The Jumpy Friend

Yesterday, the last day of spring break, felt more like the last day of summer vacation. With the crazy, mixed up winter weather we've been having, it felt more like summer. Yesterday, it ended up being 81 degrees here in east central Iowa!! Ugh. I thought we were heading into spring!

(To tell you the truth, I haven't been enjoying summer's early appearance. While I absolutely love the sunshine, the heat and humidity combination? Well, it just sucks. I'll take southern New Mexico's high temps and 7% humidity any day!! If there's one weather-related condition I complain about, it's the heat/humidity combination. I will never (or very rarely) complain about cold temps, snow, frost, or anything like that. I may complain a bit about wind and ice, but that's just because they make driving unpleasant/dangerous. The one thing I really do NOT like? Humidity. Especially with rising temps. Just warning you, the "season" that I, ahem, may start complaining about the weather has started. However, it's also the season I typically want to become a "storm chaser"! Hahaha!)

Anyway, since it was sunny and such beautiful spring weather hot out, we decided to get outside and get some exercise. Livie rode her bike, and I walked.

Can't complain about sunshine and blue skies!!

And while we were out, Livie got really excited about something we saw. See, she likes to occasionally watch Curious George on PBS Kids. There's a recurring "character" on that show, and his name is "Jumpy Squirrel." Livie thinks he's so cute (as is George), so she calls every squirrel, "Jumpy Squirrel." Yesterday, we just so happened to see "Jumpy Squirrel."

Since I had my camera with me, she insisted we stop and get some photos. I got a few before he scampered away. She was SO excited about the photos, by the way! She loved that he "posed" for the photos.

Spring Break Adventures Part III

Okay, here are the final photos from our spring break trip.

Monday evening included dinner at P.F. Chang's. Yummo. (I had an "Asian Pear Mojito" with my Chang's Spicy Chicken - both were delish!!) Liv had the kids' chicken with "sweet and sour" dipping sauce and a Shirley Temple beverage (the first time she'd ever had one). She loved that it was fizzy and pink!

Monday evening, Abuelita and Livie pose with the big P.F. Chang horse.

Tuesday morning included breakfast with Abuelita at the Cracker Barrel. It was Livie's idea to go here, and we appreciated the good idea. Livie had blueberry pancakes, while Abuelita and I each had pecan pancakes.

Before we'd left, Livie insisted on looking through the store. She'd ended up begging me for a stuffed animal lamb. Since she has a TON of stuffed animals at home, I'd said "no, not this time." She then asked me to take a picture of the particular lamb she'd wanted since she couldn't take the actual toy with her.

Here's the photo she wanted, since she wasn't able to get the actual stuffed animal.

Back to the house we went so we could gather our things and say goodbye before hitting the road.

Livie poses with her grandmother and great-grandmother before we left.

Of course, since Livie was a bit sad about leaving, I promised her we'd stop and get a treat at Caribou Coffee before heading out. Okay, she got a chocolate milk; Mama got the iced coffee. She likes stopping at Caribou because there are a couple of her "bear friends" who hang out there.

Livie and her bear friend and a cold chocolate milk. Mmmm!

Of course, we also had to stop at the "germ pit" (a.k.a. the kids' play area) at the nice mall. I wanted her to get the "wigglies" spent before we had to drive  2.5 hours home. Plus, we were able to get lunch in the food court (and use clean bathrooms) before starting our drive.

Yay! Blue skies!

She had to pose while playing.

Posing (again) for the camera.

I'm just glad we had good weather (though it was a bit windy at times, out in the open farmland).

The typical Iowa view on the drive east on I-80.

Spring Break Adventures Part I

Okay, I know I haven't been around lately. That's because Livie and I are both on Spring Break (fortunately the University's break coincided with Livie's elementary school's break). We headed to my parents' house for a few days; it was time for Livie to spend some time with her grandparents and great-grandmother, Oma.

And when I head to their house, I usually just bring my tablet. It's hard (and time consuming) having to  peck the touch screen with just two fingers, so I refrain from writing blog posts.

Anyway, here are a few photos from the beginning of Spring Break.

Iowa City on my last day of classes (Thursday March 8) .

I-80, heading west toward Des Moines.

Farm land, late winter.

Common Iowa scenery.

Livie reads to her great-grandmother, Oma.

Oma poses for a photo.

Oma tries tickling Livie. Livie moves a little too fast, though.

The remaining photos will be coming soon!