i've created a monster

A sidewalk chalk loving monster that is.  I suppose there could be worse things.  We were trying to figure out what outdoor toys/things to get Ryann, since she absolutely loves being outside now.  I decided to grab sidewalk chalk at Target because hey, I like coloring with sidewalk chalk so I figured at least I'd be entertained.  I sat down to show Ryann what to do...

(this was obviously a too lazy to wash my  hair, put on make-up or real clothes kind of day.  oh well :o)

She was thrilled!  The first day we had it out there was just lots of walking around, picking up the chalk, putting it down, sitting here, sitting there, touching the stuff I was drawing.  And she was talking nonstop.  I have no idea what she was saying, but she was just chatting away as she moved all over the driveway.

look at all those little flips, the hotter it gets, the curlier it is!

clothes and shoes get pretty messy these days...

"OH NOOOO!" as the chalk rolled down the driveway :o).  Another favorite phrase!

Thankfully she took one bite and pretty much deemed it disgusting.

Since the first day we had it out, all Ryann wants to do is go 'ow-tide', and then instantly runs to the garage searching for the chalk.  And now she knows just what to do with it.  She moves about the driveway leaving multicolored scribbles here and there.  I love it.  It is an all out meltdown every time we have to go back in the house now.  And seriously, everything is always covered in colored dust.

Sometimes she is a little hoarder!

honestly, she wasn't eating it, just smearing it all over her face when she tried to carry five or more pieces at a time.

note to self, stop putting my child in white!

Completely unrelated (well sort of, she is holding chalk in this picture), Ryann has started having a really hard time when people leave, or saying bye to people.  And I wouldn't necessarily say it is separation anxiety again.  If she sees anyone leaving she starts to cry.  As in, we were at Target and it was raining, Chris ran out to pull the car up, a few seconds later another couple walked out of the store, Ryann said bye, and then started bawling.  Seriously?  You don't even know these people!  She cries when we tell grammy and papa bye on the phone.  And yesterday there were lots of tears as she watched daddy drive away in his car...

I suppose she will get over that eventually, right?

What are your toddler's favorite outdoor toys?  Yes there is a park pretty close by, so we can go over there for a swing or a slide, but we need some stuff that Ry can play with in the yard.  Any suggestions?