Our last morning in Arizona

 Listening to the sea shell.  Can you hear the ocean?

 Our last morning in Arizona, and finally a great picture of Elena, Grandma and Grandpa.  Sad to leave, but until next time...

On another note, the new Tucson is doing well.  We averaged 28mpg going up to Prescott and 29.5 coming back down.  Over the 350 mile trip, altitude climbs 4,000 feet.  I snapped this photo while we were going downhill near a town...it was great to see 43mpg.

Memorial Day

Elena saying hi to Great Grandpa Grossi.  Notice her headband?  She requested to wear it, so cute when she does something with her hair.  She won't let me do anything except comb it.

 Elena and Great Grandpa Newman having fun playing with her animals.  Playing with animals and blankets is fairly new to Elena.  She picked it up just before 25 months.

 Elena was happy, I just didn't get that photo.  I had two cameras, I think she might have been done taking photos.  But she had fun playing with Great Grandma and Grandpa Newman.

 Ah, there is a cute smile...and look at those big feet!!

 More play time with Great Grandpa!

 This is such a cute dress.  Thanks, cousin Maggie, for the hand-me down!

 Buttons are still a big interest to Elena...

And she loves to be tickled.  Sometimes she even asks to be tickled.  It was so cute to see Great Grandpa Grossi having so much with Elena!

Reading Time in Arizona

 Have I mentioned in any of my posts that Elena loves to read?  Well if you haven't picked up on this favorite activity, here are just a few moments of Elena reading with Great Grandma (above), Grandpa and Grandma (in the pictures below).

 And a pinch of flower smelling...we don't just stop to smell the roses, all flowers are adored.

 Elena wasn't feeling too good, as you can tell she looks a bit hammered.  She is teething and possible compounded with a head cold.  Teething has never been a good time for us.  Mark the calendar, her first 2 year molar broke skin during our Arizona visit.

"I Howl, I Growl" is a book from Grandma and Grandpa about the animals and critters living in the Southwest.  Elena enjoys reading it and making the animal noises.  During our drive, we stopped for a potty break (we did use pull ups during the drive for naps, but Elena kept it dry except for nap times).  We brought her little potty, popped the trunk (small suv hatch back), shifted our bags and set Elena down on her potty.  We began reading the book when she looked up and realized we were surrounded by cactus which was also in her book.  She was so excited.  I think she talked about the cactus for an hour after we were back on the road again.

Pool Time!

 Friday we drove to Arizona in the new car.  It was a much better ride than the old Pontiac.  The weather was hot when we drove over, hardly played at our half way point park.  The swing seats were too hot to sit on (who thought it was a good idea to make baby bucket seats black and put them in the desert with no shade?).  And the slides were missing--a bit disappointing but it was really hot (near 100) so we packed back in the car and ate on the go.  Elena was a great trooper on the 7 hour drive.  We also recently flipped her car seat from rear facing to forward facing in the new car.  She loves riding this way and will say "wheeeee" as we pick up speed.

 Did I mention the weather was hot?  Saturday morning (as in 9am) we suited up and were down at the pool spending time in the water, the temperature was perfect.  Grandma joined us in the pool and taught Elena "motorboat, motorboat" and tried to teach her how to kick.  She'd rather spin her legs in a circle as if she's riding a tricycle.

Grandpa snapped this photo.  We were practicing blowing bubbles and going underwater.  She dunked 4 times before she told me that was enough.  I brought her floaties which tie around her chest not attach to her arms but she didn't like to be confined.  So we let her be free, as the free spirit she is.

Sidewalk Chalk

 These are just a couple cute pictures of Grandma Rae and Elena coloring on the driveway with Elena's Egg Chalk.  Notice Cooper?  This picture is from his perspective.

 Between colorings, Elena ran circles around Grandma

Thought I would throw in another picture of Papa playing with Elena and her new discovery toy.  Grandma and Papa had a wonderful visit and remarked at how well Elena is talking and how good she is doing potty training.  Grandma was able to let Elena feel safe on a big public potty--way to go Grandma!!

More Birthday!

Opening presents always seems to be overwhelming, so this year we spread out Elena's gifts over a week.  She seemed to like this method and for a couple weeks thought everything that came in the mail was for her :)  So here are a few pictures of her opening/checking out gifts:

For those of you who think Elena is too sweet to throw a tantrum...

 

 She can be easily frustrated when toys are still connected and need to be cut apart before she can play with them.  She's two but really the tantrums are far and few between (so far).

A yummy vanilla cake with strawberries AND frosting.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Dear Elena, Happy Birthday to you!"

Just being silly!

So happy to open her Dora helmet.  She had no idea a trike was coming next!

She loves her trike and with our hilly neighborhood, I'm glad we got her a trike with a removable parent push bar.  It keeps her on the sidewalk and moving :)

Out for her first joy ride :)

Out for a spin!

Elena still loves her books!!

And the Beach with Grandma and Papa

 It was a cool day at the beach but everyone had a great time!  

Elena ran up and down the beach, dug herself a hole, played catch, and chase me, found a sand dollar, broke the sand dollar and touched the cold ocean water.

Off to the Zoo

 Oh the excitement at the zoo!  I know the picture above is blurry but Elena was so excited to at the zoo, I had to share.

 

 It's hard to believe but Elena is 4 months older than the panda.  She observed him very quietly.

 Here are a couple more pictures of the panda.  

I learned today that the San Diego Zoo has the only naturally mating Giant Panda in the US.

 Another excitement were the flamingos.  She loved them and didn't want to leave.  Lucky for her there are two areas in the zoo with flamingos.  She is so cute when excited--she liked to point out all the different birds and ducks.

 Here she is being bashful with the Koala.

 Elena preferred climbing on and sliding down the hippo statue, she didn't want to watch the real baby hippo.  Although big, he really is cute.  It was a busy day at the zoo and everyone had a nice time.

Update on potty training:  Elena does not like to wear diapers anymore--she wants to wear her panties.  However, the zoo doesn't have restrooms at every corner, so it could be difficult to take a little girl learning how to potty train in panties so we talked her into diapers.  I am happy to report that Elena kept her diaper dry.  With a little hesitancy, she used a big toilet when we stopped for lunch and then again when we came home.  Yay for big girls!!

2nd Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday, Elena!

 Elena was so excited to have "cake"--that we've spread out her birthday.  At school she brought mini-blueberry muffins (aka blueberry cake).  With the leftovers, we had one after dinner--just happen to have a couple of candles.  It was so cute to see her blow the candles.  Her aim was a little low and Daddy ended up helping.

Toys??