Trick or Treat!

By the time we finished dinner, the doorbell had begun ringing. With each trick-or-treater, our girls became more excited. They weren't tired at all. They just wanted to go!

Daddy went trick-or-treating with the girls while Mama stayed home to hand out candy.

Daddy reported that although Kathleen didn't always remember to say "trick or treat," she did a great job of saying "thank you." On a few occasions, she even engaged people in conversation. "Oh," they'd say, "you're so cute!"

"I know," she'd say (we raise them modest, don't we?), "I'm a fairy. I have fairy wings. And a fairy skirt. And a fairy wand. And Baby Madeline's a fairy, too!"

After a trip around the block, Daddy and the girls came home. The girls were nearly as excited about handing out candy as they had been about collecting it. In fact, when we ran out of candy (an hour before the end of "official" trick-or-treating) Kathleen offered to give away her own.

We hope your evening ended with something sweet, too.

A Fairy Photoshoot

We took some photographs this afternoon, since we were concerned that if we actually waited until the evening, we'd only get tired, fussy, or overly-excited fairies. The girls were excited to be all dressed; it was the first time they'd worn all the parts of their costumes at once!

By some miracle, I managed both girls in one picture. I hadn't realized how challenging that would be . . . until I had two little girls!

The girls enjoyed running around and pretending to fly.

Madeline was up to her usual antics.

Don't worry. Mama rescued her. Again.

All that's left to do is wait for Daddy. . . then we can have dinner and the fun will begin!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Jack o' Lanterns

After supper last night, we carved some jack o' lanterns. Kathleen had been looking forward to pumpkin-carving all day, waiting eagerly for Daddy to get home. We didn't realize it ahead of time, but Madeline was pretty excited, too.

Although, to be honest, she looks a little nervous in this photo. Perhaps she's worried about Daddy's knife.

Daddy and Kathleen set right to work, cleaning out the pumpkins.

Madeline was delighted by the stringy, gooey insides!

In fact, determined not to be left out of the fun, Madeline asked to get out of her highchair. She then climbed her way up onto Kathleen's chair and joined right in.

Also, do you see Madeline's necklace? It arrived in the mail a few days ago from Grandma. The child loves it. She puts it on every chance she gets. No doubt about it -- we've got some girly-girls! (Thanks, Grandma!) Shortly after that, Madeline was shuttled off to bed. Pumpkin carving or no, little girls who get up as early as Madeline does have to go to bed early!

Once we'd cleaned out the pumpkins and separated their seeds for toasting, Kathleen started giving directions for the pumpkins' faces. Surprisingly, she asked for an angry pumpkin. Mama started working on an angry face, which Kathleen critiqued every step of the way. Fortunately, we were using a dry-erase marker on the pumpkin, so any artistic failings could be wiped away before we'd committed to them! While Kathleen was absorbed in the details of the angry pumpkin's countenance, Daddy went ahead and carved a happy pumpkin. (He wasn't ready for quite so much direction, I don't think!)

We were all quite happy with the finished products. We went ahead and used glow sticks to light the pumpkins, which thoroughly delighted Kathleen. She raced around the living room in her excitement (exactly what you want from a toddler 15 minutes before bedtime). We managed to catch her next to the pumpkins briefly...

I can only imagine the energy and excitement we'll encounter tomorrow, when we combine glow sticks, pumpkins, new costumes, candy, and all the neighborhood children. Good grief!

A Little Project

Kathleen, like most first children, had a picture-perfect nursery waiting for her when she arrived home from the hospital.  Even though we'd only live there for six weeks before we'd move, we had things as settled as if we were staying for years.

When Madeline was born, her nursery wasn't remotely ready.  In fact, since we'd moved only weeks before her birth, Madeline's room served as storage for everything we weren't quite sure what to do with...   We didn't have a crib for Madeline, either.  Kathleen was still sleeping in it.  We consoled ourselves with the fact that our sweet second child wouldn't use a nursery anyway, since she'd sleep in with us for the first few months.  And that's what happened.

Eventually, though, we got our acts together and cleaned out the storage room.  We got a toddler bed for Kathleen and moved the crib into Madeline's room.  I sewed some curtains, we hung some pictures, and -- voila! -- Madeline had a room.

When we moved here, though, we downsized from four bedrooms to three and combined Madeline's room and the guest room.  We managed to fit the double bed, a nightstand, the crib, and changing table into the one room.  We hung some curtains, a picture from the old guest room, and a few things from Madeline's room.  But somehow, it wasn't Madeline's room yet.

I wanted a way to personalize Madeline's room, but it had to be low cost and, well, temporary, since Madeline will move into Kathleen's room in a few months, making way for the next little member of our family.   It needed to be fun, but not too "baby."  

I was inspired by this post on Ohdeedoh over the summer -- some fabric, some starch, and instant personalization.  ( I remembered, too, that Paula had used the technique very effectively in Emma's nursery in Germany.)  After lots of thinking, I set to work this week.  I started small and simple, posting Madeline's name over the changing table:

Pleased with my success with letters, I attempted something a bit bigger.  

I wanted something gender-neutral (so we could leave it no matter who comes next!), and a tree sort of seemed to work with the art already hanging in the room.  I drew out a pattern, cut it out of paper, and then cut it out of fabric.  All told, I spent about ten dollars.  If you're looking for a little project, I highly recommend this one -- it's inexpensive, easy, and fast!

Plus, Madeline finally has a room she can call her own . . . at least for the next few months!

Still a princess

One year ago, this was my little girl.

(Don't you love how she thinks she's getting away with eating a piece of candy corn in secret?)

One year later, same girl, same dress.  

How is that even possible?!

That the dress still fits seems to be some sort of miracle.  The only noticeable difference is the length (which you can't tell in this photograph because she's absorbed by "fixing" the rings that Madeline had played with) and the smears of everyday life that have been absorbed into the satin.  The dress gets far more use than I ever imagined it would when I made it.  (I sort of figured it would be good for a Halloween for Kathleen and then maybe for Madeline at some point.  I don't think it's going to last that long.)  Kathleen calls it her "dancing dress" and wears it at least three times a week.  Usually she does dance in her "dancing dress," but she has also been known to color, eat, and play in it.  For a while we had a rule that we'd only wear it at home, but recently she has worn her royal attire on trips to the commissary and to get Daddy from school.

I wonder whether this year's costume will have the same staying power...

Indian Summer

Although it's nearly November, last week and into the weekend we enjoyed some pretty warm weather.  (Not Oahu-warm, mind you, but warm, nonetheless.)  We'd had some cooler weather earlier this month, but then we had a brief resurgence of summer -- the kind of weather that, when I was growing up, we always referred to as Indian Summer.  (I've thrown that link in there mainly to reassure myself that it's a legitimate thing to call the weather, and not somehow, well, politically incorrect.)

While Daddy studied for his midterm exams and wrote his midterm papers, we girls hung out in the backyard, taking advantage of our last chance at summer fun.  What better to do with a warm, sunny afternoon than indulge in some water play?

It started out with a few buckets of water and some toys...

But eventually we pulled out the sprinkler, which delighted Kathleen. She loved running and splashing through the water, but she most loved filling her little tea cup from the sprinkler. (It would have been faster and easier to dunk it in one of the buckets of water sitting around the yard, I suppose, but somehow that wouldn't be the same.) Once the cup was brimming with water, she'd trot over to offer me some tea. I'd thank her, pretend to drink it, and as I handed it back she'd say, "Would you like some more, Mama?" And then we'd do it again. Fortunately for me, I just got to sit in the sun on the stoop while she waited on me!

Madeline was not so enamored of the sprinkler. She'd get excited about it when she watched Kathleen play in it, and she'd toddle over to it, her little face full of anticipation. But then the water would hit her, and she'd start to cry. And who can blame the poor child? When you've grown up swimming in the bath-like waters off Lanikai and Waimea Bay and Ko Olina, Santa Clara county tap water is a bit of a let-down.  Luckily, Madeline found plenty of amusement in a bucket of water.  If only she were a bit stronger, she could have moved it wherever she pleased.

The new week brought with it some fog and cooler temperatures, so our summer toys are away for good now.  We were glad for one last splash, though!

Our Little Circus Has Big News

We're going to have another baby at our house!

Doctors anticipate that the circus' next act will arrive at the end of April. However, given that Kathleen was born ten days early and Madeline, ten days late, really that just means he or she could arrive anywhere from mid-April to mid-May.

We're through the first trimester (and the in-aptly named morning sickness), and at the OB appointment this week, Mama had the chance to see the little one on an ultrasound. Everything looked great -- the baby measured just right, and we watched his or her little heart beat. It doesn't look like this will be our calm, sleepy baby, though; the doctor had a tough time getting the necessary measurements because the baby just wouldn't hold still!

Can you even tell it's a baby? It's hard to see, I'll admit, but you might be able to make out the little outline -- head, body, arms and legs...

Madeline's pretty oblivious to what's going on (she's too busy trying to cheat death by climbing to the top of what she shouldn't be climbing in the first place), but Kathleen's a quick study. She saw the photos from the ultrasound and started asking questions right away.

"Mama," she said, clutching the strip of printouts, "look at the pictures! Are these pictures of when Baby Madeline was a baby?"

I was stunned that she remembered ultrasound pictures of Madeline. It doesn't seem possible, but apparently it is. I fudged my way out of the actual question, instead praising her for her good memory and explaining that while the pictures weren't of Madeline, Madeline did have pictures like that when she was a baby.

That night after supper, Daddy sat down with Kathleen and talked to her about the new baby. Kathleen was extremely excited. (She wanted to "go get the baby now!") Daddy did a great job explaining how the baby needed to grow and wouldn't come to live at our house for quite a while, but that eventually (after Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and Valentine's Day and probably Easter) we'd be able to bring the baby home.

"Oh!" cried Kathleen, "I love her! I love the baby!"

Daddy and Mama cried, too.

Playing at the "little park"

We took advantage of the sunshine yesterday morning to spend some time at what Kathleen calls the "little park" -- the toddler park down the street from us.

Kathleen immediately headed for the largest slide, encouraging Madeline to climb it, too. 

Kathleen likes climbing, but she loves sliding!  (She's  also quite fond of apples -- that's the snack she's got in her hand, there.)

Inspired by her big sister, Madeline climbed all over the playground, seemingly without fear.

Madeline might not have been frightened by her death-defying antics, but Mama was!

After I snapped that photo, we had a nice talk about how to appropriately use the teeter-totter. I'm not entirely sure she absorbed any of my cautions against climbing, though, because last night I discovered her standing on the patio table in the backyard.  Aagh!

Not to be outdone, Kathleen had her own -- shall we say? -- hair-raising moment.

At least it was safe!

Just another morning

On Friday morning, after our run and after Daddy had left for school (he'd stuck around longer than normal in the morning so he could run with us!), we snapped these photos.

Madeline enjoyed a late breakfast. (Probably a "second breakfast," to be perfectly honest. The child wakes up ravenous every day and simply can't wait to eat. Her sister, on the other hand, can't be bothered with the idea of eating in the morning. I have to lay down the law to get her to eat before, say, eleven.)

At least a bit of that yogurt actually got eaten. I think. When she was done, Madeline became very loud. Happy, but loud.

Eventually we got all that yogurt cleaned up and Madeline took her morning nap. Morning nap is a great time for Kathleen and Mama -- Kathleen's turn at the one-on-one time Madeline gets by waking sometime around 5:30 or 5:45am.

Kathleen decided we should both be princesses. Fortunately, Nan had recently given us another tiara, so we each could wear one.

(Yup, there I am. Post-run, no shower. Obviously, no makeup. I'm not much to look at, but that other princess? Isn't she gorgeous?)

And what do princesses do with a quiet morning? Why, they have tea. Kathleen set the table and poured out.

(In case you were wondering, that's her monkey backpack that's she's wearing. It's the sort that's really a glorified leash. She's not used it in ages, but pulled it out because she'd been watching the Veggie Tales sing, "If It Doesn't Have a Tail It's Not a Monkey.")

After tea and ice cream (Kathleen knows how to throw a party!) we read some books together until Madeline woke again, and then it was off for errands and the rest of the day.

A pumpkin adventure

Our circus headed off on an adventure this morning to see some beautiful countryside and to find ourselves some pumpkins. Mama had done a bit of research and discovered what promised to be an authentic pumpkin patch. It was in Half Moon Bay, home of the Art and Pumpkin Festival and about a dozen other pumpkin patches. (The festival is this weekend and the horrific traffic it creates prompted our weekday journey.) At this particular pumpkin patch, though, you could actually cut the pumpkins off the vine! It was supposed to be low-key, less-crowded, and affordable. Oh, and it had ocean views. I was sold. Unfortunately, the directions I'd printed from the internet took us not to some out of the way pumpkin field, but to a shopping center complete with a Starbucks. Whoops.

We drove around a bit, hoping we'd stumble onto the pumpkin patch, but we had no immediate luck, and our passengers were beginning to protest our seemingly endless drive around the countryside. We chose instead one of the bigger, better-known pumpkin patches. And while it wasn't necessarily the "authentic" experience we'd been hoping for, the girls absolutely loved it. It was plenty busy for a Thursday morning, so I really can't imagine how crazy it would've been over the weekend.

To begin with, there were goats.  If you've learned nothing else about Kathleen over the past few months or so, it's that the child loves to feed some goats.  At first, she was surprised to see the animals...

Surprise quickly gave way to glee.

In addition to a bouncy house, a "railroad," and pony rides (all of which we somehow avoided), the pumpkin patch had rocking horses a various spots around the farm. The girls both loved them. (Actually, I think the girls' love for the rocking horses had a lot to do with why we were able to skip the other, non-free aspects of the extravaganza.)

Eventually, though, we got down to business. Everyone helped choose pumpkins.

Madeline scrutinized the pumpkins most carefully.

Kathleen alternated between examining the pumpkins and dancing to the old-time country music. After lots of looking and a fair amount of dancing, we settled on one enormous pumpkin, one large pumpkin, two small pumpkins, and one pumpkin/gourd hybrid, which we loaded into the wheelbarrow. It was just a little too heavy for Kathleen to push.

Thankfully Daddy was around to haul the pumpkins out to the car. When we'd loaded the pumpkins and the girls, we headed back toward home. We dropped Daddy off at school and made it home in time for naps. (For the girls and for Mama, too!)  And aside from not actually "picking" our pumpkins, it couldn't have worked out better.

What a pumpkin adventure!

Playing at our "big" park

So, we've still not found the camera.  I think it's truly gone.  I don' t know how that could've happened, but it appears that it did.  Rats!  Maybe I'll get a new one for my birthday and we can glue it into my hand or something, so I won't drop it, or lose it, or otherwise ruin it.  Maybe.

We did, however, discover the old, old camera while unpacking.  This is the camera we used before the one I dropped and before the one I lost.  It's not great, but it gets the job done.  Sort of.  My photos are largely blurry.  I'm trying to figure out why that is, but I haven't had much luck yet.

Anyway, I though I'd share these less-than-ideal, but still rather cute photos of the girls enjoying the park across the street.  They call it the "big" park, to differentiate it from the toddler park down the street.

Kathleen concentrates as she climbs the ladder. Although you can't see it, our house is just over her left shoulder.

Madeline isn't about to be left out of climbing! She doesn't need any help up the stairs, but she needs plenty of watching up on top of the play structure. If she were left alone, she'd walk right off the edge...

She will let Daddy help her climb the "mountain." That's probably only because she's not tall enough to get up the first step!

Otherwise, Madeline wants to do everything the way her big sister does. These pants pretty much sum it up. Plus. they just make me laugh:

Both girls love sliding. Kathleen has mastered all of the slides -- the tall, twisty slide, the bumpy slides, and the tunnel slide. Madeline's not quite there yet, but she's fearless at the ones I'll let her try. One slide actually has three slides right next each other, and we three girls can slide down together, all holding hands. Perhaps one day we'll get a photo of that!

The Herd at our House

I don't know that I've mentioned it before, but Kathleen has some imaginary friends.  This is pretty normal for toddlers, I know.  Here's what's a little out of the ordinary: they're cows.  This friendship developed months and months ago.  It started with just one cow, but it grew into a whole family -- Mama Cow, Daddy Cow, and Baby Cow.  The cows show up for tea parties and during craft time.  Sometimes they require their own craft or tea or what-have-you, but generally they're simply happy to observe.

Kathleen sometimes becomes a little upset if we've left the house without talking about the cows.  Occasionally she'll worry that we've left them behind, but usually she'll just notice them on the side of the street as we're driving.  "Mama!" she'll yell, "The cows!  They're in the street!"  At that point, I'm expected to roll down my window, stick out my arm, and call out encouragement to the cows, who have to jump up so that I can grab them and pull them into the moving car.  Daddy Cow jumps first; he requires little encouragement.  Mama Cow is a bit slower, and so requires some more forceful urging.  Obviously, it's a pretty big jump for a Baby Cow (Is that obvious?  How big are these cows?  That's not clear.  They do all fit in the Versa...), but he always makes it, too.   It is fortunate that we live in California, where my gesturing and yelling merely blends into the tapestry of crazy drivers.  When the cows are all safely in the car, I roll up my window and Kathleen exclaims, "Cows!  My's so happy to be here with you!" 

This week the cows started appearing at the front door.  We were eating breakfast when Kathleen first alerted me to their presence, and I left the table to go open the door and invite them in.  (Kathleen had to correct me, because I shut the door before all three cows could enter.  Honestly, what sort of hostess am I? )   We'd nearly finished eating when Kathleen informed me that there were more cows at the door.  

"Really?" I asked, "Are you sure?  Because I thought all the cows came in -- Mama Cow, Daddy Cow, and Baby Cow.  There can't be any more cows left out there."

"No, Mama. Cows.  Cows at the front door," she insisted.

"Kathleen, who are all these cows?  We've got the cows with us right here, honey."

"The brown cows, Mama," she replied, frustrated with my inability to see the obvious.

We repeated the process for the brown cows.  And then the pink cows.  And then the green cows.  I'm not sure how they all fit, but they did.

We'd love to have you come visit, too.  Just call, though, so I have time to move the cows off the sofa.