Halloween 2011

Our Halloween started a couple of weeks ago with a trip to a pumpkin patch, just outside Seattle. Amelia really enjoyed it, particularly since it was so muddy, and we got to go on a hayride! Teh story of "Amelia, mommy, and daddy going to the pumpkin patch" is a common request at bedtime. Amelia regularly asks for various other friends or family to be part of the story - cousin Alex is a regular request.


Even though Amelia had a rough weekend (bad cold), she was very helpful when it was time to carve the pumpkin. We decided to make an owl...


... she loved it!
The final product:

This year, Amelia was a lion. Roarrrrrr! She has been loving her lion costume! She's been wearing it around the house for the last several months (her friend Cara gave it to her last summer), and seeing all the other kids wear costumes got her all excited. Below she's showing off her costume with her friend Leo (Madeleine's big brother - [David and Hannah]), earlier last week.


And last night, after a few kids started knocking on our door, Amelia and Luc went trick-or-treating! We only went to a few houses around our street, but Amelia really enjoyed the experience! I think we might have to expand our Halloween route next year...


Happy Halloween!

Why we like to do video chats...

Amelia has a ball showing off her new skills, toys, and books. Here we were chatting with Grandpapa Bertrand and Kathleen. Amelia wanted everyone to play along. Be sure to bring your favorite instrument, toy, or book to the next chat! She loves to share.

Sleep, sleep, sleep little moo

Amelia is in a very compassionate stage right now. Really taking care of her little animals like they were her babies. She is also really into babies. She wants me to craddle her like a tiny baby and sing baby songs to her. She changes moos diaper, then tries to change my diaper! and asks for her diaper to be changed (she doesn't wear diapers anymore). Last night she was putting moo to sleep by bouncing him! So cute.

A snipet of the moo song that turned into a reading session. Check out the book she picked out at the library. Lots of text!

Not so sweet tooth

The other day at daycare one of the boys was leaving and brought cupcakes for his last day. I was there to share in the celebration. All the kids got little mini cupcakes. Some of the kids were so eager that they asked for two or even three (even though no on got three). Amelia sat there diligently licking the frosting, but never made it half way through. Then she jumped up and was ready to go- having never even taken a bite of the cake. It made me a proud mama. The cupcakes were store bought and had that processed cake/icing.

But it did remind me of this day. My birthday. Amelia and Luc made me this cake. It is my *favorite* cake of all time. I am sure you have seen it before. I just love it. And Luc loves me enough to make it for me. A 3 layer Black Forest cake. Amelia got a little piece, but barely ate that one either.
Instead she went to our cupboard- got out the raw oats and started eating them right out of the box. This picture cracks me up. Here we are eating this decadent cake and Amelia is eating oats!

The cook book that she is stacking her oats on is called Feeding for the Whole Family. I highly recommend it. Especially if you are looking at getting into cooking beans and other grains.

She is so strong...

...pulling her two friends, Sol and Leo, in the red wagon. We all had dinner together tonight and the kids were running around the yard playing. We looked down the side yard and saw Amelia pulling them in the wagon. Leo reading his new book. Sol resting his back against Leo. The two boys content to be getting a ride from their friend. Amelia seemed pretty proud to show off her new wagon.

At the end of the night, Bonnie commented that although Amelia seemed to have her clothes off for most of the night, she managed to have at least three different outfits on during the time they were there. Good times. It seems like to could be anytime now for Hannah. And Leo asked if he could have sleep over. So I think he is ready to come stay with us soon, too!

Amelia misses her daddy

Amelia is now requesting the Amelia song every night at bedtime. It used to be "Little Amelia has a bed" to the tune of Old MacDonald and lots of sleeping animals. But during Luc's last stay on land the Amelia song morphed into a song about Amelia featuring her day or something she likes as specified. Tonight it was the "purple boat song". We've been talking about he is out to sea on a boat. On Monday we were at the Locks looking at boats. Every big boat was pointed at and hinted that it could be a daddy boat. I had to tell her that none of them was large enough to be Luc's boat. And then she said she wanted to go on a boat. I had to tell her that I didn't even like boats. So I sang to her about her going on a purple boat with daddy looking for whales. She loved it. So here are some pictures to remind Amelia of daddy from our visit to the zoo. She rode the carousel with daddy and they feed the birds.


These three pictures crack me up. Luc held a little seed stick to feed the birds and they land on your hand. Amelia was a little hesitant but excited to hold it too. Her expression is just so funny, so surprised as the birds changed places. Can you tell which one she liked better?



And now that he finally has internet connectivity he can appreciate them too!

Purple toes!

While we were visiting my family, we had a little girl day getting our nails done. Grandma, Aunt Michelle, Melissa and Alex. Amelia and Bea stayed and played/napped at the house. Amelia was very jealous of all the purple toe nails. Alex offered to paint her nails, she was so excited. Her first pedicure!



Amelia had such a great visit and still asks for everyone. She was sad when her purple toes faded...