let it snow

Merry Christmas!

We've had our first few snowfalls of the season. During this first one, Lucy was excited to put on her new snowgear and play outside. Thank you, GrandMa!

santa shy

Lucy hasn't made it to see a living Santa yet this year – after last year's fiasco, we are a little Santa-shy. [Can you blame us?]

To be honest, I see nothing wrong in telling Outside Plastic Santa what we want for Christmas – he's not scary . . . and has a North Pole connection, right?

cookies and milk

Lucy made her first trip to a family farm. My college roommate's family has a little "farm" with lots of cute animals. While we were there, Lucy fed cookies to Sylvester, the cow and Amma, the llama. We also saw another llama, a donkey [Marnie's donkey, if truth be told], some turkeys, chickens, roosters, ducks, and geese. Lucy had a great time seeing them all, but especially enjoyed meeting her new friend, Marnie.

Marnie introduced Lucy to all the animals and showed her some of the snowmen in her grandmother's collection. Lucy had a great time playing with Marnie and would follow her all around the house when she left the room.

Hope we get back to the farm and see Marnie again real soon!

come on, get happy

A number of years ago, I bought myself a Partridge Family Bus ornament that plays their theme song. While I always smiled whenever anyone hit the door to make it play, I now have a cute little image to associate with it and can chuckle too. Lucy loves dancing to it! Honestly, if we play it once, we play it fifteen times.

As you'll notice, she just recently discovered the joy of the sunglasses as well.

the irresistible power of jax

Well, it appears that we've had a little, unwanted guest running around the house. You'd think with 2 cats it would not be a problem, however . . . there was a mouse.

I had suspected it for a few days with the way the cats were running around like nut-cakes and Cleo constantly in pounce mode. [In my mind I chalked it up to chasing spiders, until . . . ] I saw a little mouse dart out from under the vanity and grab a Cheerio that Lucy had dropped a few minutes earlier.

That evening, Rob went out and picked up some live-catch traps. [To be honest, I wasn't really expecting it to work so quickly, especially w/all the dropped snacks around.] Anyhoo, he decided to set it up straight-away. The trap suggested using peanut butter. Since we had none, Rob said, "Let's try Jax – no one can resist Jax." [except maybe Richard, that is]. So he put one in [even though I tried to suggest waiting another day and getting the peanut butter].

Lo and behold, last night after a bit of a scuffle, the trap did what the cats could not – it caught the mouse. Actually, I think Mr. Red was a part of the scuffle. Perhaps it was part draw of the Jax and part fear of that big, red cat that got the mouse into the trap. Either way he was caught and set free this morning outdoors.

I've been watching MammaKitty hanging out near the release spot . . . Godspeed little mouse.

"people, let me tell you 'bout my best friend,

he's a one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy." . . .

For whatever reason, Lucy has really taken to this plastic, light-up snowman [Sans the electrical parts, of course]. She lugs him everywhere, dresses him in her old clothes, and even insists on having him in her crib with her. [unFortunately, there is not enough room in her crib, so Plastic Snowman spends nap/bedtime on the stool next to her crib where she can still see him.]

If you were old enough in the '70s to remember The Courtship of Eddie's Father, you'll recognize the lyrics from "Best Friend", by Harry Nilsson

the snowman

I came across this little video I had taken the other day of Lucy and Plastic Snowman. Since I haven't posted any video in a while, I thought I'd share this one [pictures really don't show how much she enjoys Plastic Snowman.]

how lovely are thy branches

Once we finished the outside of the house, it was time to decorate the inside.

Lucy was a great asset picking out the tree, bringing it in, setting it in the stand, lighting it, and hanging the ornaments. [You'll notice she was careful not to over-exert herself while putting on the ornaments. Slow and steady, Lucy . . . ]

Lucy takes the tree care very seriously and has become the water nazi. It seems that she is determined that the tree not get thirsty. Twice a day, she grabs the measuring cup and announces, "water" at which time she brings the cup to the kitchen and stands next to the sink. She then follows Mommy to the tree and back to the faucet ensuring the tree is adequately watered.

Still looking good, Lucy.

deck the halls

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we can set our sights towards Christmas.

The weather was perfect for being outdoors, so we figured why not get it done? Lucy was very helpful putting up the outdoor decorations and lights. She even brought out her new best friend, Plastic Snowman, to help out as well.

Like how she put herself in the mix? Too bad we can't keep her out all the time — she really does tie it all together.

Gobble. Gobble. Gobble.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Mommy traced Lucy's hand and she colored it in.

the double

Is there really such a thing as too many binks?

If one is good, two has to be better, right?

trick-or-treating

Lucy had a blast trick-or-treating last night. This was her first official trick-or-treat where she walked up to neighbors' doors and received candy.

She loved everything about Halloween [except maybe for sharing her candy with the other trick-or-treaters]. Lucy especially enjoyed marching up and down our front walk pointing out all the pumpkins, skeletons, and scotch tape she saw to her grandparents.

Looking forward to next year . . .

trick-or-treat

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday, Max!

this is NOT a pumpkin

. . . this is a jack-o-lantern!

Lucy was very helpful — she cleaned out her pumpkin and drew on it the picture she wanted carved [it was one she had seen in a book]. Mommy wielded the knife.

Lucy's is the stemless one in the middle.

the great pumpkin

We took Lucy pumpkin picking today. We tried to go to Lookout Farm but they had already sold out of pumpkins. [Well, actually, they still had a few left sitting on hay bales, but what fun is that??] Fortunately, on the way there, we spotted the Hills Congregational Church's annual charity Pumpkin Patch Sale! What a find that was — we all had a great time choosing our pumpkins. Lucy even picked out her own pumpkin and stuck to her guns when I suggested she find one that had a stem – she would not be swayed. [We bought her that stemless pumpkin.]

Lucy also enjoyed the wagon-ride as I pulled her [and our three pumpkins] all around the "pumpkin patch."

Finding great pumpkins and giving a little something back — isn't that what Halloween is all about?

a costume party

Lucy's friend Max had a costume party to celebrate his first birthday. All the kids [and most of the grown-ups] were in costume. Everyone looked great! Max was a monkey, his cousins were a Power Ranger and a baby bunny; and Lucy, of course, was a bee.

Max got some really great toys for his birthday and Lucy was not shy about trying them out. She particularly enjoyed the little, red, ride-on car and challenged Max for a ride. Poor Max — doesn't even get to play with his own presents at his birthday party . . .

Just wait, Max, you'll be bigger than Lucy soon enough . . .

poisonous?

This is not a poisonous mushroom.

How do I know? Well, Lucy was kind enough to taste it and require a call to the Poison Control Center. I emailed them this picture and they confirmed it was not going to kill her or make her sick . . . phew.

Nice to know we don't have deadly fungi growing in the yard.

it's pajama time

The weather is starting to get colder and that means good bye old-shorty-pajamas, and hello new-cozy-pajamas!

Lucy has 2 new pairs that she particularly enjoys - one holiday festive, and one froggy.


Lucy sure is feeling sassy in her new pumpkin pajamas.

fun fall festivities

We got a nice group together [Lucy, Genna, Vivi, Henry, Max, Sawyer, Astrid, and their parents] and went apple picking the other day. [I think with this group, as many apples were eaten as were picked.] The weather that day couldn't have been more beautiful. [Though I must say, I would have preferred a little nip in the air – it seemed a little strange apple picking in shorts and t-shirts.]

Being as warm as it was, it did make the ice cream treat seem a bit more appropriate, and it was most enjoyable.

turn the beat around

. . . love to hear percussion