{ AJM }

Halloween 2009

We got to be at home this year for Halloween and all the festivities (I am 31 weeks pregnant and can't go anywhere.) Our evening was beautifully crisp and clear, even an almost full moon! After dinner, Mallory got her costume on and out we went.

 

This year she helped pick out her bumble bee costume. Several days after we brought this home from Target, she discovered the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and REALLY wanted to be a cupcake. Thankfully by the time I inquired, the company was sold out system wide. Yeah for me, we saved about $60! Her next option was to be a bumble bee like the one in their catalog. I stuck to our original Target costume but caved on the yellow face painted flower. She talked about this flower on her cheek for three solid weeks. yes, seriously.

 

We ventured out into our kid friendly neighborhood and made it to 3 houses. Yes, only three. Mallory has this fear of scary masks (rightfullly so in my opinion) and she was DONE. "Mommy, I want to go home." Alrighty then, home we went. Once we got home, she DELIGHTED in the trick-or-treaters ringing our doorbell. She lit up each time the bell rang and wanted to help pass out candy. I will also confess she wanted to trick-or-treat from our candy bowl. Since I really didn't care, she got to have lollipops and bubbles from our stash every time the door closed and it was "her turn". So very cute and such a fun night for us all.

a tale of two pumpkins

As using knives is a bit much to ask of a three year old, we choose the "Mrs. Potato Head" approach to decorating pumpkins this year. I will confess to waiting WAY too long to purchase said pumpkins and we ended up with just this one. As we had two complete sets of "faces" to decorate, I decided the coming and going approach would be perfect.

 

It took a bit more "adult supervision" than I anticipated as an ice pick was required to drill holes for the various pieces. Thanks Ben for hanging out and taking these pictures of your girls.

 

Mallory is FASCINATED with talking on the phone and ichat-ing, so these "Diva" pumpkin pieces are rather appropriate for her pumpkin-provided it is a method of self expression.

 

 

I thought the clown was pretty cute. But Mallory's favorite BY FAR was "Diva Pumpkin." I kid you not, that's how the package was labeled.   

Happy pumpkin decorating!

Pumpkin Patch

Sunday after lunch, we headed to the pumpkin patch with Nonnie and Pape. I love the pumpkins piled in front of the Christmas trees! Mallory loved climbing over all the "mountains" of pumpkins. 

 

 

 

Mallory wanted to sit on this giant turkey-I was amazed that she asked for these two photos

not much fun had here......then we moved on to the unique & much smaller pumpkins.

 

 

Lots of fun!! Thanks Nonnie and Pape!

Fall Break

Because we all know preschoolers need a fall break...since we had Monday off, and my "stay home" enforcement begins shortly, we took one last trip to Houston. It's hard to tell who is more excited here :)

Puppets, playing chase, fishing in the swimming pool, climbing the slides at the park: all on day 1.

Before we arrived, Nonnie and Aunt Jenn went to a yarn extravaganza. I was like a rainbow exploded in their family room. I am looking forward to wearing some of the "art" once it's knitted and doing some of the knitting myself. Who knew I would like knitting!?!?!? 

Super pretty stuff!!

Apple Orchard

Last week we went to a local apple orchard. We learned about apples, apple trees, apple cider, bees, pollination, and had a glorious time!

 

the bees-we didn't get too close despite LOTS of curiosity. She's decided she wants to be a bumble bee for Halloween (until she finds the PBK catalog and spots the cupcake costume again.)

 

Picking our apple. We've had 12-13 inches of rain in the past several weeks. It's played havoc with the apple crop and we were asked to pick only 1 apple, and they were all the quality you see here!

 

playing with the antique apple cider press

 

And last but not least, the pumpkins, scarecrows, and hay bales. Yes, we got in trouble for climbing all over, but it was totally worth it as the girl was safe and had a BLAST!

swings and bling

Last Sunday afternoon we attended a birthday party for our neighbor's son. He and Mallory are about 2 weeks apart in age. We were thrilled to get out on a beautiful afternoon and Mallory was THRILLED to go visit the swings. She's growing so much and while she still loves the bucket swing (we will push her higher) she is quickly mastering the belt swings.

 

loving the swings and Daddy

 

I love these shoes!
 

Cutie neighbor and Mater-he had a Cars themed birthday. They had individualized the take home bags and Mallory's was filled with shininess and sweets. Oh the bling, she was SO EXCITED to get these rings the big pink and a puppy, a sparkly purple necklace and two hair clip-ies. Yes, she is wearing all of it and giddy with delight. Happy Birthday L.

Happy 3rd Birthday

Mallory turned 3 on Friday. Amazing, really that she's been lighting up our lives for three years. She wanted a Dora party. Oh yes, a Dora the Explorer party. My idea of a successful birthday party is cake and balloons, so we planned to have cupcakes and balloons at the park-built in entertainment also tops my list of good things. Basically a repeat of last year's party only with a character theme. Sadly, the rain changed our party plans a bit. Friday afternoon we decided to have the party at home and suddenly I had less than 24 hours to plan a party for 7 little people and a dozen adults.

We strung friendship bracelets like Dora wears.

We played games in our playroom-it was still raining and wet outside. The hokey pokey was ok, the parachute was ok, but the girls LOVED "jaguar, jaguar, jaguar, boots" (duck, duck, goose). They all chased each other around the circle every round and begged for another turn to be "it."

The Dora cake was a hit, yeah for butter cream frosting.

Opening presents.

And finally the Dora pinata. I love that pinatas now come with strings to pull so that no injuries are incurred opening the hanging candy box.  Lollipop and Smartie bliss!

Party is over (hence the pout) and all the friends have gone home. Another year older and party to celebrate. About 15 minutes after this picture was taken, Mallory told Nonnie it was rest time, all but put herself to bed and slept for three hours! Post-party bliss for me too!

Happy birthday little one.

third time (might be) the charm

Our daughter started preschool yesterday for the third time. It was dramatically different than years past. How was it different you ask? First her Daddy and I BOTH took her to "preview" the program last spring. We told her it was a fun place to go and look and learn. Ever since that morning last May, when we drive past that particular building she quotes that statement back to me. And talks about being a big girl, potty training* and playing with the other children. You should notice the lack of screaming, crying or fear of that building.

Another BIG difference, seems to be the "meet your teacher" day. Ben took her (I was basking in magic and wonder in the Bahamas) and while they did meet her teacher, they stayed together the whole time. He stayed in the room and had her touch everything in sight while they played together. This is a change from Mommy attending the parents only meeting while Mallory stayed with her teacher in the new classroom. Total time invested 30 minutes. A day or two after meet the teacher, Mallory got a postcard in the mail from her teacher. I kid you not she made us read both sides to her conservatively 900 times. 

*This program expects 3 year old to be "COMPLETELY potty trained." Their emphasis not mine!  Hence our potty training boot camp x3 this summer

Yesterday was the first day of school. She was so excited to go that sleeping Tuesday night was a problem. Wednesday morning she woke up talking about her teacher and playing with the other children. We made breakfast together and she watched me pack her lunch and snack while sampling and approving each item. When we left the house there were NO tears, or hesitation or apprehension. When we arrived at the school, I asked her to help me find her classroom. She gave me spot on directions. Through these doors, turn left then turn right and here we are (yes the right and left were correct.) No tears, no clinging to me no asking me to stay. I held my tears until I reached the car :)

When I returned to pick her up, she WAS NOT crying. I cannot tell you how HUGE this is. She didn't sleep long at rest time, but was seemingly quiet and didn't eat much lunch, also not surprising. But when asked if she wanted to go back next week, gave a hesitant affirmative response. WOW!!!

I am a bit hesitant to post this as it's only day one. And things may DRASTICALLY change when she discovers this will be a twice a week occurrence. But I am so pleased that she wasn't miserable all day! Thank you Lord for helping her and me through the day.

No, there are no pictures. I will take some later, maybe next week when I have a camera (mine didn't make it back from the Bahamas.) But for now neither she nor I needed the pressure of a camera.

Wonder

On Sunday, my sister, mother and I went to Florida and boarded a very large boat. Specifically the Disney Wonder. We sailed to Nassau and Castaway Cay and around in circles avoiding rain showers and had a delightful time. I came home filled with a renewed desire to be a great mommy and partner/wife/best friend. I'm still processing all I learned and experienced and enjoyed. For now, I'm thrilled to be home with my husband and daughter & feeling so thankful and blessed.

my reservoir

I adore Brene Brown and her amazing work. Her book(s) are must reads and her blog is part of my life. When I read this from her blog tonight, I knew I had to share

Sometimes getting away is less about “leaving things behind” and more about “bringing magic home.”

I need that, the bringing magic home. I know that I am crazy blessed in so many ways and tonight I am thankful for my parents and sister and husband who are all making our "Girl's Trip 2009" happen next week. It's going to be great. To be with two amazing women who inspire me and force me to grow and gently encourage where gentleness is needed. I am so looking forward to going and all it means. And almost equally I'm looking forward to returning home with my reservoir filled and overflowing with magic and gratitude and joy to share. 

Thank you Brene!!!