Happy Halloween

Mr. Eleven and Lil' carved her jack o lantern last night.


I'll have to come back and post a photo of it finished. Somehow the one I took didn't turn out.

Today ended up being an all day event. Lil's day of trick or treating started this morning at Mama's old office. She was quite a hit in her robot costume. We spent this evening at a fun Halloween community event with games and trick or treating. Lil' participated in throwing darts (rubber tipped ones of course), tennis balls, rings and beanbags at various targets. She surprised many of the people running the games with her aim and persistance. She sang the BSU fight song to some Bronco fans. And played a mean solo set on the drums. She had her first experience with a big blow up slide. It was a bit too scary the first time and Mama had to insist they finish the deal. But there was nothing stopping her the next 6 times. She trick or treated in her neighborhood and was as sweet as Lil' can be using her best manners "Trick or treat please." and showing people her robot walk. Mr. Eleven and Lil' practiced saying "I am a robot" in a voice only a dad or toddler could do which received many rounds of applause and laughs. It was a fun night that Mama and Mr. Eleven will never forget and will have fun telling Lil' about one day.

In September Lil' and Mama went to a woman's fitness show. There were lots of snacks (chili, baked potatoes, yogurt and string cheese, chocolate milk, wedding cake, Hawaiian food, potato brownies and more) and Lil' wanted to taste it all. She watched young local dancers perform, got to see a policeman who gave her a sticker badge. She was quite happy in her stroller throughout the whole process. Then it caught her eye. It was the local Harley Davidson booth and everything was "Shiny, Mama!" She immediately needed out of her stroller to take a turn.

Boo At The Zoo

Halloween is coming and we've been talking about two different ideas with Lil' for her costume. She had narrowed it down to two things, a robot or a cowgirl with robot in the lead. Mama was going to make her a robot costume this weekend.

Mama and Lil' had been planning a girls adventure on Friday afternoon to spend some time together since Mama worked at the school a lot this week. Mama had heard about a Halloween party at a little candy shop in the neighborhood. Games and activities and a 50 cent coupon for free candy. It sounded perfect for our adventure. So off we went to the party dressed as a cowgirl.

Yesterday was to be Lil' big Halloween event. Boo at the Zoo. Costumes, trick-o-treat with your favorite characters (Pooh, Tigger, a giraffe, a red chicken, a turtle and the firefighters and police officers) Mama made the robot costume. Lil' however insisted that her costume was a cowgirl.

Mr. Eleven and I have decided that we will trick or treat a few places on Halloween night as long as Lil' will wear the robot costume....

Swimming

Yesterday Drama invited Lil' down to the hotel for a swim date. Lil' did great. By the end of the time at the pool Lil' was willing to get into the water from the edge of the pool all by herself. She would swim between Mama and Drama who were about 7 feet apart by herself and let Mama throw her up in the air to splash down in the water. It was so much fun for Mama to watch Lil' and Drama together! Here is a picture for all of you to share the moment too.

Dinner Talk

Last night was leftover night. Lil noted that she was having chicken and Mama and Mr. Eleven were having lasagna. She announced that Belle didn't like lasagna and that she wanted chicken. She noted that her and Mr. Elevens' forks matched but Mama's was different. She noted that she was having milk and Mama and Mr. Eleven were drinking water..... No eating was actually happening. Just lots of talk. It was already getting late and Mama wanted to keep things moving towards bedtime.

Mama "Bites or bed, Lil?"
Lil "No Mama, I'm talking to Daddy!"

Earlier in the day Lil' and I were at the library and she got her very own library card. She got to pick the picture that was on the card. She choose the one with the tiger and then roared at the librarian.

Knowing this Mr. Eleven jumped in "Lil' do you know who eats chicken?"
Lil "No"
Mr. Eleven "Tigers eat chicken. Can you take a tiger bite?"
Lil roared about ten times and then took her tiger bite.
Mr Eleven continued the game. "Do you know who else eats chicken?"
Lil "No"
Mr. Eleven "Dora eats chicken"
Lil ate another bite.
Not knowing where to take it now Mr. Eleven looked to me for back up.
Mama "Lil, what does Dora call her grandmother?"
Lil "Don't know."
Mama "Does she call her Abuela?"
Lil "Yes! buella"
Mama "Can you take an Abuela bite?"
Lil "No.....tiger bite!"

The game continued until she was done with her chicken. It was a variation to a game we often play when Lil' isn't eating her meal. Most of the time the people we choose are thematic. Sometimes we pick all the men in her life and she eats Bampa, Papa D., Uncle N., Uncle T, Uncle B, Ace, Papa Hans, Papa Renfro, Frank and Uncle Organics bites. Other times we go for the grandparent theme and she eats Oosje/Bampa and Grandma Barbie/Papa D bites, Granny/Fabe, Grandma and Grandpa D bites, and Drama/Poppa R. bites, Other times we eat Aunt scully and moolah bites. There are times at dinner she wonders what her friends "A" "Z" "Q" or "G" are eating/doing. We tell her that they are eating dinner and that it's the same thing she's got.

Dinnertime is never dull with Lil.

Here is several weeks worth up stories, photos and fun since I haven't posted in a while.

Lil' has a new game....It's called Ready, Set, Go. She gets down in a runners starting position and yells "ready,set, go before she starts the race. Last night the course was from the front room couch, into the movie room and around the couch, down the hall and onto reading rug, back to the front room and around a book that was on the floor and then jumped over a shoe string. That was her route...she made it all on her own. Each time Mr. Eleven or Mama did the course another step was added....pick up the ball and put it under a kitchen chair or roll from one side of the room to the other, etc. It was hilarious, and both cameras were out of batteries! Darn.

Art Projects....

These hang proudly around Lil's room.

Mama helped Lil' make a street light using all kinds of stuff from the craft box including tissue paper, scrap book paper, felt and foam pieces and stickers. Lil' favorite part was putting glue on the page.

On the left is a project from Kids' Art. She used chunks of lemon and a toy car to paint.


This CD Sparkely was this weeks project. She colored the CD's and the teacher strung them together. Mama was instructed to hang them "here" as soon as we got home.

Last Saturday's project was "Junk Mosaics".

This morning we took Lil' on a hike in the foothills. Belle got excited about a mile before we arrived at the parking lot because she recognized what was going to happen. Not too far into the walk we came across a good spot for pictures. A hiker going the other way offered to take a picture with all of us. Too bad the girls aren't looking at the camera!

Sitting on a rock in the path.

Swinging at the park at the end of the hike. "Higher Daddy, higher!"

The best part of the morning....climbing on piles of bark.

Think Happy Thoughts....

for Mr. Eleven. He's got a job interview on Monday!