Fun with Stella

So I know we're terrible about updating this, but we haven't really done much interesting stuff lately. The most interesting stuff is just cracking up at Stella's random antics. So I figured we'd just have to do a post about her.

The other day, while Nick was at work, she had a particularly fun-filled day. First, while I was getting the breakfast dishes cleaned up, she decided she would help clean up, too. Apparently, with spring here and all, she figured we wouldn't be using the fireplace again soon, so she took her broom and started "cleaning" the ashes out. Onto the floor. Awesome! (she has done this a couple times now, and I have been completely unable to hear her do it, or catch her in the act.) So then Mom decides, well, might as well vacuum today instead of tomorrow.

While vacuuming, Stella decided she was hungry, and helped herself to a little snack. She came out of our room and Mom found her with while all around her mouth and a fairly chewed up chapstick tube in one hand. Gross!

Then, while continuing to clean the floor, Stella thought she'd have some fun with her rainboots and go splash in some puddles. Only it hadn't rained in about a week, and she was about two pairs of shoe-changes after her rainboots (she must have forgotten that she changed her shoes!) and the only puddle she could find was Jackson's dog dish. Quite inventive, I must say.

Well, Mom finally decided that she needed to lay down for a few minutes after all the excitement of the morning (and trying to get over this obnoxious respiratory cold during which she pulled a muscle in her ribs--believe me, so not fun!) and Stella found some laundry that was drying on our radiator. She decided to "help" Mama by putting some of it away (on the floor) and bringin one particular undergarment to her resting mother, saying "Nurse! On." Like I said, she's clever.

So that's one day. The next day, we had gone to the PO to get mail, and Stella received an Easter package (one of 3 she received, in addition to two Easter baskets from our landlady and the people we buy milk from--she has enough candy to last until she's 5!). So later, when Daddy came home from work we opened the package. Inside she found some stickers, in addition to some other fun stuff. She played with Daddy for a while, and ended up with a sticker on her forehead. Later, after dinner, she decided she was still hungry, and chose a black crayon as a tasty snack. Mom and Dad thought that wasn't the most nutritious option, and gave her a cracker instead.



The following day was pretty normal. When it's nice outside we usually either just go outside to our lovely and huge backyard (up beyond our landlady's amazing garden), or go for a longer walk up on the trails at the end of our street. This evening we decided to go out on the "grass" as Stella had named the backyard. She gets this really hopeful, sweet look on her face, eyes opened really wide, and asks, "Gwass? Gwass? Puh-wease?" How can anyone resist that? So off we go. Now, our neighbor upstairs has a daughter, Lena, who is...eleven, I believe. They have a trampoline in the backyard. After a major windstorm last fall (hurricane velocity winds reported at some of the bases!), it seemed to be completely kaput. However, there was some miracle, and much to Stella's delight, it has reappeared. Naturally, once we get up to the top of the backyard, the first word out of her mouth is, "Bounce! Bounce!" This time, we thought we'd bring the camera along. Here's my fave shot.



I think we'll call it "The Ascension of Nick" for now. You can even see his shadow on the ground. Too cool. Anyway, Stella had a lot of fun bouncing with Daddy (my sore rib muscles wouldn't allow me to bounce without pain) and she even learned a new trick. I'm going to attempt to put a video here on our blog, but if for some reason that doesn't work, you can view it on our YouTube site here . So here goes!



Pretty funn stuff. She was very proud of herself, and after doing it a couple times more, told Daddy, "High five!" Love it! Oh, and by the way, I have enabled comments to be left on our blog now, if you so desire. More to come soon...