Autumn

On Wednesdays this fall we have been meeting Nanny, Kerstin, Hank and Haddie at the park to feed the fowl. I am partial to the ducks and I don't really like the geese, but what can you do? The random white duck is my favorite. He is the only one of his kind around here. Some people (my girl) eat as much as they feed. I think our fowl days of fall are over for awhile, but you never know.

My cute girl wanted to eat her lunch as close to the animals as possible. Eww.

We had a sad occasion at our Mommy and Me playgroup this week. Our of our friends, Braxton (affectionately known as Boyfriend) moved to North Carolina. We asked Lulu go give him a kiss goodbye and this is what we got...

She is such a good kisser none of those Southern girls will be able to steal him away from her.

Costume Party

SO...Saturday at about 5:15 Lee tells me that we are invited to a Halloween party thrown by one of his coworkers that started at 6. We rushed around and got ready. Lee was dressed as me (aka a female tennis player). He wanted to go in blackface and be Serena Williams, but I talked him out of it. Lulu went as an Iowa Hawkeye cheerleader.

I can't say that I have ever been invited (or attended) a costume party held at the Moose's Lounge that welcomes toddlers and has kegs of Busch Light. It was quite an event.

My family giving kisses in their skirts...

A happy family shot (I was Lee a soccer player).

As the evening went on, Lulu "borrowed" another kid's light saber.

She also stole Lee's prop. I am going to have to work with her on technique.

Lee was showing off his moves.

GreatAmerica Parade

Last Thursday, Lee's company had their annual Halloween parade. Lee's division decided they would be overhyped news stories from 2009. Lee was Dr. Conrad Murray (Michael Jackson's doctor...for those of you without a USweekly subscription).

Lulu was Chewbacca (+ a bow, because I didn't want people to ask if she was a boy or girl).

A family shot (at what age do kids start to smile at the camera on command?).

She figured out how Halloween works.

Gnawing through the wrapper.

Me and the Girl. I love her.

Potty

I know she is too little, but now when we ask if she did poopers, she says poopa and grabs her crotch. Someone told me that was one of the first steps to potty-training and that I should buy a seat. So I did.

She likes to sit on it but nothing comes out. Oh well.

Bloomsbury Farm

On Monday we attended a MOPS outing, our first. We went to Bloomsbury Farm to experience lots of cool stuff. My Girl is a little too young for most of the activities,but she had fun pretending she was one of the big kids.

I have been noticing the deterioration of my photographic pursuits. It is hard to wrangle a 16 month old while also making sure you don't misplace your cell phone or the stroller. The camera seems to be the thing that has slipped through the cracks. My picture taking is spotty at best. Sorry. I promise there were many more animals than just chickens and we did more activities than just the corn sand box and the slide. I also promise that there were kids other than mine there too.

I will try to do better (it might be time for a holster).

"Look mom, chickens!"

"Here chicken chicken chicken chicken"

She is naughty. I now know why there straps and buckles on these things...

She loved the corn sandbox. She probably played in there for 20 minutes.

Notice my baby on the bottom step. She probably did this slide 6-7 times. It was huge. She is fearless.

Lunch. Don't tell her she isn't one of the big kids.

The end.

Afternoon with My Two Girls...

I am not embarrassed to admit that these pictures were taken at 3pm. Both the photographer and the subject (AKA me and Girl) were in our pajamas. Lulu loves to be close to Petunia. When she wakes up from her nap she say, "Tuni," and points outside her bedroom door where Tuni is usually curled up asleep and waiting for her.

Today she wanted to sit on the couch and pet her. Notice the daintily crossed ankles...

Then she wanted to lay on Tuni. Tuni was gracious if nothing else.

So...today is damp, dreary and cold. Why should I get out of my pajamas? Brrr.

Hanging Out

The past couple of Wednesdays Lulu and I have met Nanny and the Harkers at Noelridge to feed the ducks and geese and then play on the playground.

Strangely I didn't get any pictures of all of the fowl. I was too busy making sure the geese didn't get too close to anyone. My sweetheart has entered the "only likes to feed herself" phase. Bananas work perfectly for this.

Haddie, Lulu and Hanker playing on the equipment. Sadly, this was the best picture I took of the three of them...

Yesterday we went to Panera's with Nanny and Papa. Lulu loved feeding Papa bites of scone.

She has also perfected her fake laugh. When other people laugh or she think she is really funny, she does a really obnoxious fake laugh. It probably doesn't discourage the behavior when I laugh at her fake laugh.

Play Group.

The remnants of our Mommy and Me group met for story time in North Liberty. There was a craft, but we passed on it. We didn't think they would want five 15 month olds using markers, scissors and glue. So we decided to play.

There was a gym full of toys to play with. Lulu liked the tunnel.

We had a fun day playing. It was kind of sad because on of the moms is going to be moving in the next month.