Backyard fun

A portrait of the artist as a young girl

While at the local children's consignment shop, Toddler Jeneric convinced Eric to pick up a Fisher Price Art Easel. Jenni declares this a good deal, as Toddler Jeneric has played with it every day since - painting and, more recently, chalking!

Halloween, Part II

But first, a brief movie of Toddler Wily - doing what she does best: wiggling.


So, Halloween night. After saying Happy Halloween to all the grandparents, Toddlers Wily & Jeneric suited up and hit the road.

Toddler Jeneric bounded from one door to another, though her 'Trick-or-treats' were often barely audible.


She was a bit braver when she could tag along with some big kids.


That smile? That's for an amazing, loud and clear 'Trick-or-Treat'!


Toddler Wily, meanwhile, stayed put in what was to become the neighborhood's largest candy bag.


More smiles from Eric and Toddler Jeneric. Toddler Wily is a bit disaffected.


Toddler Jeneric declared that we would go until her pumpkin pail was full, which, lucky for us equated to one trip around the block.


Like all *good* parents, we let Toddler Jeneric pick out 2 pieces of candy to have right away (well, after the bath). She chose the largest piece of candy - a blue Pixie Stick. Jenni couldn't quite convey the correct way to eat a Pixie Stick without eating some, so we dumped it into a bowl, gave her a spoon and let her have at it.


Mm, the lovely glow of artificially colored sugar.

Halloween begins

Around these parts, we like to take our time with things. Draw them out a bit. Really savor the festivities, which, given the number of gray days we have around here makes sense. This is certainly true of Halloween, which began Thursday with the annual Pumpkin walk downtown. We don't understand why it's called the Pumpkin walk - there are no pumpkins and there is no specific route to walk. The goal is to acquire as much candy as possible from the local merchants, have a dinner without waiting in enormous lines and make it home without downing half the loot. This year, we were successful on all three counts.

We join our intrepid, costumed heroes with their pumpkins already heavy with candy.


Toddler Wily loved pulling on her ears and Toddler Jeneric just loved being in costume.





The University's Greek community puts on a Safe Halloween event concurrently with the Pumpkin Walk. Toddler Jeneric put the finishing touch on her costume with a quick face paint.



She wasn't much in the mood to roar loudly, but we did manage to get her to say several audible 'trick-or-treats' and 'thank yous'.



Meanwhile, Toddler Wily was overwhelmed, hot (it was over 60° F today!) and really not sure what to make of everything.



Safe Halloween also had a slide, which Toddler Jeneric eagerly attempted. The climb up was slow, and she hesitated for a moment at the top.



Before flinging herself down the slide... rather slowly, in fact.



She went so slowly that the little mouse could wait no more, and started down after her.



Finally, the ring toss, which was definitely not our strong suit!



More Halloween to come!

Siskel & Ebert

It finally happened. Toddler Jeneric chose to watch another movie - instead of Annie. She was very excited about this movie, waiting patiently for the star to make an appearance.


Trying to contain her excitement at the singing and dancing and animatronic birds:



Toddler Wily was not so impressed. She's not yet keen on tv. The computer, well, that's a different story (we use our MacBook to watch movies, so this can create a bit of a challenge).


BTW, do you recognize the movie?

Unrelated but interesting to note, Eric baked some awesome bread on Sunday. Both girls devoured several pieces with dinner.

RIF

Reading is fundamental! We've been trying for ages to get Toddler Jeneric to 'read' to Toddler Wily. On Sunday, she complied, reading Moo, Baa, La La La, complete with snorts and snuffs. Toddler Wily was delighted!

Getting ready for Halloween

Trick-or-treating is just around the corner and Toddler Jeneric is well into the spirit this year. Let's start with the pumpkin carving.

Here's Toddler Jeneric very excited about creating a jack-o-lantern (she's learned all about jack-o-lantern's through the Berenstain Bears).


And here's Toddler Jeneric horrified that creating a jack-o-lantern means carving into the pumpkin with a knife!


And here's Eric, horrified at his carving skills!


What's inside?


Here, let me pull some of that out for you!


No one wanted to pull out the goopy innards, so it was Jenni to the rescue.


Oh and Rrawr!

Interlude

Be careful of the monsters you create! Toddler Jeneric has a hard time keeping her bedroom neat, especially her bed. Tired of pajamas strewn about, Jenni created the Pajama Monster, who eats children's pajamas if they are not put away.

Do you see where this is going?

Yes indeed, every morning and after every nap, Toddler Jeneric is very hyper and concerned about getting her pajamas tucked under her pillow and the bed made. She’s really worried the Pajama Monster will eat her pajamas and will often check on her pajamas to make sure they are safe.

(I hesitate to confess that I also created the Dinner Fairy, who eats your dessert if you don’t try at least one bite of everything on your plate.)

Tea for Two

And two for tea! Eric snapped a few pictures of the girls' first tea party. Toddler Jeneric was quite thoughtful and set aside a cup of tea for Jenni.

Interlude

Some days, you can't help but smile all through breakfast.

What was in your breakfast cereal this morning?

Toddler Jeneric had a very exciting surprise in her cereal one morning!

Leaf Peeping

Michigan is, apparently, known for the fall foliage. We get a lot of visitors from - of all places - Illinois (this baffles Jenni - they have trees in Illinois!). In the spirit of the season, Eric and the girls when on a short leaf peeping journey this morning.

This tree looks pretty...


and this one, too.


This shrub needs to get with the program!


Toddler Jeneric tried her hand at leaf photography. Not bad for an almost 3-year old!


Toddler Wily prefers her leaves one at a time.

Not much Wednesday

Well, the first cold of the season has swept through Wily Jeneric. We're in a tissue lock-down and might be delirious enough to have let Toddler Jeneric cook dinner.



The smell of burnt plastic is going to linger, isn't it?

Teamwork!

Toddlers Jeneric & Wily recently joined forces to vacuum the kitchen.

Hey Toddler Jeneric! I think you need a different attachment.


Make sure you reach all the crevices.


Toddler Wily, I'm not sure about riding the vacuum like a tricycle.




No, I haven't heard of child labor laws. Why do you ask?