Tag Archives: Mom

October 6th, 2018

October 6, 2018 shreffler

After morning plans changed, it seemed like just the right cloudy, autumn morning for a movie at the zoo’s IMAX theatre. Not only was this Eleanor’s first non-sleeping-infant movie experience, the concept of 3D glasses was especially perplexing

It’s like it’s coming right at me… ready.

Dad may have been a sucker while running out the clock in the gift shop before the movie seated. Des introduces his new Nemo to real-life Dory

The littlest fishy, getting taller

Deep

Rewatching Finding Dory for the umpteenth time, much to dad’s approval. No you’re crying…

September 28th, 2018

September 28, 2018 shreffler

A quick reading of “That’s not my kitten, it’s paws are too rough” before bedtime

September 23rd, 2018

September 23, 2018 shreffler

After a hotel room picnic breakfast, it was time for swimsuits and the most invigorating morning swim ever. Mostly docking in the jacuzzi, there were a few adrenaline junkie excursions to the main and kiddie pools

Future deep marine explorer Eleanor doesn’t seem to mind

Out for the annul classic car show. On the hunt for Mustangs and before the defeating search for any non-deep-fried-dessert vegetarian food option.

Mom’s resourceful idea to source a few slices of Casey’s cheese pizza provided the foundation of the late lunch picnic

Desmond further testing heights, summits the playground dome eerily reminiscent of dad’s (and aunt Kellie’s) elementary school

Today, Eleanor appears to be pro-swing (it varies)

On the drive home, naps are had by all (but dad)

Cause what could be the proper end scene of a 20-hour road trip? A visit to Surfside for Aunt Megan’s birthday was (unexpectedly easy and) enjoyable

When your order for corn fritters is still waiting, you apparently practice tossing rocks towards the river

Des quickly finds the bounce house (cause that’s apparently permanent?)

Eleanor and Ol’ Monkey Butt

Des catching a peek at the evening’s special birthday treat

Waiting the requisite six full minutes before engaging in gravity-jarring, nausea-inducing fun of bouncing uncontrollably…

AppleJack Festival 2018

September 22, 2018 shreffler

After a week of dad leaving ransom-note like daily clues, it was finally revealed that Team Llama would be heading to Nebraska City for the 50th annual AppleJack Festival. After a successfully on-time departure with some bagels for the car ride,

The annual orchard pilgrimage to fetch a medium-sized bag of apples has also been a nice opportunity for a few family photos:

When Pa’s not around to pull the wagon, you gotta pull your share (of a near-empty wagon)

It’s important to understand that each subsequent photo of Eleanor consuming an apple are all different fruit at a ratio of one-to-three to those not-pictured partials starts

Des presenting his most recent “flower” find, mere seconds from the prior (and so forth)

A quick pitstop at the pumpkin patch

[Llama household, ca. Sept 18: near daily reading]
Thistle: “Have you checked the pumpkin patch?”
Duck & Goose: “The WHAT?!”

Undaunted by physical appearance, Eleanor would attempt a lunge for any pumpkin- regardless of weight

Little Ella on the Prairie

Ok, let’s pull together

As a recently confident high stepper, Eleanor immediately infers the gameplay of this part of the playground

“Hop!”

With an early check-in to the lodge, it was the perfect second-story window view for a picnic

Narrator: We now pause for a message from our sponsors-

Des gazes out upon the east orchard, or he’s the admiring the (clearly dead) bug still attached to the extended window sill. Who knows.

Des digs in to his share of the apple pie à la mode

Eleanor cocoons peacefully into the hammock

Explore explores his comfort of heights atop a large rope-spiderweb

And high up a cardinal perch

Plant trees…

…raise children

Eleanor Shreffler, intrepid walker of long distances

Dad’s “it’s cool, we’ll wing it” approach to pizza sourcing and resource management resulted in even a Pizza Hut carryout order pushing dinner timelines well beyond normal. Desmond has his first drive-through food experience to fuel the chips-and-guac requirements for a car DJ chip party, and before you knew it, the pizza was ready.

With the beyond-overtired little sister zonked out (rodeo’d down?) for the night, there was still time for a late-night swim

September 15th, 2018

September 15, 2018 shreffler

Sunrise after campout #1. Desmond and dad go hunting for donuts for sister.

Just pursuing some periodicals after breakfast

Morning trip to children’s museum, ahoy!

Slinging a few slices

Blanket ALL the things

Des checks mom’s cheek (for something)

Nailed it.

Ok, maybe she’s into dolls

While her lower half is soaked from water play, dad gets the traditional fruit sorting picture for comparison

Des pulling on a Newton’s cradle constructed with bowling balls

The faster you spin the platform, the stronger the water tornado

Milliseconds before lost grip and control of her emotions :/

Dad’s best attempt at face painting. Not too shabby.

In the construction room, each child lives out their fantasies

Des hammers and screws to his heart’s content

Eleanor let’s it rip and yanks off a few dozen feet off tape. Bliss.

That’s one arm around her llama

September 14th, 2018

September 14, 2018 shreffler

Des conversing with Braveheart, with dad’s new midi controller

Eleanor runs up at daycare, excited to show dad the stick she found

Desmond’s first practice camping trip in the new downstairs jungle (complete with campfire-scented candle and forest/frog background noises). Time to set up the sleeping gear-

All ready

Of course sister has to join in the fun as well

Although she was really concerned when walking upstairs the frog noises stopped. “Where froggy go?” “I think maybe the froggies went to sleep, Ella” “OK”

To complete the experience, mom busts out a white elephant gift from a few years back- an indoor s’mores maker. While the equivalent of cooking over a warm lightbulb, mom eventually got some marshmallows softened.