Halloween

How many Halloween festivals and parades can a neighborhood pack in to one holiday season? A lot apparently! We attended a Halloween parade on our street. There was a Halloween parade at school. We went to a Halloween party at a friends play group. We went to a community Halloween party. We went to a Halloween-themed story time and party at the library. And, oh yea, we went trick-or-treating on Halloween.

So, I guess we got our money's worth out of our costumes this year. Fortunately you both loved your costumes which you picked out at your Great-Grandpa Milton's store, Southern Importers, when we went to visit him in Houston over the summer. You were eager to wear them as much as possible, except the headbands...neither of you were keen on wearing the headbands that went with your costumes. Zoe, you were a Snow White Princess with layered tutu for special effect and Mia you were a plum fairy. (I was Cleopatra thanks to a generous lady on freecycle, and dad donned his traditional scary yuck-man face mask.)

School Halloween parade

Halloween-themed story time and instrument petting zoo.

Outside with the band.

Halloween parade in the neighborhood.

Getting ready for trick-or-treating with Grandma Bette

First house trick-or-treating (headband still in tact)

First house trick-or-treating five steps later (headbands removed)

Trip Sans Kids - Morocco Photos

Dad and I went on a trip to Morocco for a week by ourselves in late October. I suppose we weren't entirely by ourselves since we were traveling with #3 in the oven, but this was the first time we had left you both home. We were reluctant; however, we traveled a lot before you were born and we agreed that we'd make an effort to keep our travel lust alive post-kids. Photos of our trip are on Kodak Gallery.

What I most wanted to capture here though is one small difference between family travel and kid-free travel.

When we travel with you, we frequently have 10 things to keep track of: 2 suitcases, luggage wheels, a stroller, 2 car seats, a breast pump if I'm nursing, a carry-on with the perfect toys, a snack/milk bag with the perfect foods/drinks, and a pack and play if someone is still in the crib and possibly a purse for me. Of course, there are also the two of you, the two of us, meal times, nap times, and bathroom breaks to address.

When Dad and I traveled to Morocco for a week alone, we carried two carry-on bags. That's it. And, Dad's carry-on was half full of magazines he was catching up on. These carry-on bags weren't the type of luggage that you have to beg the flight attendants to let you board with because they barely meet the requirements. No, they were the legitimate normal size kind that even stodgy Air France allows. We packed the night before the trip and didn't forget anything.

However, in order to feel comfortable leaving you, we planned for weeks ahead about what would make you most comfortable and enjoy the time that we were gone. We also planned what we needed to have ready when we returned, e.g., Halloween costumes, birthday presents, etc.

For our departure, we left letters in hidden spots throughout the house for you to find. There was a chart for you to count down the days if you wanted. We left a monster-size "fun bag", and we called at least once a day. The "fun bag" included:

• Several craft projects including two paper mache pumpkins to decorate
• Stickers
• Fruit leather
• Two books
• Two puzzles
• Three wrapped presents for you to give to Ruth to celebrate her birthday
• Cake mix and frosting for you to bake a cake to celebrate Ruth's birthday
• Two recorders with tapes of dad and I reading books and telling stories for you to listen to at nap/bed time if you wanted to

(By the way, Ruth is our nanny whom you both adore. She and her daughter and her mom stayed at our house while we were away. You were very excited about this.)

We had several play dates scheduled while we were away, left detailed information sheets, had a birthday celebration completely planned out, and Halloween costumes/candy ready to go when we returned.

So, I suppose that if there is a moral to this story it's that the "baggage" needs to be packed one way or another. Either before the trip or taken on the trip. Both kinds of trips are worth it, and we were grateful for the chance to take this trip together. Thanks. Mom.

Mia -21 Months

These are the months that I really enjoy because this is the time where I can actually see the transformation from toddler to little girl. There is a definite shift in your mannerisms and your comprehension, and I see little glimpses of the little girl you're becoming.

For starters, you are much more able to understand complex instructions and you often follow them. Although, shortly after following them you revert back to what you were doing initially which is a bit annoying.

You are still a climber, but now you use your climbing skills to sit on high stools or chairs and have snack or chatter while we prepare dinner. And, you L.O.V.E. jumping in moonbounces. You can hold your own with kids slightly older and don't seem to mind getting jostled around.

We had a fun trip to Miami this month and you really enjoyed the ocean and the little fish we were able to chase in the water.

Grandpa Ed showed up with a bucket of toys which was a big treat too.

You also kept Grandma Barbara on her toes...literally!

Keenly aware of your environment, you pick up on all types of context clues. You know exactly who the doctor is by the uniform she or he wears, you recognize a shot no matter who is holding it, you can tell when something or someone is out of sorts, etc. It's interesting to watch you take it all in.

You want to touch and experiment with everything. Pens and markers are a favorite of yours, although not a favorite of my walls. Please cease and desist writing on the walls. Even toothpaste doesn't take pen off we have learned!

You are more and more a cuddler which is delicious. I love my hugs and kisses and snuggle time when we read stories. You are equally cuddly with Zoe and the two of you really look out for each other.

Happy 21 months little bit.

Love,

Mom

An Apology for Grandma Barbara

It just goes to prove that you can't leave a one year old alone for even a minute! Granted Mia is about 21 months, so close to two, and granted she's very busy. So, we should have known better.

So Mia, this morning around 7 am while we were up and getting ready to start our day, we let you play in our room. We were also in our room, but weren't necessarily watching you every second. At some point, you climbed up on our bed with the telephone. You somehow dialed my mother's phone number in Florida (Grandma Barbara) and placed the call.

I don't know how you did this. Grandma Barbara was not the last person I dialed on that phone, so you couldn't have just hit the redial button.

Anyway, when Scott heard you calling "Hi Grandma! Hi Grandma!" over and over, he popped his head around the corner to find you waving frantacially and shrieking in to the phone. When he took the phone from you, indeed, Grandma Barbara was on the phone and told dad that we had called her. Well, Good Morning! That's some wake up call! Zoe was very pleased that she got to say "good bye" and "I love you".

Sorry Grandma Barbara, but at least you get to go back to bed. :)

Falling in to Pumpkins

We had a nice Fall season this year with our share of pumpkin patches, baking, and leaf raking (still in progress thanks to the large trees in each of our neighbors yards that hang over our front yard).

We were back at Great Country Farms this year to pick up some pumpkins, take a tractor ride, and visit with the animals before the farm winds down for the year.