WELL, WE HAD.....

Ty again this weekend. (If you pay attention, you'll notice that we have her about every other weekend.) Today we went to eat lunch at the new Chinese buffet. I usually get hot tea. There's something about drinking tea out of those little cups with no handles that is just so.........Chinese! Ty was very interested in my hot tea. She dipped her finger in it a couple of times and then decided that she'd like a sip. She declared it "delicious"!

(Yes, she is actually drinking hot tea through a straw. By the time she got to it, it was merely tepid. LOL)

IS IT JUST ME OR.....

does this little gal look like a human Barbie doll?

I HAD TO GO.....

to a doctor's appointment in Bloomington today.....at 8:15 in the A.M.! Which means I had to get up BEFORE the buttcrack of dawn. It just so happened that Tylie stayed all night with us last night. She's not a morning person, either. She was an angel today, tho. We had already discussed stopping at Wal-Mart to spend her birthday money from Grandma Walton. She finally talked about something that she really wanted.....not just a vague "toy".....a Barbie Pop-out Camper. Because I had to get her up so early, she fell asleep on the way home. (And, yes, I pulled off the highway to take this picture!)

WE HAD A VERY NICE.....

couple of days this past weekend. Tylie came Saturday a little after noon. We played all afternoon and then went out to eat Saturday evening. Of course, we engaged in the obligatory trip to Wal-Mart. Earlier in the day, she and I had decided that we didn't like the gum in the gumball machine. SHE wanted to put strawberries in it. I thought that perhaps we should stick with something smaller and not so prone to rot. I suggested either M&Ms or jellybeans. She chose jellybeans. She also helped me dust a bit and decided that she wanted a swiffer duster to use in her bedroom. So we started a list. On the list was: jellybeans, strawberries (she just wouldn't give up), juice, a toy (duh) and a swiffer duster. We ate at Ponderosa and she yelled "Hi" at everyone who walked past our table.

The next morning, we went to church. And then came home to kill some time before we headed to Bloomington. We had decided to take her to the children's museum up there. We left home in time to eat lunch before the museum opened. Cracker Barrel sounded good to us. Naturally, we had to wait to get in and spent the time enjoying the wonderful weather and the rocking chairs.

The museum was great. She ran from one thing to another and then back again for two solid hours.

There were two stories in the museum and an elevator to use. Believe it or not, she seemed to be MOST excited about riding in the elevator. We made SEVERAL trips up and down.

While we were there, some folks put on a demonstration of Korean percussion instruments. They explained about what the different instruments were, the Korean name for them, how they sounded and what element of the weather they represented.

There were two drums and two gongs.

They were VERY loud and Tylie spent the whole time with her left ear pressed against my shoulder and my left hand pressed against her right ear. She didn't want to listen but she watched the whole thing.

The last thing she did before we left was to make a drum. There were some students there from Bloomington North High School Japan Club helping the little kids. Ty colored the plates and then the students put them together.

It was a GREAT day. The only way it could have been any better was if there had been FOUR little girls with us instead of one.

THERE WAS A GORGEOUS.....

full moon Sunday night.

Here's a bit of trivia for you about the November full moon: Nov. 2, 2:14 p.m. EST -- Full Beaver Moon. Now it is time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Full Moon come from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter. This is also called the Frosty Moon, and as this is also the next full moon after the Harvest Moon, it can also be referred to as the Hunters' Moon. With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it is time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox, also other animals, which have come out to glean and can be caught for a thanksgiving banquet after the harvest.