Birthday weekend

After a long week of bad weather and sickness, Friday finally arrived.   This day we had to get out of the apartment, even if it was still raining.   Earlier in the week we had experienced rain, puddles and cold weather.   The monsoon rain has been so strong that it takes a couple of days to dry up the playgrounds so that Sabrina could slide and land on earth instead of a lake.   This concept is hard for young girl to understand.   The one day we actually had some sunshine, she had been sick with a fever.   So, when Friday arrived we went to explore new territory in Savannah.   Our destination:  The Old Pink House Restaurant.   Not exactly the playground Sabrina wanted to go to but it was the nice restaurant we wanted to go to celebrate Julie's birthday.   We were not disappointed with what Randy calls, "THE best shrimp and grits he ever had!"   After lunch, we had a tour of this grand old house.

From the exterior it looks like a basic four room old house.   However, after enclosing porches and adding on the back, this house has turned into a grand place for entertaining.   The old house was originally owned by a Habersham who signed the Declaration of Independence.   The guide told us is is rumored that the historic document was discussed and possibly signed in the room that was once the covered porch of the house.  The front rooms held the portraits of Habersham, Oglethorpe and other historic figures on the walls.   The front right of the house had been converted into a bank at one point in history.   Our lunch table was positioned right in front of the old bank vault!   At some point, the house fell into decay but was purchased and restored to its historical period and now is home to a fine restaurant.    Additions in the back of a ballroom and the piano bar downstairs and the dining table in the cellar give the house some modern touches but don't lose the feel of the historic gem that it is.  
We wanted to take Sabrina to the park, but the monsoon weather continued through Saturday.   To our surprise all clouds moved on and Sunday was clear and warm.   The ideal park day, so to Sabrina's delight we took a special trip downtown to Forsythe Park where she played for almost two hours!

Curvy monkey bars.

Swinging so high Mom can't watch.

Climbing up via climbing wall or other methods and sliding down as fast as possible.

Up to slide!

The curvy bars are a great but do-able challenge!

February 2013

A few strides towards benchmarks in growing up were noted this month.   As most three year olds, Sabrina is not alone when she declares, "I do it by myself!"  With this determination she has taught herself how to do flips off the bar on her trampoline, climbs rock walls, attempts the monkey bars and her latest task:  brushing her teeth.   There must be some power in squeezing the tube of toothpaste and directing it in her mouth over her teeth.   Also, there must be power in selecting clothing and putting on tights and shoes.   The other satisfaction she has received on her own is the ability to identify letters everywhere!    She sees her name and spells it out loud.    She even is reading short books from school.   We are working on identifying "the" in every day library books.   Her favorite library book has to do with lady bugs who are learning to fly.   She must see herself in the character who has to keep trying over and over again to actually fly.

Brushing her teeth.

Sitting in her nest on the floor soaking in the sunshine.

Smile!

Posing for the camera.

Waiting patiently.

Ferry Tour Across Savannah River

Saturday, we discovered a free ferry down on Rivers Street.   This ferry picks up right in front of the visitor center and takes passengers across the river to the event center and hotels.   We discovered the hotels have some nice restaurants in them in which at least one has outside seating.   The view from these hotels is of the river front of Savannah.   Also, in our sights was the cable bridge which looks like a mini Arthur Ravenal Bridge (Charleston area).
At the end of the day, we had had a nice walk downtown and Sabrina loved the boat ride which had the added attraction of splashing water she could see through the holes in the railings.  

Dr. Dolittle Jr.

This week has been one where we have had more contact with the animal world than with humans outside our family.   At the park, Sabrina befriended a ladybug.   She literally played with this ladybug on the slide and rock wall.   The ladybug would fly off and land.   Then it (or perhaps another--not sure how to tell them apart) would land on her hand or head.   This would happen over and over for fifteen minutes or so.
The next time to the park, Sabrina looked for the ladybug but only found a spider. 
To her delight on an evening walk to feed Wilbur the duck, she met Baquera (a black cat resembling the black panther from Kipling's Jungle Book).   For about an hour, this black cat enticed Sabrina and allowed her to pet him.   He even let her carefully hold him.   This memory we are told about in statements like, "I am so strong.   I can hold kitties!"
This afternoon, she met a new friend while visiting Wilbur.   He was a fledgling goose.   Young enough to not attack and friendly enough to allow us to feed him.   Wilbur, however, was not sure he liked competition while bread crumbs were being delivered and chanced him away until all food was consumed.    To the joy of Sabrina, the goose returned and watched us from a safe distance.   Now to name him.  
All these animal skills in Sabrina parallel the ability and confidence Julie's Grandma Agnes had with animals.   Grandma Agnes felt animals sensed confidence and being friendly and really did not meet a dog or cat that would not come for a petting.    She grew up on a homestead with the animals in the barn, out in the field or under the house as her main companions.

Farmer Brown

Somehow unbeknown to us our after dinner ritual of playing card games or doing puzzles was altered.   While the dishes were still being washed Farmer Brown (aka Sabrina) decided she needed to ride cow (Randy) around the living room.   She was giving him orders and then feeding him and checking his teeth.    Soon horse (Julie) was ordered to saddle up for the rides.   Horse was ordered not to neigh because it is suppose to be quiet here (probably repeating what has been said to her about apartment living).   
Horse and cow were ordered to take naps.   Farmer Brown even gave them pillows and blankets.   Next to cow, she curled up and pretended to sleep for the evening.   In the morning she ordered cow and horse to stand up and then she fed them pizza.    Water was provided to wash the pizza down.   Cow and horse had a hard time not laughing at the entire cuteness of Farmer Brown.   
Oh what a great farm to be living on!

Cardboard Castle

Friday a dryer box was donated to us by the apartment complex.   Immediately, the construction of Rapunzel's house (castle) started!

Windows of different shapes were cut.   The large circular window is Sabrina's favorite.

On top of the new addition is the previous constructed castle for the Disney princesses.   The small penthouse castle can be taken down to be played with or stored for the big castle feel.

Some decorating has started with crayons and stickers.   We hope to continue adding to the exterior and making it look less like a dryer box and more castle like.