Halloween at Happen, Inc.

Happen Inc had the most WONDERFUL pumpkin patch of all! We selected our pumpkin for carving and found that it was prepared! No pulpy junk, straight to the fun part. Genevieve was an enthusiastic carver at first, but soon found it much more convenient to simply have me carve to her specifications.

Where does she learn these things?

As we were leaving Grammy's tonight, Genevieve raised a concern that we did not visit the ducks. Daddy told her that Grammy said the ducks were gone. Genevieve's question -- did they go on their migration? Really!

We passed a fancy candy store with a pig wearing a tophat. "Mommy - I just saw something really funny -- a pig wearing gentlemen's clothes!"

Maybe the tuition is worth it after all.

Sunflower Power

It's been a strange gardening year - cool, rainy. We had many "volunteers" (plants that come up that we did not plant). Mainly, sunflowers. They are huge, made John look like a short guy.

As an educational tool, John plucked the head of a big one for Genevieve to play with and learn about the seeds. The "head" of the sunflower is bigger than Gigi's (and John's for that matter). She has spent a great deal of time picking at it, making a huge mess (Don't worry, Mommy. I put my hat over it).

Today, she found a new use - Kings Island for bugs! Specifically, the little whip. The bugs had ride after ride.

She gave them quite a bit of variety -high, low, twirls, up-side down.

Kings Island Adventure!

At long last! She has been tortured with every trip to Aunt Kristen's, passing the "Tiny Tour Eiffel" and interesting-looking rides for over a year and a half. Finally, Genevieve got to go to Kings Island with Lily and Alex (Mommy, Daddy, and Kristen too)!

A picture paints a thousand words, but in some cases does not give the true representation of the day. Exhibits A – E, below.

It appears Gigi spent the day out-of-sorts and Alex spent the day smiling and waving. In fact, Gigi had a wonderful time! Lily had a wonderful time! Alex’s time was a bit more variable. He was not so enthusiastic about the rides, and protested often. However at the end of ride torture, he consistently announced “that was really fun.”

Lily’s favorite seemed to be the wave pool. Gigi’s could not be pinpointed so easily.

We Love Stricker's Grove!

This year's trip to Stricker's Drove was double-friends and double fun! Genevieve took Leela, and Rye came with his family and neighbor Alex.

Along with the usual rides, we were excited to learn that the girls were tall enough for the BIG rollercoaster this year! They rode it repeatedly. The other favorite was the ferris wheel.

Along with the rides, they got to enjoy all-you-care-to-drink soda. The special treat they chose (as if soda were not enough) was cotton candy.

Genevieve LOVES fruit. It is by far her food of choice. Today she enjoyed a pear. This is what she gave me when she was finished.

Yay! The pool is open!

What a fun day! Aunt Coney, Uncle Daniel, and Alice came to visit. We had a cookout at the Volz house, and headed to the pool for the first dip of the season.

Genevieve headed straight for the baby pool. After some convincing (and realizing that Lily was NOT going to play in the baby area), Gigi tried the big pool. She was very excited to learn that she was tall enough to stand on tip-toes!

Lucia arrived in an identical bathing suit. This was not the least bit interesting to Genevieve.

Lily and Genevieve got to stay up late and watch the fireworks from Kings Island.

Go Tim Caps!

We took a trip with the Hogans to the new ball park in Fort Wayne to cheer the Tin Caps on to victory. Genevieve could not quite get the name down.

"What are the called again, Mommy?"

"The Tin Caps."

Oh, of course. GO TIM CAPS!"

She sat next to TJ and talked his ear off. She May have fallen in luv just a bit too.

She was actually quite interested in the game (or sitting next to TJ at least). She enjoyed the bounce house and T-ball in the kids area. Daddy took her to the merchandise shop and offered her anything she wanted (earlier she expressed interest in a pink foam finger) from the store, or a snow cone. She picked the snow cone.

TJ got TWO game balls, and gave one to Gigi. The nearby tween-age boys were green.

After the game, players were available for autographs. I could not explain this in a way that made sense to Genevieve. I enthusiastically told her that the players would sign their names on her ball. She looked at me as if I were insane. She said it was HER ball, and she wanted to write her name on it. I had no good response.

We were also able to run the bases. Gigi LOVED it! So much so that she ran the bases four times.

Artist? Or complusive?

She started grouping found objects by color when she could barely walk. I thought this was a developmental milestone that was past. Today I looked in her “igloo” tent and discovered I was wrong. Green is the color of the day!

We have converted her! When Genevieve sees a "great Clips" she refers to it as Daddy's haircut store. Her "haircut store" is the salon where she had her first shampoo, cut, style, and manicure. She always objects when I suggest she can get her haircut where Mommy and Daddy do.

Today we made the transition with no arguement. I think the trick was letting her know it was time for a haircut while she was still groggy (or glurry as she puts it) from a car-nap. She was nervous because she loves her long hair. She said, "she can cut just the top hair, right?" Once in the chair she asked if the stylist was going to put her curls back in.

My Little Problem Solver

Such a big girl she is! Her helium balloon floated to the seiling, out of reach. Rather than call a parent. She moved a chair and got the giant "tweezers" (as she calls them) to pinch the string, and retreived it herself.

We celebrated cousin Crissy's birthday at Ault Park today with Aunt Sharon, Patrick, Aunt Ceci, Bobby, Pria, Crissy's friend Rob, and Grammy. Sharon brought a picnic for all. Ceci brought a delicious cake and toys. Genevieve had big fun walking over big rocks, swinging, and blowing bubbles with Pria.

She worked to engage Aunt Sharon in conversation. On question ammused us all - "Aunt Sharon, have you ever floated up in the sky withOUT using your imagination?"

Fake Fruit - Finally!

We attended a Peanut Butter and jam concert featuring a string ensemble, with special guests from the Madcap Puppet Theater. The story of the Gingerbread was performed. Although it was a “repeat” Genevieve found it just as hilarious as before.

After the show, we shopped at a nearby thrift store. Gigi’s big score? Fake fruit! Genevieve loves fake fruit (and real fruit as well). The first time she saw it at a craft store, she could not understand. It’s not real, but it is not for playing. What is its purpose? I explained that it is used for decorating (another concept she could not quite grasp). Since that time, she asks to decorate her room with it. At every visit to the craft store, she spends time looking at the fake fruit. Any time she discussing decorating her bedroom, fake fruit is always involved.

Daddy took her to the Earth Day celebration at Sawyer Point . She won some prizes (thanks to Daddy eavesdropping on the trivia questions), visited the petting zoo, and played on the big playground. She saw her friend Rye briefly.

Another Collection

Genevieve was excited to tell me of a new addition to her leaf collection (which I was unaware existed). “Daddy gave me a maple leaf! Do you want to see?” She took me to her room, and showed me her collection, showcased in a purple hat box. I knew immediately which “leaf “ Daddy had given her.

Like a Prayer

Genevieve has recently showed an interest in praying. She explained that praying is just talking to God - sounds like she is listening at Kid's Club. She recited a prayer, which I was not sure I heard correctly. However, at bedtime she said she like to pray. She instructed me to close my eyes & tuck my folded hands under my chin. Then, she recited the same prayer as before:

Love God (dramatic pause)
Help me (longer dramatic pause)
When my legs aren't working
And Jesus' last name,
Amen

Seems like a prayer with limited application - but I'm hardly a prayer expert.

No shaking, but a milk shake

Gigi is driven to distraction by "balleting." She wears tutus almost every minute she is at home (and sometimes outside too). She wants to be called Angelina (as in British mouse ballerina who wears pink). It seemed that going to a belly dancing class at Twin Lakes would be a no-brainer - Great outfits, dancing. WRONG! She was just plain mad that it was not ballet. She refused to participate. Grammy and Mommy tried the arms. Grammy had a fancy belt.















Her tune changed when Daddy suggested we walk to Steak and Shake for "happy hour." Milkshakes all around! Geneveive ate hers in record time and finished Mommy's too. She got a paper yellow convertible to assemble and add stickers. She decided to give it to cousin Alex, who was so pleased. Mommy was pleased by her generous choice.

Bowling With Grammy

Yep, you read that right. It's not the most likely Grammy and Gigi event, considering that neither really have the strength to lift a bowling bowl, and one is in a wheelchair - but that is just the event Daddy planned for Tuesday afternoon. It was Twin Lakes event that we tagged along on.

We were not sure if either would bowl, but both did! Grammy got two strikes, and Gigi got a spare. Genevieve's ball speed starting off was about 1.2 MPH, but by the end she averaged 2+!

A Helpless Nearly Four-Year-Old

She is REGRESSING. Is it all for attention? Is she developing new phobias?

She wants an escort everytime she goes to the bathroom. We question her to find out why, and the explanations vary, but are all far-fetched. She is afraid of the radiator pipe. She 's afraid the beds will vroom out of the bedroom and get her because they don't like girls that aren't beds (this is the most often-used reason). Huh???

She explains every night that she cannot go to sleep "without a parent." She would get a lot further if she used the I- cannot- go- to- sleep- without- my- beloved- mommy-dear approach.

Often, she tells Daddy she cannot eat her vegetables unless he helps her eat them. When he feeds her, the whole bowl disappears.

There is one area in which she is fiercely independent - her dress. Ugh. This is where Mommy would be happy if she were to remain little forever. She has some lovely clothes. With them, she creates some pretty dreadful ensembles. She believes they are beautiful. She always picks a bow to match - but often leaves it behind for her favorite pink polka-dotted one.

Peter Pan

After church, Daddy and Gigi went to see the Cincinnati Ballet production of Peter Pan. Throughout the production, Genevieve kept saying "I want to be on stage. I want to be Tinker Bell!" She also wondered why none of the actors were talking. It was her first ballet. At the intermission, she saw her library friend Adele and our cousin Jody Magee and her daughter Erin (Genevieve's 2nd cousin). For a not quite 4 year old, she was an excellent audience!

When she arrived home Mommy asked, "How was the ballet?" Gigi shrugged and responded very flippantly, "Daddy can tell you." Nice. She did offer- up details later. Her favorites were The alligator, and Tinklebell (no surprise there). It really bothered her that there was no talking -- and that she was not part of the production.

"Aunt" Kuh Enters a New Decade

We celebrated far-away Aunt Kuh's birthday with a little pizza party with Aunts Kristen and Liz, and cousins Lily and Alex. There were even icecream sandwiches for kids who ate their cauliflower and pizza! Surprisingly, tonight that was the Volz kids - NOT Genevieve. She ate her cauliflower, but not her pizza!

At school, Genevieve enjoyed exchanging valentines with her classmates and teachers. The class made heart-shaped bread.

The Girls can ROCK!

This morning Genevieve attended her third Justin Roberts concert with Leela, Lily, and Alex. She also saw Leeza and Grace and many new friends. We had a bit of a shaky start. There were many tears, and no grown-up could really tell why. Perhaps because Lily's attention was divided?

Once the music began, everything changed. Our little rocker rushed the stage straight-away, dancing her heart out. See the little girls on their feet? The crowd of dancers grew as the show went on. By the end a little girl circle and a big girl circle merged to form a giant, jumping ring-around the rosy of sorts.

After the show, we attended an art show at the North Minster Presbyterian Church to enjoy a lunch catered by friends Paul and Melody. In the kids area, Gigi got to biold sculptures and paint.

Lost AND Found

Today we went sledding again at what Gigi refers to as "The Temple of Love" park (aka Mount Storm Park). Daddy, Gigi, Rye, his brother Denham, and their mommy Andrea drove together. Gigi insisted on bringing her nubbly plastic football -- even though Daddy warned her that it would probably get lost and toys aren't necessary when you go sled riding. As predicted, when Andrea dropped us off at home, the football was left behind at the park (SURPRISE!). Genevieve didn't seem to be bothered, "We can pick it up at the lost and found at church with the Hello Kitty I left there". What? How simple the mind of a 3 year old works. As luck would have it, 6 hours later after Mommy returned home, I drove back to the park and the ball was laying under a picnic table.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Girl Day!

Yes, we love Daddy dearly - but, we love it when he takes a trip too. Today Gigi and Mommy got up early and went to church for the Super Bowl service, which is always fun. We then had a special girls-only breakfast at "the pink yogurt" restaurant.

In the afternoon, we finally went to see a movie Aunt Ceci recommended months ago - Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Genevieve took her (toy) Chihuahua, Every Gigi Rainbow (a name which I never dreamed would stick, but one year later, still has). Both were dressed in a tutu with matching bows.

We finished up the girl-day with a visit to Grammy's. We had dinner at the cafe with Grammy and Aunt Muffy. Aunt Muffy and Grammy gave Gigi two gifts - a pink and purple Groovy Girl named Bella, and a ballerina magnetic dress-up doll which Genevieve named Inga. She had fun creating outfits.

Big Ride at Mount Storm

Another great day of sled riding. Gigi and Mommy met Leela, Joni, Nathan, Will, and a friend at Mount Storm Park. The hill is great. The rides were thrilling with near-misses along the way to add excitement.

After the novelty of sled-riding wore off, the girls visited the snow-covered playground. It seemed the play was harmonious. Then we learned otherwise. Leela was not happy with Gigi. "I played people like she wanted to for this long of time and she only played dog-catcher for this long." By the time we left, Leela declared they were no longer friends.

In the car, Gigi informed me, "I don't want everyday hot chocolate." I was confused until she explained that she wanted it with whipped cream and marshmallows and everything.

As we walked in she told me "I really like the thick snow, Mommy."

Yes, this is the girl who does not want to go to swimming lessons because of "THE BOB." In the bathtub, there is no fear of her head being under water (as seen in this picture).

She had a bad dream quite a long time ago in which cousin Lily went down the drain at the bottom of a swimming pool. Daddy jumped in with his shoes on, but could not get Lily. This dream seems to be the source of many new "hole" fears - which includes most drains, manholes, toilets, and a hole in the wall where the radiator pipe comes in. She sites this as a reason she cannot go into the bathrooom alone.

SNOW DAY!

FINALLY! After much waiting and weather-hype which did not come to pass, Cincinnati got some real snow accumulation! The new rainbow sled was ready for its first ride. John and Genevieve were joined by Andrea and Rye for sledding at Burnet Woods by the fountain. Gigi had as much fun pulling the sled as riding it.

Seed Boy

Today, in Genevieve's weekly Musikgarten class, Miss Amanda (her teacher) started to tell us about a dance invented when she was a child (The Twist). For the Alabama called "Do, Oh, Do, Oh," the class did a rendition of The Twist.

First, we stood in a circle holding hands and then followed the directions in the song. One of the moms, in addition to her 3 year old daughter, laid her 6 month old boy, Jackson, in the middle of our circle. As we were circling left and circling right and "shake them 'simmons down" bending and twisting to the floor; Genevieve said "Look! It's Baby Jesus", referring to baby Jackson. We all busted out laughing; thinking of The Wise Men circling around Jesus doing The Twist.


At bedtime, Daddy and Gigi tried a new book. It was a Babar story about Isabelle the Flower Girl. Genevieve announced that she too was a flower girl "at this wedding." She told Daddy he was "Seed Boy." hhhmmmmm... She gave him a seed (a real one at that) and explained that if he planted it in her garden, she would grow out of it.

Rocket to Mars?

Genevieve built a couple of rocket-ships today. I got in BIG trouble when I took a picture. "But mommy! It's not here!" I was confused. I explained that I wanted to take a picture of the rocketship. She repeated, "But mommy! It's not here!" She paused and repeated very slowly, "It's...not...heeeee--errrrre." OOO000h, I finally understood. So I asked where the rocketship was. "At Daddy's place." Of course.

Genevieve and Lily built "nests" tonight. We found her sleeping in it.

Swimming Lesson @ UC

Genevieve attended her first official swim lesson as a preschooler. She was pleasantly surprised when Isabella (a favorite classmate from school) was also in her class! The pool is zero depth entry which helped reduce her anxiety. It was a fairly basic first class: kicking, blowing bubbles ...

First Ballet Class

One of Gigi's library friends(Adelle)invited us to attend her ballet class for 3 year olds. Genevieve was very excited to attend. She wore her new tutu (even though we told her that the other kids in the class would only be wearing a leotard). Gigi didn't care -- she was wearing her tutu! The class had about 7 little girls -- sooo adorable. Genevieve was very attentive and serious throughout; probably because one of her favorite books is Angelina Ballerina (who takes her lessons very seriously). Gigi was asked if she wanted to continue with ballet lessons and we received a resounding YES!

C'est La Vie, Gigi

Grammy, Mommy, Daddy and Gigi saw on the bigscreen at AMC - Newport, the movie BOLT! This was Gigi's second bigscreen movie. Daddy gave her an A- for behavior and for staying in her seat -- no disappearing up to row G this trip. She thoroughly enjoyed refilling her own popcorn cup umpteen times, "she's a big girl " as mommy and daddy like to say. It was a wonderful movie that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. On our way out, we ran into Gigi's friend Ava without her parents, a very confusing context. When Ava left, Gigi cried because she wanted to be with Ava, but Ava was with two other little friends. C'est la vie, Gigi!

Whatever Floats Your Boat

At the Happen Inc. Art Studio, Gigi and Mommy made paper sailboats using crayons and tape as the sealant to keep water out, with a stick for the mast and a paper sail. Genevieve named hers "The Actual Steamboat" and Mommy's was "The Genevieve." Gigi preferred the "orange with pink flower-power" sail Mommy madeto her own, so she took it. The boats were raced at the "marina". Captain Gigi won the first race, Captain Kara the second, and Captain Gigi tied in her last race - which seemed unbelievable to the grown-ups in the room. Most of the races were neck and neck - very exciting!

Swim Class

Today Gigi decided Mommy was the swimming teacher and brought some friends to class. She complimented my nice pool (the living room floor, I guess). She introduced them - Rudolph, Greenie (doubles as a security blanket), Daisy, my puppy(everygigirainbow?), and Bee-it, the hippo.

I asked her about the unicorn, was he a friend too? No, she said - just a table.

She asked me to take their picture.

Ending the Holiday Season with a Show

Aunt Sharon's Christmas treat for Genevive was a trip to the Ensemble Theatre to see their

production of Alice In Wonderland. Gigi, Grammy, Sharon, and Daddy ended up in a front row seat! Genevieve was attentive throughout the show and had a special treat afterwards; a picture with Alice (her favorite in the show).



She told Alice that her tights and Alice's dress matched -- never short for words! This production was as good as any on Broadway -Tweedledum is a friend of Grammy's and visited with us after the show as well.

Grandma gave Kara a beautiful pop-up book awhile ago of Alice In Wonderland, which Genevieve is thoroughly enjoying (with adult supervision of course).

Happy New Year!

We went to visit Grammy to say "Happy New Year" and let Gigi open Grammy's Christmas gift (A World of Adventure game by Haba) which promises many hours of fun. We visited the ducks briefly.

A place called "the Beach Waterpark" hardly seems like the place for a holiday event, but since we had free tickets, we gave it a try. It was a pleasant surprise. We met Aunt Kristen, Lily and Alex there. The first thing we saw was a water slide converted to the "Cool Runnings" toboggan ride. Right away, we convinced the girls to do it before they could change their minds. Kristen and Alex watched. WOW - what a thrill-ride! Kristen reported that Genevieve looked terrified. By the time we hit the straw-stopper, she was laughing. Lily did great too, but neither girl wanted to do it again.

We also rode a carrousel, hung out at the North Pole petting corral, and rode the Penguin Arctic paddle boat along the lazy river (which Alex declared as his favorite). Genevieve complained the entire ride that her seat was not sparkly. Ugh.