The Adventures of Clover!

Saturday, January 02, 2010

The Castle Game

[As transcribed by Daddy]

So, the plan was to go outside today - you know, take the dog for a much-needed hike, go someplace far away for some honey... anyway, Daddy and Cool Uncle Gareth got kinda "stuck" playing video games, plus the roads outside are slippery and icy, so we decided to put off the hike until another day.

Instead, Daddy and Mommy (mostly Mommy) did a pretty good job cleaning up their room, and Daddy tried to catch the British broadcast of his favourite show. He took me outside briefly so that I could enjoy the falling snowflakes - we had a great time! I played an awesome castle-themed game with Mommy (a present from the family in Montreal), which I can't wait to do again.

We joined Gammy and Grandpa and Nee Nee for a big turkey dinner, which I devoured. Going to bed is tough tonight - I just wanna play that castle game!

Friday, January 01, 2010

The Queen of New Year's Eve

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I had a nice morning today - I hung out with my grandparents, played some video games, and ate some delicious gluten-free oatmeal. I had some delicious leftovers at lunch, and watched Daddy play some video games - I visited briefly with Cool Uncle Gareth, played endlessly with my Whoopee Cushion, and then Mommy and Daddy and I had to go and run a few errands.

We picked up some groceries for tomorrow's big dinner over at the Big Carrot, drove back, and I splashed in the rain with my new boots. Mommy and Daddy re-explained the concept of New Year's Eve, so I decided to put on a big gown, my tiara, and as many decorative necklaces I could find - not to mention a pair of Gammy's shoes - so that I could become 'The Queen of New Year's Eve'.

Mommy and Daddy and I went over to Lisa and Matt's place for dinner, which was lovely ... I played with Leo and his friend Avery. It was fun for all of the parents to see how late us kids could stay up before things got too "Lord of the Flies'-ish. They ended up doing a fakeout New Year's countdown just after 10 before we went home. Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 31, 2009

My Family fell into the Goo!

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Well, I think my cold seems to be getting better! I had a pretty low-key day of playing in my room, playing video games on the computer, and visiting with whomever will pay me any attention. My folks also took it easy - they were gonna do stuff, but got stuck watching some cooking show marathon on television.

After Cool Uncle Gareth came home from a visit with GG, we took him out to the new sporting goods store to buy some boots. Daddy and I both stocked up on new footware, and then we all got some tea.

I tried to play a quiz show video game with Daddy and Gareth, but cried when my character got dumped in a vat of goo. When Daddy's did also, I ran to Mommy, becasue "My Family fell into the Goo!" Mommy's massive roast beef dinner made me feel better.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Stayin' in my Jammies

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I woke up this morning to discover that Cool Uncle Gareth was around - I went over to Gammy and Grandpa's place and clung to him! He's awesome and so much fun - unfortunately he's getting pretty sick (Mommy's illness is getting worse, Daddy is getting much better), so he's not able to keep up with me.

I asked Mommy if I could keep my jammies on today - she was cool with that. She helped me set up my new dollhouse in my bedroom as I wore my new tutu as well. I played a weird cat-stacking game on Cool Uncle Gareth's iPhone (I'm really good at it!) as well as some other video games with Gareth and Daddy (when he wasn't taking the car back to the rental place).

I went over to Gammy and Grandpa's place while my folks went out to stock up on groceries - Grandpa read to me, which was nice. Mommy came back and made an awesome dinner - I watched Jeopardy! with Gareth and Daddy before bed. Getting read was easy - I didn't have to change into my jammies, since I was already wearin' em'.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Buffalo Blizzard

[As transcribed by Daddy]

We left Altoona at a pretty good hour this morning, having endured something of a light snowfall in the night. Mommy's cold might be getting worse, so she tried to take it easy for most of the drive. For the most part, the drive was pretty quiet, aside from getting stuck behind slow-moving trucks in the Allegheny mountains...

...until we hit Buffalo. Suddenly, we were hit by a MAJOR blizzard, and barely managed to crawl our way through the city. There was about a foot of visibility, a foot of unplowed snow on the interstate (and no snow tires on the rental car), and loads of traffic. It was kinda scary - Daddy doesn't think he's ever had to drive in those conditions before in his life. The blizzard was so bad that the border guard couldn't even make out who was in the car. He missed Basil entirely! See the photo above - Daddy took that photo at the border crossing.

Of course, as soon as we hit St. Catharines, the blizzard (and even the snow) was gone and we made it back home in record time - I was so happy to see Gammy and Grandpa! I was so full of beans it's a miracle I ever eventually fell asleep.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Back to Altoona

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I had a nice morning - Nana snuggled me and read to me once I woke up, which was really nice. I made sure I got in some quality time with her before Mommy and Daddy packed up the car with all of our stuff (loading the trunk with my Christmas loot required someone with Mommy's Tetris skills).

We drove over to Aunt Trina's place, where we hung out with Zoe and Papa and all of their dogs, who kinda drove Daddy crazy (what with his sinus headache) and flung themselves at his midsection like little yappy four-legged crotch-rockets. We did get to walk around the farm and take some awesome pictures.

Next, we drove back to the hotel in Altoona, PA - despite some ridiculously heavy traffic in Virginia (where some people like to drive really really slow on the interstate), we made really good time! We dropped Mommy and Basil off at our room, and then Daddy and I checked out "Lights on the Lake" - a huge, tacky, and tasteless Christmas lights display (I loved it!). The employees there need some serious lessons in customer service - but seeing the gigantic "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! from WENDY'S" sign was totally worth it.

Listening to: The Flaming Lips - The Dark Side of the Moon

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Drawing with Kira

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Today I was back to playing with all of my new Christmas toys (all at the same time, mind you) pretty much right off the bat. Everyone gets a kick out of watching my Batman action figure admonish and defeat my Russian nesting dolls.

My parents braved their illnesses and drove (following Nana and Jim) over to Aunt Trina's place in the mountains - what a lovely view they have, on a fantastic little piece of property! I watched my new Grinch movie with Papa, and then Trina's friend Olga came over with her daughters, Kira and Sam. We played outside a bit, and then came back in, ate a late lunch (early dinner?) that Trina prepared for everyone, and then Kira and I sat down and drew pictures together. She's a really talented artist - I tried to learn as much from her as I could!

Zoe and my parents and I drove over to Lynchburg and did some shopping, using Zoe's Best Buy employee discount (which, had he known what it was going to be, Daddy would have used to EMPTY THE PLACE OF MERCHANDISE).

My parents drove me back to Nana's place in Chatham - I snoozed in the car, but was full of beans when we got back, and went to bed kinda late.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas in Virginia

[As transcribed by Daddy]

As you can imagine, I was pretty thrilled to be up this morning, and to find the vast amount of gifts that appeared under the Christmas Tree in the night! I could barely contain my excitement - I was like a... like a... like a kid at Christmas!

Trina and Zoe and Papa (and their two skittery little dogs, Frinkle and Sarah) arrived, and before long we were opening presents left and right. I've accumulated so much loot that we're gonna need a truck to haul it back across the border! I got books, art stuff, clothes, action figures, a snow globe, a jack-in-the-box, and my much anticipated doll house! Each gift I opened got a louder and more exuberant reception!

We all enjoyed a massive brunch and spent the afternoon together - we had originally planned to visit Trina's friend Olga for Christmas dinner, but the torrential rain paired with my parents' brutal head colds pretty much put a kibosh to mountain driving and holiday germ-spreading. Trina, Zoe, Papa, Frinkle, and Sarah headed to Olga's, and we were more than happy to have cole slaw and leftovers for Christmas Dinner.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Putty

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I was up and at 'em early this morning - I kinda think my cold is getting better, while Mommy and Daddy's are getting much worse, unfortunately. We all took it pretty easy today... Jim pulled me around outside on a sled he made out of a garbage pail lid. It was pretty fun!

Papa came over on his way to Aunt Trina's from South Carolina. I was really excited to see him! Basil was so excited he vomited all over the carpet.

I did a lot of playing in my room, baked some cookies for Santa with Mommy, and I even wrote him a letter! Nana let me open up a present from my stocking - I played with that Silly Putty all day long.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Blue Ridge Mountains

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Not a lot to really discuss today - my family and I fought off our collective colds and left the Motel after ten in the morning (now that the sun was up, we all could see the giant anti-Darwinism billboard hanging above the parking lot, overlooking Altoona).

The ride was long - Daddy started suffering from heart paplatations (!) once we crossed into Virginia - maybe it was the coffee, maybe the altitude, maybe his cholesterol - so Mommy took over and drove the rest of the way. We even drove in and out of some snowy, winding Blue Ridge Mountain routes which were a little bit precarious.

I was really glad to finally arrive at Nana's house - we had a nice dinner of chicken soup (for our colds), I played and played and played in the room Nana set up for me, and Basil once again threw up all over the carpet.