"Thank goodness," says Rachael. A replacement bucket has arrived, courtesy of Uncle Jim and Aunt Jen. She can continue to run around, bucket on head, flailing about, giggling the whole time. The delight on her face upon seeing a new bucket was priceless.She has also taken to filling the bucket with her wooden blocks. I was excited the first time I saw her fill the bucket with blocks as it looked like she was cleaning the room. My excitement faded as I relized that she was only filling the bucket so as to more effectively dump the blocks all over the room.
One of Rachael's favorite pre-bedtime activities involves climbing into her toybox, looking at each toy for exactly three seconds, then tossing that toy behind her. I'm pretty sure she is irriated that all the toys are back in the toybox after she so lovingly distributed them. I'm sure she wonders how we expect her to find the toy she wants when they are all in the toybox. 
Rachael also enjoys a good book. She is especially fond of several of the books by her favorite author Leslie Patricelli
and especially the book Binky
. I'm not sure she how much of the story she understands, but she likes the pictures and she DIGS turning the pages. She often will pick up a book, walk over and hand it to me, sit down on my lap for story time.
and especially the book Binky. I'm not sure she how much of the story she understands, but she likes the pictures and she DIGS turning the pages. She often will pick up a book, walk over and hand it to me, sit down on my lap for story time. 
And when she wants to liven things up she "investigates." This investigation often involves something with WAY too many pieces. Boxes of Q-tips, neatly stacked sheets of paper, books on shelves or as she demonstrates, a box of Kleenex. In the space of about one minute, she climbed on the couch, grabbed the Kleenex and proceeded to pull each and every tissue of the box. I guess when she can't go outside to explore, she finds things inside that can be studied.
