The Longest Halloween in History

Halloween was unusually long this year.  It started with multiple parties (mostly for Vivian, but also some for Annelee).  Seamus from across the street started things off, then came church (where Vivian won cutest costume and Annelee won best toddler), Gregory's party, daycare ... and that doesn't even include the actual trick or treating.

Vivian went as the sparkly rainbow tooth fairy, with a costume that Will and I had a lot of fun putting together.  Annelee got to reuse the monkey suite that Vivian wore a few years ago.

Trick or treating was supposed to be on Wednesday, but got preemptively postponed to Saturday because of Superstorm Sandy.  As it turns out, Sandy didn't hit us hard, just with lots of steady rain, but Wednesday evening this year was no worse than last year when it wasn't canceled.  But, Saturday was dry, so all in all it turned out well.

The whole family started out together, but (as expected), Annelee faded after just the short end of our street.  Will took her home to hand out (and eat) candy; and Vivian and I continued with Rowan and Joel who we met up with on the way.

We made our way all the way down Gypsy, back on Shady Lane (with some spectacular spooky gravestones and a haunted garage at the final house - perfect) and back home through our dark backyard.

Vivian is already planning her costume for next year (a friendly vampire) and Annelee ontinued to wear "Key" (monkey) for most of today.  I believe I will have to hide that costume away when she's asleep to try and avoid a melt-down.  She's come a long way since last year and the year before.

Monkey!

Sparkly rainbow toothfairy

Monkey see, monkey do.  Also known as trying to pose like the big sister

Watching TV the day after Halloween, she was so upset that I wanted to put the costume away that she had to get her binky to soothe herself

Going for a walk the day after Trick or Treating

Pumpkin Patch 2012

As in previous years, we went to Simmons Farm for the hayride and pumpkin picking (and other fun activities for the kids).  Photos from previous years are here: 2011 and 2009. 

This year, we started out with the petting zoo that had new fluffy baby bunnies and the cutest little black pig.  No photos, I was too busy adoring the little animals and keeping the girls from chasing them too much.

Then Vivian immediately remembered the corn box from previous years (a memory like an elephant, unbelievable), so we made a stop there.  Then it was time for the hay ride (and munching on the yummy apples they handed out), a pony ride, the annual tunnel photo, sack slide (Annelee threw a fit when I wanted to slide with her ... big girls like her do the sack slide alone!), hay maze, and of course the choosing of the pumpkins and corn.  At that point, we were all dragging a bit, and took the ride back, had lunch there and then headed home.  As expected, Annelee fell asleep within 4 minutes of being put into the car seat. 

We'll definitely be back there again next year!

Eating yummy apples on the hayride down to all the fun

Vivian atop the horse

And Annelee, too

Annelee's first tunnel photo

And Vivian's 3rd or 4th

Celebrating with a hay toss after Vivian made it through the hay maze.  Annelee successfully explored both ends of it

BOO!

Ghostly!

Vivian and her chosen pumpkin

We'll practice more lady-like positions for next year!

Who allowed her to get big enough to almost reach the pedals in a fire truck?!

At least she still has a while to go!

A Visit from Aunt Susan and Grandma

Can you believe it?

Grandma came to Pittsburgh! 

The kids (and the adults) were very excited.

Thank you, Susan, for bringing her up here.  And for also coming.  The girls totally adore you (well, Vivian does, and Annelee is quickly catching up) and we enjoy your company, too.

Susan dropped Grandma off on Saturday and then almost immediately left us again to have a girls night out with her good friend Kim (who lives minutes from our house).

We all hung out and played and chatted, and Will made a delicious spaghetti-meatball dinner.

On Sunday, we went to church, and Susan came back home for a late lunch.  At naptime, we planted a white-blooming dogwood tree in memory of my Dad ... he would have loved that.  Thank you!

Then we just hung out some more, had some more delicious food (well, everyone but Annelee who chose dinnertime as the perfect time to get sick - but who luckily got better soon after) and just generally had a good time.

They left Monday morning after breakfast.

Come back soon!

Tree planting in progress ...

... and DONE!

Annelee suspiciously inspects the nail polish on her fingernails

The Aquadoodle is more her speed

Vivian, however, totally enjoys her spa treatment

Group hug with Aunt Susan

And with Grandma

The Master Chef puts the final touches on dinner:  Halibut, roasted red pepper grits, mixed vegetables. Deeeeelicious!

Soccer

This fall, Vivian and her BFF Rowan started a six week soccer class.  Between bad weather, Vivian being sick, and such, Vivian's actually not attended too many practices/games, but that hasn't stopped me from taking photos when I had the chance.

I was sort of dreading becoming a "Soccer Mom" and hanging out field side and screaming at my kid, but as it turns out, it's quite nice to be chatting with the other parents and cheering the kid on!

Meanwhile, Vivian complains she doesn't like soccer because the running makes her tired.  (She should watch a professional game some time!)  She does like practice though :)  I guess I won't be a Soccer Mom for too long, unless Annelee falls in love with the sport.

Annelee has come along quite a few times and also enjoys her "practice", so that is definitely a possibility :)

Vivian complained that she didn't score a goal, but I was able to catch her with the ball a few times!

In full action

I'm pretty sure this is some secret half-time communication

Vivian up high!

Attack!

On picture day, I asked Rowan and Vivian to pose for me.  This is what I got.

Annelee was all like "You want a nice posed shot?"

"Here are a couple for you to choose from"

Team photo with Coach Tim (L) and Coach Sean (R).  Click on the photo to see a larger version of it.

 

Warm-up at practice

Let the mayhem begin.  They were all "painting" the grass different colors with their balls.

Annelee was just lounging about

Rowan is very focused on her game

As is Vivian

That didn't last long though.  This is what they did while standing in line waiting for their turn to practice shooting goals :)

Dress Up

We had a rather lazy morning the other day ... got up, dressed and had breakfast, and then just sort of meandered through the rest of the morning.  Annelee tried on her Halloween costume to see if it fits (it does!) and Vivian got dressed in her usual colorful style.

After breakfast, Vivian got her dress up stuff out (nothing unusual there) but suddenly, Annelee took notice of it, too, and started tearing at her clothes (she's just starting to attempt to help getting her dressed & undressed).  She tried on many of the outfits and posed for photos.  They are all way too big for her, but that actually helps (sort of) in her attempts to put them on and take them off.

Then, she proceeded to run around in just a diaper for the rest of the morning.  What a flashback to Vivian at two years old. 

Trying to get the dress on

It's too big, but she's very pleased with herself

Next up:  Vivian's old gymnastics outfit and a baby blanket ...

A puppy was there, too!

And last, but not least, a glimpse in the amount of effort it takes a 2-year old to put on a prom dress.  Good thing she has a few more years to practice before she has to actually go to a prom.  If you can't see the video below, please click here.

Bath Time

After each bath, I was struggling to wrap a towel around Vivian's hair while also cuddling Annelee at the same time (she was a bit needy after having her hair rinsed, although that's recently gotten much better).  Then one day I saw these in the store and thought they may do the trick.  And they sure do - the girls get all giggly and silly and happy when it's time to wrap up their hair after the bath.  Even Annelee who really doesn't need that kind of a towel just yet ...

Weekend Trip to Erie

We had contemplated a couple of different options for our weekend getaway while my Mom was here, but Erie won for several different reasons, not least because it was under 2 hrs to drive and there's a beach there!

Cabins were no longer available by the time we booked, so we booked two nights in a hotel.  Not ideal with small children, but we figured the indoor pool would make up for some of that, at least for Vivian.  And it sure did.  She pretty much alternated between swimming in the lake and the pool at the hotel.

The hotel was nothing to write home about (especially considering the rate), but it was manageable.  Our rooms were at least on the same floor.  Vivian and my Mom shared one room, Will, Annelee and I the other.

We took off Friday morning after breakfast and arrived around lunch time; picked up some food from KFC and headed to Presque Isle.  We picked a picnic table overlooking the bay for lunch and then moved on to visit our first beach.  Beach #9 (they are all numbered).

It was wonderful.  Really like being at the sea side.  The girls played in the sand and in the water, the adults took turns joining them or going for small little walks along the beach.  Vivian loved playing "waves knock you over".  We do need to take her to a real beach with real waves some day.

That evening, we had dinner in the hotel (nothing to write home about) and then Vivian, Annelee and I went swimming in the hotel pool.

The evening plan of putting the girls down in our room and playing cards in my Mom's room (with the baby monitor of course) was quickly abandoned after Annelee jumped ship, and walked past an awake Vivian (who did nothing to stop her) and straight out of the hotel room and made it half way down the corridor before I caught up with her.  So, everyone went to their respective rooms and had an early night.  :)

After breakfast the next morning, we decided to try and explore the boardwalk area, but were sorely disappointed.  Not only did we not find a boardwalk, or easy access for a walk along the Marina, but it was hot and humid.  No fun at all.

So, we had lunch and then headed back to the hotel for a nap (Annelee), rest (my Mom and I) and a trip to the Waldemeer Amusement Park (Vivian and Will).  In the afternoon, we headed to beach #10 which had been recommended to me by some friends on facebook.  It was nice, too, but we all liked #9 better, I think.

After take-out pizza in the hotel room, it was once again time for Vivian and I to go to the pool.

The next morning, we packed up and checked out after breakfast, headed to beach #6, spent a couple of hours getting wet and sandy one more time, and then headed home.

All in all a fun trip, if not a perfect one.  Next time, a cabin would make all the difference, and better planning of the non-beach activities.

The photos are from an assortment of cameras and were taken by all three adults.

Squinting into the sun

Feathers featured heavily on this trip ... Vivian collected a whole bunch of them

Annelee seemed to think the sand made a good skin treatment

Posing ...

... always posing ...

There were lots of seagulls

It really does feel like being at the sea, rather than a lake

Daddy-o and LeeLee

Omi and Vivian

Did I mention that she always poses? My Mom said I did, too, at that age.  Let's hope Vivian outgrows this phase soon! ;)