Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Groupie


 Grammy Eileen's son Michael came to town this week.
Uncle Mike is a singer/ song writer and Piper was...
well she was smitten.




 He came one night and was singing songs for her, making them up on the fly.



The next night she checked the hallway when he came in to make sure he brought his guitar. 
Then was very clear that she was ready for more serenading. 
Pulling him up by the arm - trying to lift him.
Get to singing Uncle Mike get to singing!






 This coy look... Grandpa and I saw our future flash before our eyes.


 We have a groupie on our hands. 



 

We had a great visit, with lots of laughs.







 Saying goodbye, not ready to give up Uncle Mike's hat.


 Then it was time to get the Christmas Tree!





 And help Daddy


 Making anyone else nervous?



 The monsters had a place on the tree...


 As did the "Christmas Rat" Grandma Les sent several years ago...




 Helping Dad some more...



 And gathering all the ornaments off the lower 3 feet of the tree.


 Looks a little bare down there...


  But they're so cuddly




 Putting them back up



 ...annnnd taking them back down.




Sunday, November 25, 2012

We Give Thanks



Happy Thanksgiving 2012!


 We had a lovely, mellow gathering of friends and family.
 Took Piper 20 minutes or so to warm, but I can't blame her - it would freak me out to wake up from a long nap to a house full of people too.

Once she warmed she ran around laughing.


And drank milk from a wine glass.


She had her own setting and cup - but with everyone else drinking from wine glasses, she wanted in.



 People popped in and out through the evening, and Piper hung out with her "Uncle" Ivan.


 He wasn't making it easy to catch a good photo of them.


There was some dress up in the days that followed.

 



This is a hand me down little mermaid dress that is a big hit. Aunt Amy is my witness...she'll go into her room get it and hand it to me saying,
"Go" which translates to: "Mom, please put this on me right this very second."
She also played with her cousin Freddie. But his energy was a bit much for her. 
She may need some more warm up time next time. 


 We also had some time at the new school's park...


meaning about 30 seconds.
No other kids. 
She wasn't into it.

 And some good visits with her Aunties.



 Later our friend Sandra stopped by with some super awesome booties for Piper.
She's living in them...


 And enjoying the packaging they came in too.





 On Sunday Daddy took a rare day off and we went for a hike.


 It was lovely.


Scary warm actually.
We started out early and bundled and by the end (several hours) we all were roasting.


 Then after nap it was time for Shumei's Thanksgiving


 We thought the sushi dress our friend Krissy gave us was a good choice.



 That is a flower behind her ear there.


 Playing with baby Arthur, who is a year younger.
Josh said he caught her patting his head.
Honestly after 5 minutes she was running laps around the room.
While she's shy and doesn't like people coming up to her (especially since people tend to go right into her face without warning)- she sure likes to run and "prance" 


 This is one of those random Shumei things I was trying to catch.


 But the glare on the TV was too much.


Think detailed choreographed dance you follow on the TV lead by two kids in uniform.
In hindsight I should have hit the video instead.

On the way home one of her CDs was on, ABC song was going and from the back seat we could hear, "G" "P" and then "Z" all at the correct times. We rewound and again..."G" "P" and then "Z"
only a few more letters to go! ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Trudging Along


 Things have been busy in weeks past...


 But Piper is still finding time to browse the MANY toy catalogues that keep showing up in the mail.


While Mom danced around with a sword on her head.


 oh, and she also discovered bandaids...

Really things swing from being fun and awesome to...well...teething toddler.
The funny thing is?


 Fresh veg usually chills her out.



 mmm...kale....



Yesterday it was celery.
Today? Red bell peppers.
She'll cry and scream, get the veg and she's cool n' the gang.
I think the crunch and cold help.

When we're having a good day over here I'm still amazed at her ability to listen. A sure fire way of knowing she doesn't feel good (which unfortunately is often these days) is a lack of patience.


We were playing int he spices the other day...
A favorite past time, and the rosemary? Well the rosemary plumped to certain death.


Piper quietly waited on the sidelines while I swept the glass.




  Now we're getting ready for Thanksgiving and some early Holiday cheer.