The Exciting Conclusion

And now for the exciting conclusion of our Thanksgiving trip. While staying with Darin and Kim, Ivy adopted a baby. I think she was missing Squiggles, so when she happened upon a lonely baby doll, she scooped it right up and set to mothering it and stealing it's pacifier.


Miriam (Peter's sister) and Nathan (one of my brother's best friends) came up to Darin's place Friday with their kids. We enjoyed:

-ninja fights, and assorted other loving assaults on friends and family
-wii tournaments
-making cookies in the company of Sarah, Megan, and Abe
-a trip to the local playground for some football, hoops, swinging good times, and a nice sunset to cap it all off
-Calvin completely muddying his only pair of shoes for the trip
-Settlers of Catan (Peter won)
-a frigid walk at Valley Forge
-a long-winded lesson in colonial surgery
-fantastic company!

We stopped in NJ just outside NYC and stayed with our good friends Dave and Alicia Saturday night. Building towers was the hit of the night for the kids, and this one was even taller than me.

Thankful for...

First snow of the season (and first snow ever for Ivy for all intents and purposes)...

Cousins (getting a little ambitious with the snow gear)...

FOOD!!!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Kim made these fantastic gobbling concoctions tonight. Some of them have this look like they're terrified of being eaten. Let the nightmare begin!

Sisters rock

Because it just has to be posted somewhere on this blog, today is the day.

Gramp-o-lantern

This poor guy (that Calvin created before Halloween) met the inevitable force of decay, but he seems so cheerful about it that I just don't have the heart to compost him yet...

And here's an updated mugshot for Ivy. Her battle scars are healing nicely and she went back this last week with very little protest.

First Day of Nursery

You should see the other kid.

High Fashion

Bryn picked out this smashing outfit for school one day. A few weeks ago we were shopping with Laura, and Bryn told her, "I have a style. It's jazzy and complicated."

It's my party and I'll plan it if I want to

Communication

Ivy recently endured her 18-month checkup. The doctor asked me about her vocabulary, and I realized it was a bit scant, especially compared to her siblings' rates of language mastery at her age.

However, as she pranced around the exam room and made her opinions about certain mouse-shaped stickers, medical equipment, and strangers prodding her with cold instruments quite clear, the doctor said, well, she may not say much but she certainly communicates. I agree. Case in point (movies below):