Cats and dogs and family

I decided to go visit my family in MN over the past weekend (plus a few days) since I won't be traveling for either Thanksgiving or Christmas this year.  We stopped in Chicago to pick up Donna on the way there and drop her off on the way back.  Donna and her roommate, Margaret, got two new cats recently so Fiona had a fun time trying to pet them and play with them.  Lucy was much more tolerant of Fiona's attention than Molly, who mostly avoided Fiona.

The Cat Dancer

We got to MN on Friday evening, and I went to meet some friends for dinner so Fiona hung out with Donna and Grandma Rose creating gluing projects and putting together a new puzzle.  While Donna was cutting shapes out she asked Fiona what shape she wanted, and when Fiona replied "a hexagon" Donna was a bit surprised!  Fiona also glued leaf shapes, ghosts, a scarecrow and some pumpkins.  She even drew the faces on them.

Gluing on the scarecrow's shirt 

Adding glue for her leaves

Drawing a face on the witch

 Admiring her creations

Nice work on the puzzle, Fiona and Donna!

Saturday was a busy day of visiting.  First we met my godparents for breakfast at Perkins, and then, after a short stop back at Leo's to let the dogs out and play a little, we went to my cousin Joleen's to see some of my aunts and cousins (and go to her Tupperware party).  Joleen also has a cat, Cuckoo, that Fiona liked petting, and my cousin Doug and his wife Jill brought their 1.5 year old son, Gavin, so Fiona had another playmate (sort of).  Joleen also has a rocking elephant that Fiona really liked.  So much that she even taught me how to ride it.

Breakfast at Perkins with Bob and Joyce

Time to dance like a ballerina

Riding Ellie the Elephant at Joleen's

Teaching me how to ride Ellie

Fiona like petting Cuckoo

Sunday we hung out with Leo and Tracy, playing with the dogs and going to the playground.  We also practiced dancing like a ballerina, sang songs (Fiona taught everyone a new version of "Twinkle, Twinkle" and she was on a "Sunshine" kick during the trip), and traced with markers and played with a puzzle that Grandma Rose had in her "grandma kit."

Fetch Emma! 

The dogs are used to little kids and were very patient with Fiona while we were playing fetch

Trying out the tummy method of swinging 

Back to the traditional way

Throwing rocks, sand, leaves, and even a small log (stick) in the lake 

 Wonder what was so funny...

Fiona was a great traveler, even when it was just the 2 of us between Chicago and Ohio.  I learned on this trip that her favorite color is pink and she likes cats better than dogs.