Halloween Weekend

The last of the beautiful fall leaves

My newest on the list of all-time favorite photos of B.

Thank you Auntie Kerry for giving "pumpkin bubbles!"

Sitting with our (now moldy) pumpkins carved a week ago

My very proud cereal box was excited to head out with Froggy Ethan

She was her favorite thing...Joe's O's...and was ecstatic despite the imperfect engineering design

She really got into holding her bucket out and watch treats drop in

But after about a half an hour, she was totally done

When I took her costume off, she insisted it go back where it belongs...on the shelf

First French Braids

Annual Pumpkin Carving at Fulcos

Is This Phase REALLY Necessary?????

We inherited four pairs of Disney Princess shoes months ago, beautifully presented in a 4-level, pink cardboard shoe chest, but Beatrice only recently dug them out of the deep recesses of, I mean bottom of her closet. Though she's never seen me in shoes anything like these, nor has she ever heard the word "princess," she is in love. Her Daddy is having a hard time and is asking "Why??????" I'm not sure if he means "Why are all the Disney chicks white and size -2?" or "Why does my 2-year old need faux feathery fur on her shoes?" or "Why does she need to learn to walk in high heels?" Regardless, I have no answers. I just know there's a time in almost every girl (and maybe boy's if offered) life where princess shoes are a dream.

She decided to give one pair to her best bud Jillian, who she spent the day with today for the last time, and has told me she'd like to send Rachel a pair as well. What do you think Martha, would you PLEASE accept one of these beauties from Bea? Say the word, and they're on their way! Jonathan....we're all about equal opportunity here.....care for a pair????

Another Whirlwind Weekend

Anthony's cousin Nate and his wife and 13-month old son drove up from Virginia for the weekend. We had a great time looking at scarecrows at a fall festival, visiting the Eric Carle museum in Amherst, MA and stopping briefly in Northampton. Beatrice loved her Tito and Tita, and played well with Dominic, staying by his side in the house and crawling on the floor like him. She LOVES company, and loves being around kids. As Nate & Yuen boarded their car, she yelled "Goodbye! Thanks coming!" My little social butterfly....

Closing one door, Opening another

We found out recently that our 2x/week childcare situation, which started in late August and has been pretty much perfect in every way, is ending at the end of the month. Judy and Juan have bought their first home, unfortunately for us an hour away. I was so worried about Beatrice being able to stay away from us and she did so fairly seamlessly with "Tita Judy" and Jill. She starts saying goodbye to me or Anthony before we even get out of the car, screams with delight up to Jillian who awaits her at the door "I coming Jill! Wait! I coming!" and then these beauties run off together to play as soon as we enter the house. When I pick her up at 4:00, I almost always get tears or arguing because "I not ready! No leave yet! Want stay play right now!" We knew there was a very good chance it would be short-lived, but we risked it because Judy was such a great match for Beatrice. My grief will be eased by the fact that we have "Uncle Erik" taking over in a couple of weeks. Erik and Martha are close friends and the parent of adorable Ethan. They are the ones who first saw B. in the U.S., since they picked us up at the airport when we arrived, and Erik is the first male besides her daddy who she fell in love with. They visited yesterday afternoon and honestly the way she looks at him brings me to tears. Erik is a SAH dad, at least until the spring, so we're hoping this will work out until the end of this school year. Then I will be home again for the summer and she will start (gulp) preschool next September. So B. will go from looking up to a 3-year old girl to being a patient and wonderful playmate and role-model (I can hope, can't I?) to a 15-month old boy. We are just so lucky to have these wonderful adults in our lives to be part of our "village" to help raise our daughter.

Reunited after Way Too Long

This past weekend we drove out to State College PA to visit dear, dear friends, T, B, and J for the first time on their turf, and third time ever. It was incredible how much love we feel for this family after what is still only a few days together. The two toddlers had a blast together and my oft bossy B. had much pleasure "directing" sweet, laid-back, best-heartiest-laugh-in- the-world- J for a few days. These two are simply adorable together and got along beautifully. If only we lived closer!!! Sigh..... The weather was incredible and I felt as though I got away for a week. Beatrice was a super trooper in the car for the two 8-9 hour legs, especially on the way home. She is in an ultra-pretend-play phase right now, and she occupied herself in her carseat "making tea" while singing songs, another new talent. She loves Wheels on the Bus, You Are my Sunshine, I Love You, and a few songs from church. These days are beyond fun, and this trip was a highlight of fall.