Saturday, October 20, 2007
Saturday Foliage
By most people's standards I would say we're just about at peak. I've mentioned that I like it better when there is more green mixed in. This is still beautiful. But it also means we're approaching the end, and that always makes me sad.

There were a lot of flatlanders in the area enjoying the colors, according to M, who spent the day at the store.

To my photographer friends. I know this photo violates the rule of thirds, but the bottom third would have been nothing but dark shadow, as the sun was just coming up over the ridge behind us. I think made the better picture.

Quiet day at home
We had no plans to go anywhere today. I spent the morning cleaning up the house. I'm trying to maintain all the work I did two weekends ago. So far so good. While I was vacuuming Emma went outside and entertained herself. She probably spent an hour out there.

I found a birthday gift I'd forgotten and gave it to her this morning. Below are pictures of her playing with her new stroller. One time when I looked out the window she was throwing sticks for Beaker. How she managed that I don't know, because getting him to actually relinquish a stick requires hard work. Perhaps she was throwing different sticks. That would really mess with Beakie's head.


Friday, October 19, 2007
Party Favors
What kind of aunt buys junior fireworks for party favors? I do! They loved it! The girls all got the "snappers" in their Backyardigans cups. Snappers or poppers, or whatever you call them, are the ones that look like spitballs with a tail. You fling them on the ground and they pop. Safe enough even for Emma.

Here's C with his snappers. He got the bonus favor pack with snakes and colored smoke bombs too.


Here Uncle B explains to M that when he was young they'd actually pop the snappers between their fingers. He's showing her the technique and trying to convince her that it won't blow her fingers off...


She's going to try it. Now look who's flinching...LOL!


Everyone gathers 'round while Uncle B lights a snake.


Checking out the smoke bomb...

Popi teaches Emma the swing
Despite the way it looks he's not trying to hurl her onto a pile of bricks...


Sunset brings surprises
We had to abandon our supper and go outside with the camera to see what we could get. Everything was pink tinted from the setting sun. It still made for interesting pictures.





Thursday, October 18, 2007
You're daughter is very...um...bold
This is from someone I work with occasionally. I ran into her this weekend and she took Emma off my hands for a minute so I could finish a conversation with someone. Since Emma was loudly demanding to see "the dog" and constantly interrupting me it was a welcome diversion.

Today the lady tells me my daughter is very bold. She went right for the dog and when she was done she was done. I replied, "Yes, she's very agenda-driven." The lady retorted, "She's a firecracker." Oy.

Yes, I am aware my daughter is demanding in a loud fashion. I tell her not to interrupt, I tell her not to talk so loudly. She has the patience of a flea, assuming fleas have no patience. So my question is...how much of this is a personality defect and how much is the age?

I sometimes envy moms with meek little munchkins who don't draw so much attention. But, somehow I think Emma's "defect" will serve her well in the future, providing we can temper it and civilize her a little better.
The newest obsession...
When we go to visit Daddy at the store this is what they have to do now, climb the ladder. Not that there's anything at the top, it's all in the journey apparently. As you can see, Daddy is very protective. The first photo is to give you some perspective on how high it is. M is standing on the ladder too.



I had a birthday...
It was pointed out to me that I barely acknowledged my own birthday on my blog. After reviewing the blog, sure enough, it's true. My birthday was Saturday, the same day as the fall festival. To celebrate my mother-in-law took us to the Inn for supper. It was a good meal, I got to enjoy leftovers later in the week. Then we went by her house where she had a cheesecake for us. We visited a little while and then headed home.

M and Emma gave me their presents. I got a 50 mm prime lens for my camera, a tripod, a cleaning kit and a lens leash. They really set me up good. It was lovely day.

The next day was when everyone came over to celebrate both Emma's and my birthdays. Her party came first, as described below. Later in the afternoon they made me open presents. I got cool stuff like an iTunes gift certificate, my favorite Bath & Body lotion, a manicure set, a Halloween shirt and a decorated shirt. Popi chose a beautiful unikat polish pottery bowl for me, my first signature piece. I also got a W&M t-shirt, matching cups and executive pen. I'm stylin' now. Then Noni got into my kitchen and cooked supper for everyone. Awesome! We topped it off with Pop's Cake.

That's the tragedy of having two birthday celebrations in one day...you have to eat cake twice!

Today Popi brought over gifts from my Aunt Bunny. It looks to me like she had a lot of fun shopping. She couldn't go wrong with that theme. Thanks so much!


Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I'm done!
This is what cake looks like when she's done eating it. As you can see by the evidence on her face, it used to have icing on it.

UPDATE: I told M next year I should just skip the middle man and buy her a tub of icing for her birthday ;)

New birthday hat
I love it. You may recognize it from the logo to the right. Way to go Uncle B and Aunt K!


Tai Chi for baseball.

Monday, October 15, 2007
In case they look...
Didn't turn out too badly, did it?

Yea or Nay?
LIBRA - The Harmonizer

Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.

Says Andrea's blog. Is it anywhere close?

Click over to her blog to check out yours.
Deja vu and finis
The third and final third birthday party. This one featured the Backyardigans cake and cousins to play with. We ate an appetizer lunch, watched her annual birthday slide show, ate birthday cake and then did the presents. Emma had a blast.

The very colorful Backyardigans cake. Yellow cake with buttercream frosting. Can't you just taste it?


Her first attempt at blowing out the candles...


Mmmmm.


Evidence on her face.


Opening presents again. Woo hoo!


Investigating her favorite present of the last twenty-four hours.


Checking out her new Backyardigans beanies. I think they're awesome. Yay Noni!