Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Every other year or so, we plan a family Halloween costume theme. We were the Winnie the Pooh characters two different years. Two years ago, we were Peter Pan characters. Peter made the Tiger Lily costume and his Captain Hook costume that year. Actually designed and sewed them--pants and shirts and all. This year, we weren't planning a theme. Rebecca was going to be a black cat, Molly wanted to be the Statue of Liberty. This had been decided months ago. But plans changed. The two of them got together and decided a theme would be better. Rebecca was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Molly was the Wicked Witch of the West. Amelia was the Cowardly Lion. I was the Tin Man, and Peter was the Scarecrow. He made my costume--an elaborate and perfect concoction made of concrete peer forms and a mixing tray spray painted silver. For his costume, he used his pirate shirt and added straw, found a hat that he pulled apart to make into a scarecrow's cap.









We were able to wear our Oz costumes multiple times. Our whole family went with our friends Jen, Court and Sage, to the Zoo Boo. Peter and I hosted our Sunday School class's Couples Costume Party. And finally, on Halloween night, we did a little T-or-T in the neighborhood then went to Luke & Kristy's party, where kids AND grown-ups were dressed up. The kids did a little more T-or-T there, too.


Zoo Boo


the ladies at the party


the kids at the party


the guys at the party



trick-or-treat round 2

Rebecca still fulfilled her black cat desires, wearing that costume to her school party that day. Aunt Meredith in Thailand was also a black cat, and Rebecca's teacher at school was, too. I wore my green M&M costume to work--the Tin Man costume was too bulky for that!



So now our home is filled with candy and we're already talking about next year's costume options. Can you tell how much we LOVE Halloween!?

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Since she has become a reader, Molly reads anything she can get her hands on. She reads street signs, notes from school, and food carton labels. She was looking intently at a 20 oz lemonade bottle one day. I thought nothing of it. Later that day, I was getting orange juice from the fridge and was jiggling the carton around while I got a glass out of the cabinet. "Mom, is that a drink that you need to shake well before enjoying?"


As you most likely know, I am a big proponent of breastfeeding. Both Molly and Rebecca nursed until they were over age 1, 16 months and 13 months respectively. It's a gift we can offer our children, and I loved the connection I felt while doing it. So, Amelia now has 8 teeth and had started to slack off in requesting to nurse as she turned one. About 4 days went by without either of us offering/asking. Then she got fussy for no apparent reason one day and I offered again. She stopped crying, looked me straight in the eye and said, clear as a bell, "Nah!" and walked away. Consider her weaned!


It's a digital age. My kids do not remember a time when one had to wait for a picture to be developed before they could see it. They know how to put in a DVD and play a CD. They know how to make a call on my cell phone. But the depth of this digital world struck me the other night as I was reading to Rebecca. "Mom, can you pause it?" "What?" "Can you pause the book? I need to go to the bathroom." HeeHee!

Pumpkin Guts

The Sunday before Halloween, we enjoyed a gorgeous fall afternoon on our deck transforming two plain old pumpkins into Jack-o-Lanterns. Molly plotted her design ideas and asked each of us to vote for our favorites. The bat/stars/moon design won. For the second J-O-L Pete carved a happy merry-not-scary face. Quincy the dog perched quietly under the table. By far the most exciting part of this afternoon was the removal of the pumpkin innards. Rebecca--who loves all things gross--was entranced by the stringy globs. Molly tried to play it off as though she was also fascinated, but a mother knows when her child is actually not so into it. Before the bat was carved on Pumpkin #1, Molly had retreated to her room. Rebecca, though, was in it to win it and relished every slimy handful. Amelia slept through the whole thing, but I'm sure she'll be into it next year. We placed them on the two entrances to our front porch on the steps and they glowed quite nicely on Halloween night.

The Crafts Fair was, well, fair.

Somehow in my mind, the Pink Palace Crafts Fair of yesteryear was very kid-oriented. I am certain the last time I went to it was on a school field trip in about 5th grade, so we're taking more than 20 years ago. There were craftspeople demonstrating their talents, interacting with us, letting us try to to help out. There was fudge and honey candy and apple cider. Having only recently immigrated back to Elvisland, this was the first time I've been since the location changed, and it was much bigger, seemed more polished, more hands-off, and was simply lacking in the magical harvesty atmosphere I recall. Perhaps I am simply older and more jaded. But I felt like I spent all my time making sure the girls didn't touch things, steering them away from things that cost more money, even after we paid a small fortune to get in. I kept saying to my friend Jen that next year--if I muster up enough courage to return--we should come without the kids. And that's too bad for them actually. I do think something has been lost there. What was once a simple fair with homemade puppets and Christmas ornaments is now some kind of huge commercial venture where children have to watch their step and keep their distance.

However, since they don't have anything to compare it to, the kids seemed to have fun. I tried to direct them to the things that matched my own memories. They liked watching the weavers and trying out a small loom. They enjoyed petting a goose and some bunnies and a pot-bellied pig. They were a little taken aback when I encouraged them to eat what I THOUGHT was honey candy but was actually just a beeswax clump shaped into a bee! Rebecca, wrinkling her nose: "Mommy, I don't think I like honey candy." That's when I realized my mistake! Oops! Amelia had her little feet propped up on her stroller and drew delighted giggles and smiles from passers by. One lady even asked for permission to take her picture, looking so relaxed. The girls had fun with their friend Sage, too. Not a lost day, just a day that didn't quite live up to my expectations....

It's Fall Y'all!

The drive from Memphis to Dyersburg takes about 1 1/2 hrs. One morning I left early (and that's a sacrifice for me, my friends) to attempt to capture the cotton fields and small towns along the way. Good timing--only a few days later, these cotton fields had been harvested.






Back at our house, we are all decked out for a harvest Halloween! We've got scarecrows, mums, & pumpkins. Inside you'll find witches' hats, ghosts, fun lights and a Halloween miniature fun town.

Amelia Turns Uno

the duck cake, made by Kake Deevas--a little disturbing to cut into the head, but quite tasty


with the "smash cake"--can you tell how very tired she was? used her pointer finger to eat a wee bit at a time!


cousin annsley kisses the duck prize from the rubber ducky matching game in the duck pool. (notice a theme here?)




amelia meets "abby cadabby" who sings and dances--just like amelia herself! yippee!



the birthday girl in her push-along/ride-along from granna and papa



face painting on the deck. our friends jen and court stepped up to do the honors, as the kids lined up for a turn.



bubbles! cousin charlie and amelia enjoy the fun. again, note amelia's sleepy self--not crying but not smiling either! ready to crash!

Happy Birthday, Amelia!

From 100 (previous post) to 1...

Today was Amelia's birthday! Although her party will be Sunday, we did honor the little lady today in a few small ways. She brought muffins to school for her classmates, wore a big birthday princess hat, opened one gift and played in another gift, and danced as she was serenaded with the traditional birthday song.

First, a picture from one year ago today, when Amelia came on her own terms, three weeks before her due date and two weeks before the scheduled c-section. She came out squealing (a trait she continues to exhibit when things are not going her way) with red hair that was--and is--the talk of the town.


Then, a picture from her last night as an 11-month-old, reading her favorite bird board book.



Opening a gift (stacking blocks, which were not as fun as the wrapping paper). Playing in the new flower tent (also not as much fun as the wrapping paper).



And finally, muffins with her peeps--in the big princess hat.


Amelia has acquired various nicknames in her first year--Squealy Dan, Munchy, Luv Munch, Meemers, Mimi, Squatter McGee (!?), Moo-Moo, Stinkpot, Amelia-Bedelia, Squirrel, Speed Racer. She has developed a sweet (and strong-willed!) personality, gives out smiles freely, laughs the sweetest belly laugh and learns quickly. She snuggles like a champ, eats like a pig and dances like it's goin' out of style. Wouldn't trade her for a million bucks.

Happy First Birthday, Amelia!