As August quickly comes to an end, we decided to make the most of last weekend by sharing the summer breeze with friends! First, we met up with the Britton family to cruise the Mississippi River. After we nailed that adventure, we went to Texas Roadhouse for supper. I think the adults planned to enjoy stimulating conversation, but just to make things interesting, I decided to challenge my parents with the game “See-if-you-can-complete-a-sentence-without-being-interrupted-by-this-new-bad-habit-I-learned!” (Apparently, you’re only supposed to throw peanuts on the floor, not your entire meal.) My bad.

The next day, mom and dad took me to experience my first parade! Initially, I wasn’t sure what to think and I couldn’t figure out who everyone was waving at. But then, marchers and drivers started throwing candy my way and I kind of liked that! In fact, I liked that so much, I decided to throw the candy right back at them. Mom says I need to work on my parade etiquette. (She seemed especially concerned when I returned some of her favorite chocolates to the streets.) My bad…again.

Remember this little guy?

That was my first day at daycare, back in August 2014! Fast forward one year and it’s time for me to graduate.

Today was my last official day in the infant room and it was bittersweet. Even though we celebrated with a dance party and cupcakes, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. These wonderful women have been my moms away from mom…

• They brought out the dinosaur and karate kid in me. (See photo evidence below)
• They fed me the most delicious foods and even taught me how to like watermelon.
• When I missed my family, they would visit my internet blog to show me pictures of mom and dad.
• We went for walks, we worked out at the gym, we fed ducks, we played in the sandbox, we covered the room in ping pong balls… we were always busy!
• They introduced me to my inner artist through coloring and painting, and they tapped into my curious mind through mud baths and shaving cream parties.
• They cleaned up my spit-ups, my stinkers, and my owies, and they put up with my grumpies, my frownies and my zombie apocalypse phase.
• They embraced me as their little entertainer and made room for me to move like Jaeger.

No matter the day, no matter the weather, no matter my mood…. these women LOVED me. And I couldn’t help but love them right back.

Daycare makes me happy

I love my teachers!

The next Karate Kid

Pool party!

I am a dinosaur!

Bubbles?

Bubbles

Shaving cream party!

Selfie with Krissy

Jaeger the cow. Mooo.

Dance, dance!

Cupcake? Yes, please!

Alright kids, this is how you eat…

Selfie with Marissa

Selfie photo-bombed my Liam

Me and Amanda

Thank you, amazing teachers, for helping me write my first chapter. Although it’s time to turn the page, you will always be a beautiful, significant and unforgettable part of my life story!

Last Sunday we went tubing for the first time in my life! The rules for tubing are simple and unfair: Everyone but Jaeger gets to participate. What a bummer! But, I did enjoy being a cheerleader… until my dad decided to perform a back-flip into the water. My eyes got really big and then I made an uh-oh face before proceeding to cry. It was so scary to see him disappear beneath the surface. But then, he reemerged and so I screamed for joy! That was such a neat trick that I decided to try my own back-flip on my parents’ bed later that night. I’ve been doing twists, turns, flips and somersaults ever since. I’m not sure what’s more fun…. attempting new gymnastic floor routines or watching my mom become the most nervous and unreasonable spotter a gymnast could ever ask for.

Look out, everybody! Today my parents took me to La Crosse to get a BRAND NEW….

…. HAIRCUT!*

*4-wheeler not included

If anyone wonders where I inherited my fun, silly, mischievous spirit from, meet Auntie Cha Cha:

She lives in Florida, so it took fifteen months for us to finally meet, but it was well worth the wait! We had so much fun together…

We went to Lark Toys and it was the best. day. ever!

First, we played “Who wore it better?”

Then, we enjoyed all the store had to offer…. fudge, delicious snacks, toys, books, and even a carousel ride!

After our Lark Toys adventure, we traveled to nearby Wabasha for some sight-seeing and then Nelson for ice cream!

Another highlight with Auntie Cha Cha was the Asian Infusion dinner that she prepared for the family. It was YUMMY!

Finally, after all sorts of other shenanigans throughout our week together, we took a trip to southeastern Wisconsin to see Papa Florence, Great Grandma Garcia and other family members.

Unfortunately, at the end of it all, my cuteness just couldn’t convince her to stay. Auntie Cha Cha returned to Florida and left me to be the sole entertainer of the house; I will try not to disappoint! Miss and love you, Cha Cha. MUUUUAHHH!