Gearing Up

C and Aunt Marcey were making some plans on the phone today at lunch for our big weekend in NY. Can't wait!

Halloween Night

                                        

 Well...no Sophie Spider. I kind of had a hunch it might turn out that way! Instead, three princesses. Two with crowns, one without. Who were frozen solid and told us when they were done. It was a nasty night. Ellen was Ariel (purple and aqua) and Sophie was Sleeping Beauty/Aurora (pink). And it was our last Halloween in our wonderful neighborhood (more on that later)!

Halloween Parade

C's school had a Halloween parade for all the pre-school parents and families. Due to the rainy morning it was held indoors this year but the classes made two complete laps throughout the building and had a lot of fun! C is dressed as Belle and next to her is her best bud (who happens to have a twin sister in the class).

Special Delivery from NY

I am taking C with me to NY in November to visit Aunt Marcey (and to celebrate Aunt M's birthday), along with Mimi and Aunt Laura. Can't wait! So Aunt Marcey sent us this special care package this week, filled with Statue of Liberty crowns, a NY coloring book and board book and some fun NY pencils with Statue of Liberty erasers. By the way, did you know there is actually more than one way to wear the crown? The girls quickly came up with multiple ways! And thank goodness Aunt M is safe and sound in NY and hasn't even lost power despite Sandy's brutal assault on the east coast.

Connections

C and her cousin recently got to go see the Cincinnati Children's Theater perform Seussical, Jr. They had a terrific time despite the rainy day! The other day when I used the word "possible" in casual conversation with Corinne she said, "Like in Seussical, mom?" At first I wasn't sure what the connection was...and then I remembered that there was a song in the musical called "Anything's Possible". Sometimes I'm amazed at how she connects the most random or trivial things in our day to something I've never even given a second thought to. It's so true, though: kids are sponges. They are soaking everything in, constantly trying to apply and connect things in order to make sense of their ever expanding world.

Two Peas In a Pod

Ellen (left) and Sophie (right) very often are partners in crime. They enlist each other to hide from me, play games, get things for each other, etc. I really think they are the best of friends at times...if they aren't fighting over a book, baby doll, polly pocket princess, snack and the list goes on. It's so amazing to see their relationship become closer all the time. They comfort one another when they're in a new place and one of them is upset or hesitant. And just today when they were supposed to be napping at Grandma and Grandpa's house while Brett and I were out, Brett's mom found them cozied up together with their blankets-- laying not in the twin beds where they were left --but on the floor together. They were "spooning", quiet, and content.

Just Like Big Sister

Notice the backpacks Ellen and Sophie are wearing...just like Big Sister.

Sophie-Spider

It remains to be seen what Sophie will really be for Halloween this year. C wants to be Belle and Ellen wants to be a princess, too. Sophie likes to put on this spider costume each morning to start her day and says she wants to be a spider for Halloween. But I'm guessing that when it comes time to get into costume and she sees her sisters dressed like princesses she'll want to be one too. I guess we'll find out soon.

First Pile

I'm not sure which one Ellen and Corinne enjoyed more: jumping in the leaves or taking a wheelbarrow ride while Brett and I were mulching. Sophie wasn't interested in either of those activities!

The Crew

Here they are! Our three sweet girls. They are growing up quick and each with their own distinct personalities. We have been working on memorizing Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another." And working harder to apply it! But we've encouraged one another by writing down examples when we've seen this in each other. (Sophie in purple, Ellen in pink)