Staycations and Vacations Part I

We've been traveling quite a bit this summer and I haven't blogged about any of it!

In July we took a short weekend trip to Tucson with My parent's and Scott's Mom.  We were all excited for the weekend until Tessa woke the morning of our departure with 105 fever (no joke, it was 105).  Call me a bad Mom, but we have hotel and CAVE reservations that were non-refundable, so we packed the Tylenol and Motrin and hit the road.  We hit up Mt Lemon first to enjoy some cooler weather.  It was an amazing 73 degrees at the top.  We hiked a little around the Butterfly Trail and enjoyed cookies and ice cream before heading down into Tucson.

We brought Tessa's mattress down with us and the closet was again big enough for her to have her own "room".  The following morning (still with high fever child) we went down to Kartchner Caverns.  No photos were allowed, but it was amazing inside.

And back to my 105 degree fever child.  I assumed it was a virus.  The grandparent's seemed worried.  She wasn't sick in any other way except she felt tired when the fever was high.  I kept saying on day 4 or 5 she would break out in a rash.  And what happened?  Day 5 her fever broke and the rash appeared, which meant she had Roseola.

Now she is fine.  The end (of part one)

Yesterday we saw a Zonkey

Zebra + Donkey = Zonkey

All seen @ Marley Farms

Tot School

Tessa is 27 months old

Here's what we've been up to the past couple of weeks:

Lots of swimming, although the pool as gotten down to 90 degrees... Tessa and I prefer 95 :)

Her robe keeps her warm afterwards.

Speaking of pools, we have watched the transformation happening in my parent's backyard as well.  She enjoyed being so close to the big machines and "helping" by spraying down the pool.

Another big truck that she looks forward to (twice weekly) is the trash truck.  

Trying to get away from he sippy/straw cups, we created a water station in our wine rack.  Included are a few cups and (although not seen) a rag to clean up spills.  It was a mess the first few days because she would always overflow her cup.  Now she fills it 1/3-1/2 full, drinks it all and replaces her cup.  Here she is washing her cup as well.

Another indication that her sensitive period of order is in full swing, I came out one morning to find her lining all her stickers up on the window.  At her table I have a bin of stickers, and an empty bin to put the trash in.  I has worked out really well.

Art has continued to have the same result - finger paining.  I was surprised how pretty her watercolor turned out though!

We visited the SeaLife aquarium.

And it finally has cooled down the past few days!  One early morning we walked down to the pond at the front of the subdivision to feed the ducks... only to find catfish instead. 

We had a fun nature walk after feeding the fish.  Tessa wanted to search for spiders.  I was so happy when we walked for 45+ minutes exploring nature.  Since it was so early in the morning the wildlife was really active.

Looking at rabbit poop and playing with sticks. 

Labor Day weekend we went hiking near the Salt River Canyon.  Tessa had such a great time and didn't take a nap all day.  She waked in the water, played in the mud, held fish and enjoyed nature.  That evening when we got back home and I was putting her to bed she said to me - "I want to go back there again, but not today" and quickly fell asleep.  (more of our hike to come)

See what others are doing at 1+1+1=1

five

9.2.2006