Halloween 2009

Practicing my Technique

The Harners always have great candy and lots of compliments for our costumes.

Hand-in-hand with Hazel and Chloe.

Our Jack-o-Lantern

I couldn't leave baby at home.

With the Monkey and Banana

Mommy's Sweet Love Bug

Halloween was a fun, but exhausting, evening. I started my rounds in my neighborhood and then moved on to a party in Tripp & Tate's neighborhood, where they had a hayride and some more trick-or-treating. We made one last stop at Aunt Cindy's before joining Daddy at home. The festivities lasted a total of 3 1/2 hours, and I was a trooper! You'll have to excuse me...I have candy to eat!

Pumpkin Carving

Yuck!

Which one should I choose?

Finished Product - notice the ears

We finally carved the pumpkin we picked out from the patch last week. No, not my baby pumpkin, but one Mommy picked for the sole purpose of a Jack-o-Lantern. I wanted nothing to do with scooping the pulp (too slimy) and Mommy wouldn't really let me use the little saw, so my job was to pick out the design, plus I decided it needed ears. Pretty cute, huh?

The Hoot

Tonight was the annual Highland Park Elementary Hoot, which is their fall carnival. As is our tradition, we had pizza at Aunt Cindy and Uncle Chris's house and then walked over. I played several games, mostly classics like the Duck Pond and the Fish Pond. Although we didn't win a cake in the cake walk this year, Tripp did!

We Have a Winner!

Witch? Monkey? Bunny? No Way!

A Lion? I wouldn't dream of it!

A Chicken? Get out of here!

I'll eat you, but not wear you!

Perfect!

So, Mommy's been trying to figure out the Halloween costume thing for a long while now. We received no fewer than ten costume catalogues, and although I loved looking through them, I would not pick one that I wanted to be. Mommy took me to Party City where they have posters with grids of costumes. There are so many options that you have to order by the number. Again, when Mommy asked, "Do you want to be _________ (Cinderella, a clown, a bumble bee, Tinkerbell, etc...?" I would respond (always after what appeared to be some pondering), "No!" That left Mommy with no choice but to choose for me. After much consideration (including the smart option of choosing from something in my dress-up box that I already have - a witch, a monkey, a bunny), she choose a yellow M&M, because yellow is my favorite color and I love, love, love those little round candies. When it came in the mail; however, I refused to wear it. Mommy had come to the conclusion that I might just be a Victoria Pearl for Halloween...when the most amazing thing happened. This morning Mommy just happened to stop in Old Navy where they were having a sale on their Halloween costumes. They were $2. Yes, you read that right - $2. She got me every one they had in my size (if not for Halloween, then they would be perfect for dress up box) - a butterfly, a lion and a chicken. Well, when I saw the butterfly, I knew it was the one and once I tried it on, I didn't want to take it off. I am going to be a BUTTERFLY!

Now, if anyone knows of a play where the characters include a bunny, a witch, a monkey, a lion, a chicken... we would love a copy of it!

Block Party

This past Sunday was our neighborhood's block party, which meant good food and margaritas for Mommy and lots of running around with the big kids for me. I am the "baby" in the neighborhood, so I always get more than my far share of attention. Here's a photo of me with my friend Hazel. She's only a couple of years older than I am, but she really "mothers" me...even tries to pick me up and carry me around. In addition to getting spoiled by them, I know I am going to learn the ropes from the older kids...and have lots of fun doing it!

Teenage Behavior

Showing Tate the "correct" way to watch cartoons

Tripp has his own technique.

So, I finally woke up about 10:20 this morning. Mommy said she didn't think she would be uttering the phrase, "Are you just going to sleep your life away?" until I was teenager, but she was wrong. Once I got up, I continued to have a lazy day. I stayed in my nightgown (always my preference, but rarely an option) all day. When Daddy got home he said, "You are already in your nightgown." No, Daddy, STILL in my nightgown! Tripp and Tate came over for a while so their Mommy could run some errands. We played, ate lunch (as usual Tate ate hers and mine - where does she put it??) and watched some Max & Ruby. If only all the days could be like this...

Thirty-Three Months Old

Dearest Victoria Pearl,

You decided to celebrate this day by sleeping late. It's after 10:00, and you are still in bed! It's a rainy, cold day so you picked the perfect morning to do it. The house is so quiet without your morning squeals. You usually get up around 8:00, which is still WONDERFUL. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am not a morning person, so your sleeping habits are right in line with me. As I have said before, you may look like your daddy, but you act like your Mommy...

On this rainy day, with nothing on our schedule, let's stay in our jammies and play and watch movies and make cookies and dance...life is so much fun with you. I am glad we get days like today that remind us to slow down and enjoy. That is, if you EVER get out of bed!

Loving you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow,

Mommy

Biscuit Brothers

The Biscuit Brothers

Dancing to the Music

Mommy and Me Being Silly

The Biscuit Brothers Band is a local kids' band and even have a weekly show on our PBS station. They were playing on Central Market's patio yesterday afternoon as a prelude to the MAC-N-CHEESE SMACKDOWN happening there later in the day. In addition, there were lots of fun kid activities. Even though we were too early to taste the cheesy goodness, we had fun listening to the band and playing.

80's Flashback

Mommy is Calhoun High School class of 1987, so she was especially excited to attend an 80's party given by Max's parents. She says it was totally awesome! It was an adults only party, so I stayed with Connie. Mommy and Daddy didn't quite remember how to go to a party and found it weird to be driving away from the house when it was dark outside. Check out all the fun outfits people were sporting!

iPhone Distraction

My hair would hang directly in my face if it wasn't pinned back in some manner.

The Finished Product

People often ask Mommy how she gets me to stay still long enough to put my hair in ponytails or other styles. While Connie has a magical ability to get me to sit still for long periods of time while she does my hair or nails (today I am sporting a double braid, criss-crossed in the back, secured with four barrettes and pink toenails with butterflies on my big toes), Mommy has to resort to other measures...like the Wheels on the Bus app on her iPhone.

The Perfect Pumpkin

It's our tradition every year to pick out a pumpkin from our church's pumpkin patch. We then make a cool jack-o-lantern the day before Halloween. This year I found what I deemed to be the perfect pumpkin. I spotted it immediately in the vast lawn of large pumpkins, gasped and ran to it yelling, "A baby! A baby!". Look at the joy on my face after having found it. It was a precious moment.

Sweetberry Farms Pumpkin Patch

Today I visited Sweetberry Farms in Marble Falls. They are having their fall festival, with hay rides, cornfield mazes, pumpkin painting, pony rides and lots and lots of unique pumpkins. I had a great time, with a few moments of angst thrown in. The pumpkin Max picked out was just the one I wanted...even though the other two hundred in the bin looked exactly the same. I could tell the difference, even if no one else could. Max got his pumpkin and I got a time out.

Aunt Fun & Uncle Silly

Aunt Cindy and Uncle Chris came over last night to watch the Aggie game (ouch!) and to commemorate that day two years ago (see below). They brought pink drinks, pink cupcakes and pink balloons. I always have soooo much fun when they come. They play with me like they are also two years old! I love it, and I love them!