Visit from Abby

Carl's cousin, Abby, came into town this weekend for a conference. So, we all got to hang out together while she played hooky from a group dinner. Thanks for coming by, Abby! We look forward to seeing you and the Deetz side at Thanksgiving.

Birthday party (3 of 4)

I didn't take many pictures at this party, just a couple of the "hayride" which was a really cute idea. Too bad Lily did not want to sit the entire time and made a couple attempts at actually jumping off. No fear here.

Halloween Event #3

Saturday morning, WUMCHA hosted a great Halloween party. They had fun games, an incredible balloon man, a yummy cookie decorating station, and a great singer. We all had a lot fun.

At the cookie decorating station, Lily's not stingy with the icing

Her delectable work of art

My family may get flashbacks of my younger days in the first video. Lily thought that she would get things started on the dance floor, and she was not at all concerned that she was the only one out there. Of course, at the end, she gets distracted and stares at someone else, as she so often does.



In the second video, her little cohorts have joined her on the dance floor. I particularly like Lily's "wiggle" during this song, and then once again, she gets distracted and stares before continuing with her dancing.

Halloween Event #2

Friday night, we went to the Halloween Spooktacular at the park. Several parks around us were hosting similar events, so we just chose the closest one. Unfortunately, the event did not start until 6:30 pm, and it was already pretty chilly when we got there.

Lily decided to wear her princess gown to the park. However, she had to use her blanket as a pashmina due to the chilly temps.

Lily and I played the leap frog game together. It proved be be too tough for the two of us.

Lily getting in on some ring action.

And, once again, face painting. She chose a cute candy corn design with glitter.

At about 7:30, Lily told us that she was tired, and she wanted to go home to take a little rest. How sweet. But we told her that we were not leaving until she won every game there.....just kidding.

First Halloween Event

Friday afternoon, we had our first Halloween event at the "not-so-spooky haunted house" at the Magic House. This event was sponsored by WUMCHA, and as always, we had a good time. There really wasn't any haunted house to speak of, spooky or not, but they did have staff members dressed up as different characters stationed around the museum that handed out treats. Lily wore her koala costume to this event. This is the first time that Lily has been able to pick out her own costume. Of course, she chose something unusual so we had to piece together a costume, but I think that it turned out pretty well. Naturally, she loved the face painting. A koala face was a challenge for me, but I did the best that I could. Most people guessed that she was a koala. Although, some thought she was a cat or a mouse.

The sports ball guessing game. I was really impressed when Lily knew the tennis ball right away.

More touchy-feely with the texture board

Very intently playing the bells

This area has three pulley systems: one with two pulleys, another with four, and a final one with six pulleys to feel how an increased number of pulleys makes for easier work. Unfortunately, Lily really liked the one with two pulleys. She wasn't really concerned about effort needed to pull her up since she had me as her work horse.

Mixing up the colors at the light table

Cooking "banana bread"

This picture was taken at the sand table, right before she climbed in.

Proud of her work in the Lego area

New Town Cook-Off

Mom and I at our table (#9 - Mom made sure to remind everyone)

The Apple Petal Tart

On Sunday, I entered my very first cooking competition. Mom and dad helped with preparations for the event and gave me pointers on sample size, presentation, etc. which must have helped because we won second place! Now, my father did not enter this year, but every year that he has entered, he won first place. So, maybe I'm not at my parents' level yet, but it wasn't bad for my first attempt!

Birthday party (2 of 4)

Ready for the princess party

Lily was way into the pink lip gloss party favor

All the princesses (and a knight in shining armor) after their fun scavenger hunt and royalty parade

Fall family fun with leaves

Fall family fun with pumpkins

Notice how Aunt Ingrid keeps one eye on the knife-wielding child to her right - a wise decision

Pumpkin guts...yucky!



Lily really gets into the pumpkin carving...

while daddy and Aunt Ingrid work on cleaning and seasoning the pumpkin seeds

Our jack-o-lantern

The second pumpkin was sliced, diced, and cooked and is currently in the freezer, destined for Thanksgiving pies and bread...yummy!

Fun with shadows

After examining herself in the light streaming through the blinds, Lily exclaimed, "Look, mommy. My whole body is striped!"

Today is pregnancy and infant loss awareness day

This post goes out to all those who have love and lost. Our babies may not be with us, but they are not forgotten.

Little bunny foo foo

Shower mania

For obvious reasons, I did not film Lily in our glass-door shower, but I wanted to give everyone an idea of what shower time sounds like at our house. For some reason, Lily has really taken to showers over baths. And, she really, really likes the shower. This was taken on Saturday, I think, and Lily happened to be into shouting out numbers and jumping, jumping, jumping that day. If you can't make it out, in the beginning, she says, "Terradog, you want to come in? C'mon Terradoggie. No? Okay."

County park

After the birthday party yesterday, we spent the afternoon together at a newly discovered (and very close to our house) park. It featured a very peaceful lake and walking trails with a nice playground and pavilion. A great find!

Carl points out the buffalo fish in the water.

Our little explorer

Putting her tool to work

Birthday party (1 of 4)

What drinks were they serving at this birthday party anyway?

Part of the birthday party fun - the blue icing tongue



Contain yourself, buddy - it's just cake

The party was held at a children's gym which was a lot of fun for active preschoolers. Lily played on the uneven bars the majority of the time. She loved it!

Carl and I decided that "wedding crashers" have nothing on "kids' birthday party crashers". They had homemade California rolls and shrimp fried rice at the party yesterday which, as one child said, was "delicious". Also, Lily loves the active play which makes for easy, peaceful sleep at night. We won't actually have to become "crashers" though, seeing as though we have 4 birthday parties in the next 4 weeks!

Meyer family fish fry

Lily is completely taken with her Papa and never strays far when he's around. Here, she is on her own special stool, helping the cook fry up the fish for the hungry guests.

After the meal, the guys play some euchre. Of course, Lily has to be in on the action. Papa is kind to humor her even though I think she snuck the score cards (4 and 6) into the deck a couple times.

Our trip to the pumpkin farm in movie titles

Footloose

Pirates of the Caribbean

Don Quixote

Children of the Corn

Apocalypto

Flicka

Sunday's apple-picking trip

When we went apple-picking last Sunday, we were pleasantly surprised at all the festivities at the farm/orchard. Lily had a blast (and so did we).

After spending the afternoon at Monkey Joes on Saturday, Lily got to have more inflatable fun at the farm the very next day (outdoors this time).

Lily loves any excuse to take off her shoes.

Way up high!

"And I'm free....free-fallin'....."

Feeding the nice goats


All gone, animals!

Taking a ride on the kiddie train

"Please keep all arms and legs.....Uh, ohhh...."

Going on a tractor ride to the apple orchard

Lily decided that she wanted to be a giraffe picking apples.

Good thing Carl is such a good sport. I think he may have gotten conked in the head a couple of times by the "giraffe".

Lily's trying her best to keep a stoic face after I asked her to smile.

She doesn't succeed for long, and I get a nice apple smile.