Dancin' fool!

Sweet baby girl has turned into a dancin' fool lately! She LOVES music, especially an oldies CD sent by our friends Carla and Sam. (Thanks, guys!) Her favorite thing to do is to spin until she gets dizzy! Charles and I crack up every time - she looks like a little drunkard stumbling around the living room! Check it out -

Busch Wildlife Area - Nature Walk

Today we visited the Busch Wildlife Conservation Area in New Melle, MO, with the Parents As Teachers program. It was really cool! We started off my investigating some 'feely' boxes - Maria really liked this! She stuck her little hands right in there and grabbed for pine cones, snake skins, and feathers. Then we saw a short animal presentation - they showed us a turtle, millipede, praying mantis, and a milk snake. Maria thought the snake was really neat! She made the squiggling motion we make when we read her the animal book, so she actually made the connection from her book! (Teacher-Mommy is so proud!) And when the conservationist came by with the snake to pet, she stuck out her finger and touched it! Wow... better than mommy!

The most interesting animal to me was a turtle that had been found stuck in a plastic soda ring (the kind that used to hold a 6-pack together). The turtle continued to grow, put the ring constricted it's shell, and it's now in the shape of a peanut, or a number '8' depending on your perspective. I had seen this picture on posters before, but I didn't know the real turtle was still alive. It is now 23 years old!

Then we went on a stroller-friendly nature hike. We saw a huge spider web, frog pond, made bird noises to attract birds (ha ha), and learned what poison ivy looks like! Thank goodness Maria was strapped in the stroller! At the end, our guide pointed out persimmons that had fallen on the ground and suggested we try a bite. Mommy was a little wary, but Maria wasn't! I peeled one and she took a HUGE bite, and gave the sign for 'more'! It was hilarious... she's such a trip these days!

Eckert's Apple Time!

On Friday, Sept. 14, we went with our local playgroup to Eckert's Farm in Grafton, Illinois. After a long but beautiful drive on the Great River Road along the Mississippi, we made it to the farm! (Maria slept and missed the scenery.) We had a wagon ride around the orchard, got to play in the rocks, check out the animals, and got a goody bag of apples for the road. But I have to say Maria's favorite part was the mini-golf! Yes, they have a miniature golf 'course' near the playground, and Maria made a bee-line for the putters, grabbed a ball and "swung away." That's our Daddy's girl! She also liked the animals, though she thought the goats were cows, and the cows were elephants!?! Guess we better review that "Baby's First Animals" book again...

Maria-in-a-box and Humpty Dumpty

Labor Day Weekend

Another great weekend together! Saturday we went to the annual Greek Festival at St. Nickolas Greek Orthodox Church in the Central West End. As usual, it was DELICIOUS, and a great time was had along with our friends Danielle and CT. I think we sampled nearly everything they had to offer, and nothing disappointed! Maria was a little overwhelmed by the loud, live music. But she hung in there. She even gave us a few "Opa's!" for good measure. Of course I forgot to take any pictures until we got back into the car - so here is the aftermath of Maria's 2nd Greek Fest...


On Sunday we hung out with Terry and Allison, along with their friends Russ and Becca. Terry served up some mean BBQ, and Maria even liked the hot dogs! Jack and Maria actually acknowledged each other, and Maria actually handed Jack a toy, so we see this as definite progress! Previously the two of them (particularly Maria) avoided each other at all cost. We had a great time, and eventually beat Terry and Allison at their own backyard bean-bag game! I see a re-match in our future....



Today (Monday), Charles had to work, so Maria and I headed west to visit Grandma and Grandpa Schelich in good old Wash., MO. It turned into a mini-family reunion, as all of the Schelich kids were present. Julie and Jackie even brought their boyfriends. (It's still strange for me to think my baby sisters are old enough to have serious significant others. Guess I'm just getting old! But they picked two great guys, so the big sister doesn't have to worry - much.) Maria had a blast trying to out-run all of us. She kept Uncle John and Uncle Jim busy while mommy ate some of Grandpa's BBQ. Maria also loved Grandpa's new puppy, another Feist hunting dog named Dollie, but only from a distance! Every time those dogs got near her she freaked out! Uncle John got a big dose of Maria's music on the ride home - let's just say he's not a big Laurie Berkner fan, but he survived.



All in all, it was a beautiful weekend spent with family and friends. We couldn't ask for more! Onto another week...

OU junkies

I came back from the store this morning to find both of my sweeties dressed in OU gear... "Why?" I asked Daddy. Duh! It's the first day of college football season! (yeah, right... how could I forget?) Here are my Sooners in action... Guess I better just shut up and succumb to the OU pressure since good old SEMO isn't ranked (again) this year.... GO SOONERS!!!