Lions, Giraffes, and Zebras!

Dear Maya and Emi,

To make up for all of mommy's blog slacking lately, here's the second post in less than a week! Go, mommy! Actually, I want to post adorable Halloween photos of you two ASAP but since there are a bunch of them I figured a blog post is the way to go.

But first let me share a few pictures from Uncle Matt's birthday party earlier this week. Maya, you drew lots of creative pictures to make buntings for decorations. Your dollar store birthday gifts for him were Halloween decorations and a card with feet on it. So perfect!

Friday was your Halloween parade at school, Maya, and you insisted I dress Emi up in her lion costume to attend. It was a pretty good parade with drummers and really funny teacher costumes and great kid costumes, too. Your giraffe for school was pretty simple with just a dress and mask.

Tonight for Halloween, however, your giraffe costume was a little more involved. There was a headband and tail and lots of face makeup. Emi, you got a little makeup for your lion nose, too. Mommy completed our animal menagerie with a zebra headband and tail (though I looked more like a cat because my attempt at zebra makeup failed miserably and got washed off). Daddy got the easy way out--he borrowed Uncle Matt's pith helmet to be a safari guide/zookeeper.

We went to Millerton to go trick-or-treating and to the firehouse party with our friends. Maya, after requiring an adult to trick or treat at the first few houses, you and the other kids started going up by yourselves. Emi, you almost fell asleep in the stroller, but hung on until the end. It was a fun night.

Well, mommy needs some rest. Daylight savings is going to be messing with us all tomorrow!
Love you both!

Emi's a pumpkin head!

Dear Maya and Emi,

Where has October gone? The days have been flying by and mommy barely feels like she has time to blink between taking care of you two and running a business. These two jobs are a lot of work but mommy is feeling pretty proud of herself for managing both in this very busy season!

Last Wednesday, Grandpa came to visit us. We played games with him and you two got in many a round of 'Grandpa-slide.' We also painted pumpkins, or at least you did, Maya. Emi was already in bed and considering the mess you made, I don't think we needed a 1-year-old joining the party.

Emi, you went for your 15-month checkup the other day. As always, the doctor commented on your sweet demeanor. You jumped from the 50th to 75th percentiles for head circumference, height, and weight in just the last 3 months! And mommy found 2 new teeth that had broken through while we were at the doctor's office! Afterwards we went out for donuts, then to visit your great-grandparents. And while we were there, we got to see Aunt Sue-Sue as well. It was a busy day!

Well, mommy needs some rest to gear up for a new week. Love you both!

Big girls, fall fun

Dear Maya and Emi,

Ahhh, mommy missed a week blogging! Between normal school and home duties, the children's consignment sale mommy sold and volunteered at, and the busier photography schedule that comes with the month of October, I just haven't had enough time in the day lately. I'll try to do better!

Emi, we've really been realizing how big you're getting lately. You've had a growth spurt physically, but your personality has also grown. After we see sissy off in the mornings, you come back in and settle down in her chair at the table as if to say it's your time to rule the roost. You try to say "apple" and "I love you." You make us laugh with just a look and have a very contagious laugh yourself. You throw occasional tantrums that are pretty unpleasant but luckily they don't usually last very long.

Maya, you've been doing so very well with school. Today your teacher sent home a progress report that was absolutely glowing with praise! We called grandparents and great grandparents to brag and mommy has read it out loud 6 times for everyone already. Sometimes your behavior and attitude at home can be a little trying and hyper, but we are so very happy to hear that you are a well-mannered, reliable, independent student at school. What an awesome kid you are!

Okay, so here's what we've been up to:

Emi, we drove up to Troy one day while Maya was in school to meet up with mommy's New Zealander friend from my Japan days.

You two had a nice ride on the Rail Trail on one of our last really warm days, no doubt--Maya, you on your bike, and Emi, you in the stroller.

Maya, our Friday afternoon trips to the farm are going to end soon, too, and you will miss the rope swing (and the veggies, too, of course!)

Today was the PreK fall festival so Emi, you and I went to Maya's class for a couple hours of fun activities. Maya, you did a great job painting pictures of a tree and an apple, decorating a mini pumpkin, helping your classmates build a scarecrow, and participating in singalongs and storytimes. It was great to see you in your classroom environment. Emi, you were happy to join in the fun, too, especially when it came to playing with the hay when the big kids were making scarecrows!

Well, mommy needs some sleep! Love you both!