Tea Time

Harper and I sat today and had our first of many tea parties. We both got gussied up, courtesy of her ever growing dress up basket. Harper loves to clink glasses and Cheers! with others. She doesn't quite get the fact that you're supposed to drink after you cheers, she'd rather just knock cups over and over. But I'm okay with that, the more cheer the better, right?!

We're planning on getting Harper a play kitchen for Christmas, and I can't wait for more elaborate and Harper planned tea parties.

Posted with Blogsy

Halloween Fun!

I'm not a huge Halloween fan. I hate dressing up. Hate it. I wouldn't even do crazy sock day when I was a teacher. I like candy, but the sorting and gorging that used to be my favorite part of this weird "holiday" has sort of lost its flavor for me.

However, I realize that I'm responsible for the traditions and excitement that each holiday will bring for Harper. So it's time we get a little festive up in here. Start early, I say, that way by the time she has an opinion and wants to be a part of it, we've mastered the art of pumpkin carving/costume dressing/advent calendaring/egg decorating/holidaying it up!

So Neal and I carved pumpkins this week. Neal is actually a very good artist. And he makes me settle down and be patient. Draw a sketch, put a rough sketch on the pumpkin, slow down and actually carve the sketch. Without him, my pumpkin would be a sad sad gourd.

I didn't dress up this year. The way I see it, one year in the not too distant future, Harper will want me to dress up. Or I'll have to dress up to get her to dress up. Regardless, I'm taking this year and hopefully the next couple to get away with just dressing up the babe. But you can bet your butt that my daughter had the cutest costume around. Ok, even though I'm competely biased to my own flesh and blood, she may not have had the cutest costume...there were some GOOD ones out there. Let's just say she was the cutest elephant around.

 

Last year, Neal was so disappointed because he only got one trick-or-treater (Harper and I were out of town). I just didn't understand. Where were all the kids?? This year, we were a little more in the know. Our neighborhood has a Halloween "parade" that starts at the end of our block, and all the little monsters and princesses walk down the street and trick or treat to all the adults standing around. It's pretty genius really. And turns out, we have a TON of kids in our neighborhood! There had to have been close to 100 kids. It was NUTS!

 

She may not have totally understood all the costumes, but she sure did get the candy. I've busted her with a Kit Kat and a Butterfinger today. I should be more careful where I leave her bucket lying around.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Cousin Trip to Philly

Sarah and Donevan came to town last week for a quick stop before we headed to Philly to see GrAnne. Harper was pretty enamored with her cousin. The first thing she wanted to do when she saw him was hold him in her lap. How does she already know that's a thing?

Then came the obligatory bath picture. They loved splashing each other.

And even though the bus driver at the Arboretum was a jerk, we still managed to make it to a church pumpkin patch for a photo shoot. My daughter makes taking pictures next to impossible, but we got a few (can't wait for professional family pics this weekend...).

 

Once in Philly, we mostly sat around GrAnne's apartment, but did make it out to Alvethorpe Park one afternoon.

 

Sarah, just being Sarah...

Our Philly trip was perfectly timed as GrAnne had fallen and bruised her ribs a few days before we got there. She needed the pick me up, and I don't think she stopped smiling the entire time we were there. It was not easy keeping Harper contained and entertained in the assisted living complex, but we did lots of exploring and elevator riding.

GrAnne is the most amazing 90-year-old I know, and I'm so glad we got to take her two great grandchildren to visit her together. A priceless visit.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy