Austen Famous Rodey

Austen's really getting the hang of letters. She see letters and associates them with words begginning with them. "A is for Apple. A is for Austen." "T is for Tiger." "S is for star." Her interest in the alphabet used to be only the song, now she's starting to associate letters with objects.

Computers and electronics from the Rodey side of the family, but from the Famous side of the family...

Today Austen figured out, on her own, how to lock and unlock the bathroom door, then she demonstrated this for Mommy.

Daily, she does chemistry experiments with paper, water, plastic bottles and food. She's learned that she HATES when Dada dumps water on her head. "Silly Dada! How could you?"

Somehow (???) Austen discovered that there's a camera watching her in her bedroom. When she wants Mommy, she stands on her nightstand and talks up into the camera. Neither Mama or Dada ever explicitly showed her how the video baby monitor works. She just figured it out.

Austen and Dada began a planting experiment today. We planted seeds of two different perenial flowers in an egg & cardboard carton and plan to raise them indoors and transplant them outdoors when ready. Let the fun begin.

Nick & Ellen, Shane & Veronica, Nancy & Connor (and Avery), Dara & Gabbie (and Zachary), Austen & Lucinda enjoyed a morning outside playing with outdoor toys and jumping in the jumpy castle.

When we can't go out, we head for the playroom!







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The whole family got together to do home improvement projects at Auntie Janet's condo in Bel Air, Maryland. Morgan, Emma and Erin were there with their parents, as was Auntie Heather and Cousin Connie. Austen traveled to Maryland with just Mama, so it was a difficult trip. Both missed Dada but slept well at the Best Western in Edgewood and got to eat crab. Unfortunately, there was no chocolate birthday cake, which for Austen is a requisite part of any birthday celebration.

Austen hasn't been waking up at night for weeks now. A first of her life.

Is this an excited greeting for Dada?


Nope. It's for choco-meeka!

Austen and Dada spent the day in Queens, NY visiting Grandma Mindy, Grandpa and Chacha; Mama got a chance to leisurely walk throughout Metuchen during the annual yard sale event.

After returning from their recent trip to India, Grandma Mindy dressed Austen up in some of her new dresses and bracelets. Austen came down showing off each one and emphasizing how pretty each dress was by saying, "this is so pretty."

Dada and Chacha went to play tennis indoors and discovered how out of shape they are; both were pretty tired when the got home but Austen was treated with a rainbow flavored icey from the well-known Lemon Ice King of Corona.

Then, Grandma Mindy and Dada took Austen to a nearby park, followed by stop at a local pizzeria, where Austen ate an entire large slice; she was hungry!

Mommy bought Austen an over-the-door clear plastic shoe hanging system. Now Austen likes to open her closet door, look up at all the shoes, and even take one or two out to admire them, talking about how pretty they are. Thanks to Auntie Heather for all the beautiful shoes!

Austen played at a local Metuchen park today with a LOT of her friends. They played soccer, went down slides, played in the sand pit, played on the swings, ran around, spun on the spinning thingy, bounced on the 4-way see-saw and more! It was a very exciting park visit!

Spinning:


Soccer:

Austen loves her Art 2 class with Ms. Liz. Every week, Austen gets to paint, have some cookies (snack), listen to a book reading (even though she usually doesn't pay attention), and create various art projects using play dough, sparklies, glue, cutouts or other items. She then brings them home and shows off her creations to Dada. Dada loves to hear Austen's explanations of what she made and how she did it during class.





Austen's not usually so interested in the book reading session.

"Sail Ho!" --> "Sam Ho!"
"Hello, me hearties!" --> "Hello Hotties!"

Chacha shows Austen some moves while we eat lunch at Tinga.

Austen, Emma and Erin went shopping with Auntie Heather at the Westchester Mall. Along with shoes & clothes shopping, they also purchased sunglasses and sun hats, in preparation for upcoming beach trips.

We enjoyed lunch at PF Chang's and had some chocolate Godiva eggs for dessert.









Dada got caught up in a game of Ring Around The Rosie.






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Austen had a blast at Kid Junction. Along with Timmy & Sam, Austen went on the car ride, played with the oversized light bright, shopped at the pretend grocery store, played skee ball and air hockey, and climbed in the indoor tunnel system.



Sometimes, you have to level the playing field.


Checking out at the grocery store.




Playing air hockey with Sam.


Monster-sized light bright set!


Riding in the police car.

Austen, Aaron, and Sam joined forces to stomp the monkeys, oblivious of any other mall-goers.

Austen organized her toys in a line stretching down the hallway.





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