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.