September Visit to Grammy and Grandpa's

A picture-filled way to share our early September memories...

Swimming at Sophie's Pool!

Grammy took the day off from work and we had an awesome "girl day" at Sophie's house! The cousins played, talking to each other a bit but mostly copying one another and giggling together. An occasional bout of frustration broke out over a watering can or other valued toy, but that's to be expected with little girls who are midway through being TWO! Their personalities could not be more different (Susannah is strong-willed, driven, and opinionated; Sophie is soft-spoken, laid-back, and flexible), and our family could not possibly love them more!

A snack of strawberries and graham crackers!

(Susannah is on the left in the swimming vest; Sophie's on the right in the frilly suit)

Sophie, the ultimate berry lover!!!!

Grammy and her "precious angels"

Splashing in the baby pool! Sophie is FAR more daring than our reserved little tot!

Dipping toes

"Sun-bathing" beauty (on a cloudy day while wearing SPF 50, of course)!

Examining something of great interest (perhaps a bug???)

Learning to float in her borrowed swimmy vest

Copying each other as they walked around and around and around the baby pool

Scooping water to make big puddles on the pavement! Always big jobs to do when you're two...

Sophie waits for her turn with Grammy's pink watering can while Susannah fills her dump truck

Smiles and snuggles all around!

Playing at Grammy's "Big Pool"!

Our little girl got quite a bit of swimming in during our Labor Day weekend visit to Grammy and Grandpa's house! Rest assured that she moved at her own pace and could not be convinced about the safety and/or fun of ANYTHING until she decided for herself that the suggested activity was safe and/or fun. So please don't try to tell her what to do, EVER, even when you know she'll come to love it if she'd just try it. Please just leave her alone to do it in her own time. Really. Unless of course you like high-pitched screaming...

Riding bouncy horsies with her new best friend Krista on the pool playground

(It should be documented here that, when I was Krista's age, I spent much time baby-sitting for her two older brothers and, when she came along, HER! Feeling old, anyone?!)

I remember pushing Krista on swings when she was Susannah's age... :)

Getting braver! In the shallow end of the big pool with Krista, Grammy, and "Aunt" Betty

Playing at "Grammy Grandpa's House"

Susannah and Aunt Natalie had a "Polish Party" on the sunporch, during which Aunt Natalie painted Susie Joy's toenails AND fingernails! Doesn't get much better than this! :)

The next morning, Susannah awoke and did some cooking out on the sunporch with her flashy red nails.

Then she somehow convinced Aunt Natalie to play "sleeping" with her. She LOVES to put grown-ups to sleep in a very thorough, gentle manner before snuggling under the covers with them. I think they played this game for perhaps an hour! Here, Susannah gingerly covers Aunt Natalie, who has likely been instructed on exactly where she should lay...and in what position.

After rubbing "Aun-Nalee"'s (she says it as one word!) back and cheek, Susannah made her own way under the covers.

Snoozing together (for at least 45 seconds before Susannah got up and adjusted something!)

We had a cook-out for Labor Day! Aunt Jenna, Uncle Matt, and Sophie came, along with Uncle Seth and Aunt Natalie, and Tom and Milly Thompson. Mommy read to the girls as we awaited dinner.

Side-by-side in their high chairs!

(Susie Joy on left; Sophie Grace on right)

Blowing BIG BUBBLES on the patio with Grammy after dinner!

The men (from left to right): Uncle Seth, Grandpa, and Tom

Time to say night-night to cousin Sophie. Thanks for playing so much this weekend, Sophalicious!

"Uncle Sef," who took several American Sign Language classes during his time at UF, loves watching Susannah's little fingers sign. Here, they read a "find Elmo" book together. Susannah is showing him our family's sign for "Elmo."

Susannah joined Mommy in bed on Monday morning! What a snuggly little one we have!

As Mommy loaded the car to head home to Staunton, Susannah basked in her beloved Grandpa's attention. She loves being tickled!

Watching a little football together...

Fiddle and Hammered Dulcimer Experience

We listen to a lot of music by folk musician John McCutcheon, so Susannah has become especially familiar with the fiddle and the hammered dulcimer, both of which are heavily used in his arrangements of new and traditional pieces. She will listen to the songs intently, commenting, "I hear a hammered dulcimer, Mommy! Now the oboe will join in!" She's getting great "ear training" just by being in the car :). Our friend David Stahl is a gifted folk musician who was soooooo kind as to bring to our home his fiddle and hammered dulcimer one day mid-September. Susannah and I both had a marvelous time watching and listening to him play for us! He even learned some of her favorite tunes beforehand, including Peter, Paul, and Mary's famous, "Puff, the Magic Dragon," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Mommy and Susannah got to try the dulcimer ourselves! Susannah was very gentle and careful using the hammers on the delicate strings.

She could've played all day!

After each song she played, she gave herself a round of proud applause!

Might we have a budding folk musician on our hands? Mommy sure hopes so! :)