Hat Face

My mother used to tell me I had a hat face. I think she would have agreed the real prize goes to my daughter.

Fall into Fall at Cox Farms

October means a couple things in our house -- Halloween is big with us -- but it also heralds the opening of Cox Farms in Centreville. And we love it, all of us: the hay, the animals, the super-big toddler smiles. We've even gotten the extended family into the act (Aunty Jessica says you're never too old for a hay ride and I would agree).

Our first trip this season was punctuated by an encounter with a goat that Charlotte had tamed in seconds "sit goat. Sit down goat." And lots of cool adventures on tractors, and down those awesome Cox farms slides. The only question as we left...when could we go back?

Never Can Say Goodbye

It was with heavy hearts (mine and Charlotte's) that we bid farewell to the trove of baby gear that's been mounting in the basement. Charlotte was particularly sad to see the Exersaucer leave the house and insisted on squeezing into it one last time. Note her legs are folded beneath her. I swear it was just last month that her little tiny toes barely reached the ground.

Licking the Bowl

The Sniff Test

Who do you think won the battle for the Graham Cracker?

"More Beer!"

It was one of those moments a parent hopes will not be repeated in public.

Yesterday, after pouring the kids some juice, Harry raised his glass declaring "more beer!" At which point I burst out laughing (big mistake). Charlotte took this as her cue, raising her glass to declare "more beer!"

Ugh.

Roxana and I just stared-on as the kids chanted their new favorite phrase, over and over, giggling, giggling, giggling.

A very funny moment, one I pray will not be played-out, gulp, at preschool.

Back to School

We so wanted to hold on to summer (details of Hurricane Earl versus our beach retreat to come), that I didn't give Harry a lot of school prep. No big wind-up. In fact, I let him know we were heading to our second year of preschool about 15 minutes before we left for orientation on Tuesday. Harry, who to his credit had already memorized his teachers names (ms. Porter and ms. Troxel), was not so enthused, demanding that I stay with him. Which I did. Charlotte, on the other hand, was rip-roarin'-ready to dive in, testing the toys and, her personal favorite, the little teachers' sink where she was certain that foot baths and pedicures were to be administered.

Yesterday was in fact Harry's first day and he had me gripped highly around the thighs as we approached the classroom door. What got him inside? Thomas, of course. A mention or two of the Thomas trains and books waiting inside quickly dissolved his reluctance.

When I came to pick him up he was all smiles and sweat, explaining with great enthusiasm about the time he spent with "my friends" pretending to be firefighters. I'm already getting good preschool vibes.

Onward to the Fall....