We have now lived in our new home for two months! In that time we've done lots of fun things. I feel kind of like we're "visitors" here, and we have this tourist mind set of seeing and doing everything this city has to offer. It's not a bad thing, I wish we had that more in Texas, but with Steven gone working so much and it being just me and my little buddy, we're living it up exploring all the fun things we can find! The fact that we're only here for a year pins this sense of urgency to the task as well, so no festival or event can be brushed aside just because "we can always do it next year". Nope! One shot at this Carmel fun, so if it looks fun and works for us we are going! We're regular party animals. (Don't tell Ryan, but I'm trying to fit in lots of fun before new baby girl and winter come and he's stuck inside...)
Here's a few fun things we have enjoyed so far!
Connor Prairie
An awesome outdoor historical museum that shows the history of Indiana, with displays about the Indians, a little petting farm, and cool presentations/shows. Ryan loved this cool wooden boat that was a replica of how the local tribes would make them. He sat there pushing the oar back and forth saying "bo-boat! bo-boat!". I think that and petting the goats was his favorite part.
Little splash pad at connor prairie. :)
Playgrounds and Parks
There is a little playground with a slide outside the front of our apartment that Ryan likes to throw wood chips down. You can tell here he is dying to throw them! That sneaky face!
We love slides!
There are a ton of gorgeous outdoor parks that remind me a lot of American Fork Canyon- a beautiful escape from the busy world. Pretty trails and streams are some of my FAVORITE things. Love gorgeous nature, and Indiana's got a lot of it.
10 minutes from our house are these pretty trails and this fun stream! In Texas we had to drive an hour or more to get somewhere like this!
We try to go on walks on all these pretty trails, but lately Ryan is not happy with just sitting in the stroller, he wants to get out and run! He loves to just take off and run. He looks like he's about to fall over any second, with his arms and legs flopping around- it's so adorable.
Swinging at the park- we had to send a hello to daddy while he was working. :)
This park has a cool rock hill that you can climb on. Ryan liked jumping off and having me catch him. So, in this picture you can clearly see his thoughts are "Mom! Stop taking pictures and catch me!!!". It was also naptime, so we were a tad sensitive. :)
Sand!
We put a tupperware of sand on our back porch and made our own little ghetto sand box. Makes us feel like we're at the beach!
Puddle Jumping
It rains almost every other day, and it forms this little stream in front of our apartment that is SO fun to run through!
Indianapolis Temple
We get to live 10 minutes from the Indianapolis LDS Temple! For my not Mormon friends, this is a big deal! There are usually one or two temples in a state, and usually it's at least an hour or two drive to get to one. It's like a really special church where you feel so close to God, and always feel so spiritually rejuvenated whenever you visit. So having one close and being able to visit more often than once or twice a year is a huge blessing that brings so much peace to our little family! I'm very grateful for temples!
Touch A Truck Event
They have this event multiple times a summer where they get all these trucks, racecars, busses, police cars and such and let kids touch them! They can climb in the drivers seat, honk the horns, touch the wheels, everything these little toddlers have ever dreamed of! They had this little area with toy cars and trucks too, and that's where Ryan wanted to hang out. Kids are so weird- there's a giant fire truck right there for him to climb in touch, and all he wants to do is drive little plastic cars on a mat with 10 other kids! Whatever makes him happy I guess!
Driving an Indy Car
Ryan's First Theater Movie!
We love Finding Nemo, and figured it was about time Ryan got to see a movie in the theater! So we took him to Finding Dory and he loved it. He was mesmerized by the giant TV and I was really surprised he wasn't scared by the sound. It was a success!
Taylor's Bakery
Finding the best treats in Indiana! We went to Taylor's bakery with our buddies the Pillings. Ryan really wanted that smiley cookie! They had amazing donuts too!
Indianapolis Children's Museum
So we loved the kids museum in Fort Worth, but now realize that museum is like a snack size appetizer compared to the Indianapolis one! It's the largest children's museum in the world, and has like 5 floors with different exhibits. It's incredible. There are these dinosaurs on the outside that look like they are trying to climb in. How fun of an idea is that? When we're driving by as soon as he sees the dinosaurs he knows where we are going and freaks out! They have a hot wheels exhibit right now that is right up his alley.
Here's the dinos peeking inside!
And a dinosaur crashing into the other side! :)
Fun times at the museum!
Ryan and our little buddy Alyse climbed up to the top of this leaf/boat playground, and then Ryan got scared and started crying and wouldn't come down. Alyse tried to help, but he just wanted me. So, I, being great with child... as in this is what I look like right now...
...had to climb up there and get him! That kid! I should thank my good ol yoga and pilates that I could even make it up there, but the bowling ball belly sure didn't make it any easier. Anyway, he is no longer allowed on this playground!!!
Toy Trains
The library, Barnes and Noble, the dr's office, and the museum all have little train tables. We are frequenters, and he never gets bored of them! He loves choo choos and anything with wheels.
Horsey
The grocery store close to us, Meijer, has a mechanical horse that is a penny to ride. So every time we go, we have to say hi to the horsey!
Indianapolis Zoo
What an amazing zoo! Here are the stingrays, and a few dog sharks. Our favorite is watching the seals flip around in the water, and being up close to the Orangutans!
Only a piece of glass seperates this little kiddo from this silly monkey! He's practically poking him in the tongue!
Mall Play Places
Of course we have to scout out the best mall play places. We loved the Ridgmar Mall play place in Fort Worth so much, I don't know if any will every compare. Castleton mall has a decent one though, and Ryan had fun climbing on this little piggy.
Playing at Home
Playing with cars at home never gets old for him. Right here we had just picked him up out of the bathtub and he ran away straight into his room and sat down with his two trucks. He was in a hurry to get to his cars! Sorry Ryan- too cute to not take this nakey picture! Cute little nakey bum.
4th of July
Steven got the 4th of July off- lucky us! We went to the Carmel parade, the little kids carnival, and watched fireworks from our front porch at night.
I did the Carmel fest run- last real running during this pregnancy! Girlie is getting too big for me to run now, so we are going to have to enjoy walking for now. If you know me, I don't really like walking, I get bored and I'd rather run. But I can walk for 3 months for this baby girl. :) Ryan did the little kiddie dash that was probably 50 feet and loved it. Like I said, he really likes to run!
Buddies
Ryan and "Cubbie" (Jacob), his little bud around the corner. He has a cool playground in his backyard, and a brother and 2 sisters that all play together really well! We love their family and are grateful to have found some good friends.
Bike
We found a ryan-sized bike, and it's awesome.
Well that's the highlights of our last two months! I've been trying to take more pictures so we can actually remember all our adventures. I realize they are all of Ryan, but he's my best little buddy and the person I hang out with 24/7, so I love pictures of him! He's been so happy here and is talking so much and growing like a champ!
