Puddles and Ponds

It rained all day yesterday, and again this morning, so when the sun came out we wrapped up warm and got outside. Ivy wanted to wear my hat, so I got her a matching one - both knitted by my Grandma!

A pit stop for coffee and carrot stix. Refreshing to sit outside.

We arrive at the park after a toddler paced walk with pauses for jumping off ramps and stomping in puddles. Last time I was here it looked like Autumn, now it looks like Winter. The trees are bare, it looks so cold.

Usually at this point Ivy would let go of my hand and run free, but today if I let go of hers she reminds me "Mummy hand". It is too cold not to hold hands (and she won't wear gloves. Although she will wear socks on her hands in the house and call them gloves!).

She remembers that she is still carrying her carrot stix, the walk to the top of the hill is slow now!

We find puddles at the top! This is a pretty reliable spot when on a puddle hunt, actually. Ivy also recalls from a family walk here "Ball... Daddy ball... kicking" that Kwojo had been bouncing and kicking the ball on a wall here. I'm impressed by her memory, that was a while ago!

We reach the playground, and find an even bigger and better puddle. A pond that's not meant to be there.

She sits down next to me after some satisfying puddle poking, splashing, and for the first time, wading.

All that adventuring must have tired her out because she rode on my back home, and I could see her head lolling as she didn't bother to try fighting sleep, and slept soundly on the sofa when we got home.

One sunny Sunday afternoon in the garden

Inspiration from an empty dish of roasted veggies.
I made paint from things in my kitchen.
I resisted the urge to tell her to be careful not to spill it.
She painted paper, table, self. Using brush, spoon, hands.
Ivy is so happy when she has water to pour.
And no need for clothes on a day like this.
Some curly chilli's are growing.
She found a "bee" then remembered it's called an "ome". An empty snail home.
A sunny Sunday afternoon in the garden.

Outside

It has not been a usual July so far. Lots and lots of rain, and not enough sun. But I probably spend too much time on this blog complaining about the weather. So here is a celebration in photos of the time we have been able to spend outside. By the way, my standard of park-going-weather has changed from 'sunny/warm' to just 'not raining'. When it's not raining, quick, get outside!

Playing football in the park with Sophie...

On the big kid play equipment...

On the steam train with me, Emmelie and Jake...

She didn't hate it, but felt that it was very serious. She held tightly to her crayons the whole time. She wasn't a big fan of the dark, echo-y tunnel and wrapped her arms very tightly around my neck. She likes being able to point at cars.

At the farm with me and my Mum (aka Granny, or Nanny as Ivy says)...

Now Ivy is a bit older she appreciates the farm more, especially as she is really interested in animals at the moment. She likes being able to look down at the pygmy goats, did not like the big (they really are huge) goats looking down at her, and was somewhat intimidated by the pigs too.

Running around on the downs with Kwojo and Charlie...

When she runs, she crews her face up and scrunches her shoulders up high in excitement. Oh yeah, she runs now. I had that realisation as I was taking these photos. She runs?! Lots of running and catching and tickling.