Almost Two, but not quite!

A few weeks ago I wanted to give Carina a little break so I took Lute for the afternoon. It was the last day he was going to be one, and you know what they say about two, so I wanted to have him while he wasn't terrible. When I had asked to take him, I was thinking we might have a sunny day...silly me! It turned out to be cold and windy. I had no idea what to do with the little guy - so I headed to the mall - thinking we could at least walk around and be warm.

Oh! The time we had! It was so much FUN! Well, anything I do with Lute is fun...anything! He's a blast.













After we played in the little playground, he needed yogurt, so we started on our trek to find some. Only problem was that I had forgotten the stroller. So, it took awhile to get anywhere, but that was OK...until he got tired walking. "Hold you gra-ma!" Boy, did my arms get a work-out that day. Oh, did I happen to mention we went to the biggest mall in Washington? And, to get to the yogurt place we had to go up the escalator (his favorite part) and down at least a mile, or what seemed like a mile anyway.

I'm not sure if he really liked his yogurt though- what do you think?

After the yogurt, we headed back down the escalator (his favorite part) to the Rainforest Cafe. He loves the alligator. And, he thinks all the toys in the little store are to play with, so that was fun. The sales lady kept asking us if we were finding everything OK...Yes, he sure was. He was finding, and touching, and grabbing EVERYTHING.

I was trying to teach him how to throw money - he probably thought I was nuts.

Then we did his most favorite thing...the thing he had been wanting to do since we first stepped foot in the mall...GET A COOKIE???? I would have never gotten away with this if his mother had been there...so that made it even more fun. Sinfully fun.
And I let him pick out whichever cookie he wanted...and of course it had to have 'sfrinkles'.

OH...see here how he is now in a stroller? Yeah...once I trekked from one side of the mall to the other and up the escalator and down the escalator and back to the other side, I saw they rented strollers. I have no idea why I hadn't thought of this earlier, like in the previous 5 miles.

Wow, did we have a blast or what! I know just what he's thinking here...'my gra-ma is the bomb..."

He's turning TWO!

Lute is turning TWO next weekend. I can hardly believe it. This is probably the last picture I'll post of him while he's still only a year old. Oh, I just love this little guy! He brings me such joy! He says the funniest things now...what a crack up...being a grandma is the BEST!

And, I'm so proud of my daughter and son-in-law. They are such great, great parents. I have the BEST family!

Procrastination...

This is what it looks like when you put your walk off until it gets dark...and then have to go in the dark and the snow...well, you can't see the snow but it was snowing :) And, the wind was blowing at least 150 miles an hour. And, my husband wouldn't go with me. Oh poor me.

And I Keep Walking...

This walking thing is getting to be quite a habit. I have managed to find time every day to get outside and enjoy the sun. Not that my life is so important or busy, but I'm a good procrastinator, a really good one. And usually I don't have time to do the things I have to do or should do but don't want to do because I'm really good at putting them off. So, I'm actually surprised at myself for doing this every day. It's been so cold here, but sunny, except for when it's snowing :)

This was taken last week after a little snow shower...brrrrr....it was cold that day!

Last weekend I wanted a change of scenery. And, I wanted my husband to go walking with me and maybe get a dinner out of the deal. So, I got on the internet and looked for some short trails in the area and here's what I found...

Now, I live in Washington, a really, really beautiful state. And we have lots of woods and lots of trails and lots of places to hike, most of which I've never experienced because I'm not a hiker. But, the intersting thing about this place is that it is right in the middle of a major metropolis...Tacoma...yes, right in the heart of the city. Who knew??? I think this trail was about a mile and a half and it was just beautiful.

Then, we drove a mile or two and saw this...

The last one is my favorite. Not because of the bike but because of the writing on the window..."Tacoma's premier cupcake bakery". That was right down the street from where we had dinner. And, the whole time I was sitting having dinner I was thinking of the cupcake bakery. Not that I'm obsessed with sweets or anything...

But alas, they were closed when we left..so I guess I'll have to make another trip to the city...

Through Rain or Hail...

What was that I said the other day? Through rain or snow or hail or whatever...today I was tested.See those itty bitty white dots...yes, it's hail. Not a lot of hail, but hail nonetheless. And it was falling during my walk today.

I don't have a lot to say about my walk except that it was hailing, windy, and it was garbage day.

But, I still never cease to be amazed at God's beautiful creation.

Lent...

I have never observed Lent before this year. But, I think I need a good season of soul-searching and reflecting. I know the purpose of Lent is preparation of the believer - through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial. I'm doing something a little different, or putting a twist on the self-denial thing. I am walking every day during Lent. So, I guess you could say I'm denying myself days without exercise. For those of you who don't know me well, I hate walking. Hate it. But, I'm doing it...every day. Rain, hail, sleet or snow. So far I haven't encountered any of those...thank God. But if I do, I'm still going to walk. And, I'm not going on any sissy walks. I'm trying to do two miles each time I head out. Two miles is a lot for me.

So, since I'm not feeling real chatty lately, I'm just going to be posting pictures of my walks...and I hope you enjoy them!

It's a plane...It's a train...It's a bus!

When Lute and I talked about his big European adventure, I was telling him about how exciting it was going to be because he got to go in an AIRPLANE!!!! And, I told him how fun it was going to be to get in the plane and go waaaaaaaayy up in the sky!

He looked at me...and clearly had something that could top an airplane...he told me he was going on a TRAIN! Which, by the sound of things was going to be way more exciting than an ol' airplane. Gee gra-ma, don't you know?

But, then he told me the most exciting thing...and that was...he was also going to go on a BUS!!!!! Which, according to Lute, tops any form of transportation on the planet. Except, of course, a bike.

Here's Lute, the day we gave him his very own 'bike'. The kid's a natural.

So Lute, this background is in your honor. Until it comes down.