oatmeal ready for breakfast.

When we might hear these new words again is anyone's guess - the only words I hear from her on a regular basis are "Dog-dog", "Ball", "Mook" (milk) and "Lalala" (the neighbor's dog, Lannie) ... and of course "Mamamamama!" and "Hi Dad!" What else does she need :)

Visit from EEEEE!

Seems my post trying to lure my sister Erin to come and visit us was effective... she was here this weekend! We had a great time, and Erin was a lot of help, especially today when I seem to have come down with whatever Norah had last week. Norah was really happy to sit in Erin's lap and read books, play, or just generally be silly! Here is a picture of the two of them just before Norah went to bed tonight. Thanks for coming Erin!

Norah News: Backpacking

Norah got a new backpack for heading to daycare, now that she is in the toddler room. Seems she likes it

Norah News: Clowning Around

Here are a couple I took today of Norah clowning around for the camera. I ran to grab the camera because she was attempting to pick up the sippy cup you see in the first picture by leaning over and grabbing it in her teeth! I didn't manage to catch that on camera, however I did get these couple of cute shots. I should also point out that the bottom of her pants are wet because she thought it would be great fun to jump in the puddles when we got home tonight!

All Norah, All the Time!

Norah News: Picture Updates

I was informed that I was falling a bit behind on blogging, so here are a pile of pictures to catch you all up! Norah got something new the other day... it's her very own potty chair. She is very interested in climbing in it so far, but not so interested in sitting on it. She also knows what it's called, and heads straight to it, in the bathroom, when I say "Norah, let's go potty" She's a little young for potty training, so I think we're doing ok
Here is Norah reading her "Tails" book that Auntie Zie brought her before we headed out for a day at school. This was actually the same day we went to the beach that I blogged about last week Here she is looking all kinds of cute in her capris and sun hat, coming back from a little investigation of the latch on Dad's shed.

Here she is a week ago, after church... she had just finished taking an up close look at the flowers... this was the weekend we realized that we really needed to get some outside toys...

On the move, and ready for school...