Kate is 21 Months

Before I left for work, playing the piano.  She flips through the primary song book and plays the songs she likes, it's too cute!

Dad getting a few shots in once she's dressed.

Lost Photographs #1

So while our camera was in for repair I had this idea.  I would do a series of picture-less posts all about the things I would have taken pictures of.  I sent the camera in on Friday, October 1st and by the evening of Thursday, October 7th I had my camera back - Go Canon!  So here is the only post - there is no series...

Tonight at dusk we went on a walk to pick up a few things at the grocery store.  On the way we went to watch a train and let Kate run around the park.  While were at the park Ken noticed the beginning of a rainbow.  In the fifteen minutes we were at the park we watched the rainbow develop into a complete arch and then disappear with the setting sun.  I would have loved to take a photograph of Kate under the rainbow.

Conference and Downey's Farm

The goal was to have a fun family morning - tire out Kate and then get to watch the first session of conference uninterrupted.  We decided to go to Downey's farm.  Our first mistake was leaving late.  Our second mistake was taking WAY too long to get there.  Once we were there we had lots of fun.  Kate thought she'd died and gone to heaven in their petting farm area.  You can actually walk around with the animals.  She loved the sheep and goats.  (I have pictures on my phone but I don't know where the adapter is so I can't upload them) It was a bit rainy but all in all it was really fun.  We weren't ready to leave but time was wearing on.

We got home around 12:15 and expected to see my parents waiting in the driveway but they were late too.  We settled downstairs to watch conference - Kate still awake.  My parents came and brought subs for lunch and we watched the end of the first session - Kate still awake.  She went to sleep between sessions, which was exactly what I didn't want to have happen, but what do you do?! 

Sunday was more of the same.  We got most of the first session on the Sunday but by the last session Kate was done sharing her parent's attention.   The parts of conference that we did see were as always wonderful, uplifting and inspiring.  I'm thankful for my testimony of the gospel, for how it sustains me. 

September

Once the camera really died it's as if time stopped... okay not really but I went to check on the calendar, see what we did the rest of September and well, there's nothing... I know that I went back to work in September, which was hard, but not nearly as hard as it was in January.  I know Kate cried everyday when Ken dropped her off at Antoinette's, but as soon as he was out the door the show was over.  I know there has been a whirlwind of school work, I wish I could also say housework.  I know Kate has been settling more agressively into the terrible twos.  I know I'm so grateful for my little family.  One minute Kate is scratching and flailing but the next minute she's giving hugs and kisses and saying sorry. My favourite is giggling with her.  Ken comes home from working all day and makes amazing dinners and asks what I need.  Life is busy, but good and I am thankful.

Destination Equitation

We saw the signs along hwy 10 and mocked the name, but we were curious.  When we hear there was going to be a horse parade we were committed!

It was a very brief parade but enjoyable.  After the parade we enjoyed the farmer's market in Orangeville as we frequently do on a Saturday.  We also bought Kate a cute monkey suit for Halloween.  I put the top on her in the store and showed her to a mirror.  She then proceeded to march around the store making delightful monkey noises!  So cute!

Kate is 20 Months.

Wouldn't sit and pose for a picture - at least not while smiling... I still think she's cute though.

The ROM

We finally made it down to the ROM to check out the terracotta warriors.  It was an interesting exhibit that I probably saw 1/8 of.  I took Kate on a speed walk so that Ken could take his time and absorb and discover.  If you are unfamiliar with the terracotta warriors, it's a really interesting story, one that Ken could tell better than I but hey, here goes.  The emporers of China were not only concerned with power and prestige in this life, but also in the world to come.  The planned their buriel tombs - somewhat like the pharoahs of Egypt.  The terracotta warriors were discovered by a farmer in 1974.  The First Emperor of Qin in 210-209 BC had over 8000 warriors sculpted out of terracotta and then had them buried with him - the replicas, not the real dudes.

I always find it such an incredible experience to be in the presence of history, whether it's visiting an actual site or seeing an artifact.  In this case it's even more amazing because of how far they came - through time and geography, for me to see.

Kate enjoyed the replicas of the horses in the exhibit but the real fun lay upstairs.  After seeing the condensed version, Kate and I made our way to the dinosaurs.  Enjoyable yes, but they couldn't hold a candle to all of the different "stuffed" animals.  The kids discovery zone is awesome, and Kate had lots of fun.

The Drive Home

We had a lovely vacation and since we were in no real hurry to get home we took our time.  We drove from Nashua to Syracuse on Friday and then from Syracuse to Tottenham on Saturday.

On Saturday we took a detour through Palmyra.  I wanted to go to the LDS bookstore in Palmyra and I wanted to take Kate to the Sacred Grove.  Happily, Ken obliged.