As the summer days draw to a close, we are lucky enough to spend a few hours enjoying Vermont's beautiful weather and landscape! Yesterday we took a trip to Shelburne Farm with Eva, Will and Minna. We boarded the tractor and took the bumpy road to the beautiful children's farm yard.

Eva managed to catch a few chickens and Alexa thoroughly enjoyed the donkeys once again! Will suggested a walk through the woods, which was an excellent idea as the trail exited us here...

We love all the animals. Alexa timidly approachs them all and once she lays her hand on them she quickly turns and runs giddily back to me so proud of her accomplishment!

The baby goats were a different story. Alexa sat outside their pen and stroked their heads gently for several minutes.

Yesterday was great...everybody had a wonderful time. I think I'll log off this computer and head over again today! As I post this Alexa points to this photo and says, "hummin bird." Obviously, it is not a hummingbird, but how impressed are you that she can say hummingbird?

I was browsing through some older photos of Alexa and stumbled upon these photos from one year ago...

The end is almost here! Of summer that is! We made our last trip to the beach with "the girls" as their moms, Lisa and Sara, must prepare for the start of another school year. Alexa, Jailee and Anna spent a typical day at the Sand Bar State Park, splashing in the shallow lake water and building castles in the sand. Alexa is growing somewhat more confident in the water after practicing her underwater skills. She knows now to hold her nose and keep her mouth closed. She's not always successful but that doesn't stop her from trying!

We're really going to miss playdates at the beach. This summer started out really wet and we had only a few opportunities to enjoy the "sandbox."

But the Autumn has a lot in store for us too. And the forecast is calling for upper 60's by the end of the week! Goodbye Summer!

Alexa is fascinated with all things horses! It wasn't always this way. You see, about a year ago a dozen or so Morgan horses took up residence across the street from Minna and Ptah's house at Meadowsong Morgan Farm. It was at this time that Alexa was introduced to the awe inspiring world of horses! Fast forward to today....

Alexa is now familiar with all horse related issues. She knows that horses go poop poop, that they wear a saddle and a harness. She knows that a baby foal drinks milk from it's mommy. She knows that they really love eating grass. Sometimes she even tells me that she wants to eat grass! She knows that Jerry and Mary Jane (the owners of Meadowsong) come out to clean and bathe the horses everyday! She knows almost all of their names, Oakleigh, Teddy, Silky, Pecos and baby Chip to name a few!

Alexa loves playing in the "sandbox" officially an indoor riding ring. She thinks it's fun to compare her footprints with those of the horses.

And the excitement doesn't end with the "real" horses, affectionately called "e e's" by Alexa. We have dozens of toys that allow her to explore and create new horse adventures at both our house and Minna and Ptah's house.

It's been really fun having the opportunity to spend time at the horse farm. We've been there nearly everyday this summer!

So, once again due to computer malfunction and such, I am catching up on the past several weeks. On Tuesday, July 28th, Alexa and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the Sand Bar State Park on the islands with good friends, Ashleigh and Emma and their mommies, Heather and Sarah. Minna and Ptah also joined us for some cooling off and playing in the sand.

Ashleigh and Alexa were like little fishies in the water. Emma didn't leave without getting her little piggies wet too!

We spent a week in New Jersey, attended 2 birthday parties, visited Aunt Patty, Uncle Russ, Luanne and cousin Mya, went to the beach, the boardwalk and on rides, and finally swimming in Gramma and Aunt Chrissy's pool. We visited the Clark's just before the "Storm of '09" hit Morris Plains and had a yummy pancake breakfast with Aunt Eileen just before she headed to Vermont of all places for the week!!

We had a really nice time in NJ minus the shiner Alexa had resulting from a greedy mosquito!

Alexa has really been enjoying the discoveries in Minna's garden. Despite the very rainy weather we've endured this summer, the garden continues to produce some yummy delights. Minna and Alexa even baked a zuchinni bread! We've had fresh salads most nights and I made a pizza with fresh basil and chicken! YUMMY!

There have been several "learning moments" recently as well. For example, last night while my back was turned to open some mail, Alexa stepped up her step stool and successfully started one of the burners on the stove. Instantaneously, Alexa began to cry and exclaimed "I scared!" I settled her down and explained to her that the stove is for mommies and daddies to use. This afternoon at Minna's, with Alexa looking on, Minna started the burner. Alexa stated, "I turn. I cry." At least I know she will probably be keeping a safe distance from the stove for a while. In the meantime, I'm going out to buy whatever it is that "babyproofs" stoves/ovens!

Alexa can now tell you how old she is and uses her fingers to show you too! She uses numbers to identify items rather than simply as a exercise in counting. For example, several months ago we had a routine of counting 1-10 at bedtime each night. Now, Alexa will "read" a book and count the number of eggs, for example, on a particular page. She has the funniest way of referring to two items of similarity..."two ones." It really cute when you can actually here her say it! She has been mastering colors recently as well. Red, green and blue are down pat and we continue to work on the others while painting or reading books!