Happy Halloween!

A great Halloween - well three days full of fun!  The kids got to wear their costumes three times, which they loved - a Halloween party (with face painting and a hayride),  preschool parties and a show, and actual trick-or-treating (about two blocks in an hour).  Tess was all about trick-or-treating, screaming at the beginning "we are going to trick-or-treat all night" and Claire did a good job trying to keep up.

 Checking out the loot:

 And already a trade:

The Election

Tonight, Chris was explaining to Tess that he voted today, the responsibility that comes along with voting, what an election is, and what characteristics a good president should have.  He told her about Obama who wants to keep being the president and Romney who wants to be president too.  They talked about how the president should be a good person and smart.  I chimed in and asked Tess who she would vote for.  Her response: "hmmmmm....Daddy. "

Wishes Do Come True

Peaceful

Can I keep him this little forever?  I love cuddling with this baby.

Chugga-chugga

When Tess was a baby, we had a routine to calm her down for bed: jammies, then a story and snuggle. On the way up the stairs, we sang her a silly song. Sounding like a cartoon train, "chugga-chugga-nigh-nigh" was our final signal to her that bedtime was coming.

Although we sometimes forget or rush up the stairs ("Bathtime! Woo!" is not an uncommon alternative), the song endures in our house. Before long, Tess sang the song with us. The girls would ask their grandparents to sing it to them - Chris's dad even titled a short story he wrote for them "Chugga-chugga-nigh-nigh". 

Recently, Claire has taken over as the conductor of the train. Each night, as we march up the stairs, Claire sings to the rest of us, whispering the "nigh-night" softer and softer as the train gets closer to their bedroom.    

Fall Fun

Going to the chapel...

After all the excitement and anticipation, Elizabeth's wedding arrived. Tess summed it up perfectly the week before the wedding when she told EB that she was more excited than her.  I was worried that the wedding might not live up to the hype for the flower girls - Claire's first question each morning for about two weeks (a month before the wedding) was: "Is today EB's wedding?"  The girls, well all of us, had an amazing day though.  The flower girls got to wear their glass slippers and twirly dresses and enjoyed every minute of the wedding weekend.  And, I think, Tess danced with almost everyone on her list she had made.

Sweetness

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G

Chris and I have been spelling more and more things that we don't want the kids to hear.  Tonight, he was spelling to me and I spelled my response.  Then, Tess piped up and said, "well, I think A-I-D-O-B,"  What a smarty-pants!

Channeling the '80's

I helped Tess get her ballet leotard on, then she went and put on her "accessories."  Someone would have fit right in in the 1980's.  (Yes, that is Claire on the counter in the background - just noticed that, what a monkey!)