Yes, we had Thanksgiving and a day off today and many, many other activities between my last post (whenever that was) and now…
So, while Curious George is buying me a precious five minutes between loads of laundry, I thought I’d post a couple of fun photos taken the other day while Thomas was “helping” me strip the bed.
I’ll be back with more appropriate holiday-themed photos shortly. We’re pulling the Christmas books out of the basement tonight.
My baby just turned 18 months old. On the one hand I wonder how we got here so quickly. On the other, it feels like he should still be my baby, not this chatty, active (nearly running) toddler.
I took him to his 18 month appointment today – 20% weight (23.5 pounds) and 70% height, saying way more words than is normal at his age (especially for boys), excelling with his use of utensils (the kid was born to eat) and basically happy and healthy.
There were shots involved in today’s visit, so he wasn’t happy for long. Funny how the doctor leaves the room right when the “fun” starts and leaves mummy and the nurse to pick up the pieces. Nothing a cookie (or “cacka!”) couldn’t fix.
Things I love about Samuel at 18 months:
I am a little sad that he is growing up, but happy about the little person he is becoming – even the inner Drama Queen. I gather the kids needs to do something to get a little attention around here.
My latest photo challenge entry for the I ♥ Faces photo blog.
This week’s challenge is Autumn Beauty.
The leaves are now gone by the way. Instead of the beautiful yellow leaves on the silver birch, we have bare black branches but at least the streets are clean. The street sweeper came by at 7am a few days ago and I was the lucky one who ran out to move the car in the nick of time. It’s the little things that make my life so exciting.
OK sarcasm aside, my baby is adorable – and not much of a baby any more. He will be 18 months old this week. I’m not quite sure how that happened…
Halloween was on a Saturday this year which means we had time to catch up with a bunch of families from the neighborhood before the big candy trek.
I took the opportunity to wear the costume I had planned to wear the night before – complete with makeup.
But it was the tights that were the perfect finishing touch.
Oh, and these shoes that I don’t think I can ever wear again now that they are firmly planted as witch shoes in my brain.
But of course the evening is all about the kids. It wasn’t until we were walking down the street together that I realized how “dark” we were – a witch, a spider and Darth Vader. Talk about getting in the true spirit of Halloween.
I have to mention here that I did not grow up with Halloween. Dressing in a costume and walking down a very public street – even on Halloween – makes me feel very uncomfortable. It’s something I’m working on.
One of our neighbors had the inspired idea to fill the kids up on pizza and fruit before we hit the candy, so we had an hour or so to enjoy some time with friends before the candy walk began.
Samuel was completely unfazed by the creepy decor.
(that’s his finger pushing the button to make the skeletal hand come out).
But soon it was time to start knocking on some doors. This was the first year that the 4 year olds really understood the concept of free candy just for saying “trick-or-treat”. Let’s just say that there was no holding them back.
We made quite the colorful procession…. well except for my dark, disturbed children…
While walking around we were able to enjoy some of the neighborhood decor.
Fabulous pumpkins that left my cat-carving in the dust.
Plenty of temporary graveyards
And weird scary faces peering out from windows. It’s a wonder the kids didn’t have nightmares.
But at the end of the day it was all about knocking on doors and being cute. They give you more candy if you’re cute and we had PLENTY of cute to go around.
If you look closely, you can see my cat carved pumpkin on the porch.
The candy is now gone – thanks to some help from Mum and Dad. The costumes are in the dress up box. The pumpkins are just a mouldy, mushed up memory. Until next year…
P.S. Expect to see that witch again. I don’t think I got enough leverage from that costume.
I realize Halloween was over a week ago and you’re really supposed to post photos of an event like this in the days immediately following but, hey, I’ve been busy. And as the saying goes, it’s better late than never.
Our Halloween had two parts – and two costumes. WAY more effort than I usually contribute to the holiday.
I promised myself that I would not have a stressful Halloween this year. I have traumatic flashbacks of last-minute visits to thrift stores in the hopes of finding something (anything!) to wear. So this year, when I passed a pair of striped tights and a witches hat in Freddies (local enormous grocery store), I grabbed it and said done.
Kei had other ideas…
For the record, I was NEVER going to be Thing 2.
This inspired ensemble was what we wore for the adult party on Friday night (saved at the last minute by a wonderful neighbor who came to watch the kids after our babysitter canceled at the last minute).
It took me a little while to get over the fact that my friends all dressed as sexy kittens and sexy race car drivers and sexy…well… wenches(?), while I was basically dressed in sweat pants and an old lady wig.
But I did get over it. And we had a good time with the cookie monster…
And one scary-ass clown.
Or maybe this was the scary-ass clown.
Coming soon.. the costume I was supposed to wear…or a lesson in how to overdress for a walk around the neighborhood.
OK, that title sounds so depressing but I actually mean it literally. Daylight Saving ended last weekend which means that, here in the Pacific Northwest, darkness arrives early. So early in fact that it is already almost dark when I pick Thomas up from school. I have lived here for about 6 winters now and I will never get used to it.
This first week after the end of daylight saving has been particularly difficult. 5:00 feels like 6:00 because…well…it is. And by the time we get home it feels like time for bed. Add to that a busy work schedule and it leaves little time to focus on anything else except the busyness and the darkness. And it’s only just November…
A couple of short weeks ago, though, we were enjoying the beautiful colours of autumn, including a trip to the pumpkin patch.
A fun day filled with Hot Chocolate, farm animals and, of course, pumpkins. It proved a little too much for some…
Now I am looking ahead to Christmas. I know it’s crazy, but my 2008 photo book recently arrived and the photos from December last year have me longing for coloured lights and hot chocolate and family adventures. This year I have big plans and of course they will include lots of photos.
In the meantime, any advice on gifts for an 18 month old who has everything and a four year old who WANTS everything, are welcome.
My latest photo challenge entry for the I ♥ Faces photo blog.
This week’s challenge is balloons and..well…you know how I feel about balloons. I had no shortage of pics to choose from thanks to a recent birthday party. Samuel shares my obsession with balloons. These kept him occupied for a full 30 minutes.
Nicole Ishida Photography 