Mommy's hleper

I signed up to make cookies for a bake sale at Ally's school. I was told no peanut butter and that 2 people were already bringing chocolate chip, so something different would be good. So I made oatmeal butterscotch cookie dough. Then Ally wanted to help.

She is getting so grown up - she can actually help now! She scooped out every cookie and put it on the cookie sheet.

She loved it - and was so proud of herself!

So intent on the task. She was determined to do it all by herself.

As her 4th birthday comes closer and closer Becky and I are so amazed at how much Ally can do and express. Its so wonderful to be her parents.

Fun with friends

Last month Ally went bowling for the first time! It was her friend Stella's 4th birthday party. (that is Stella with Ally, above)

It was candle pin bowling - so the kids could easily pick up the ball.

but it was a long way down the lane for that ball to go.

but check it out - Ally got several down!

Then later that evening we had some friends over, and Carly and Ally were so silly eating their ice cream cones!

Halloween wrap up

It was a very busy week, so I am sorry I did not get this last Halloween post up sooner. But better late than never!

Ally received a very thrilling Halloween package from Great Aunt Pammy and Uncle Tommy. She was very excited to get several sheets of bubble wrap.

She jumped on it

then got down on her hands and knees to push out every last bubble.

then she realized it made more noise if she jumped on the hardwood floor instead of the rug.

finally she got around to opening the neat gifts; a glow in the dark Pez and very cute Halloween books. Thank-you!!!

Halloween morning Becky got creative with pancakes. She colored them orange and black and made a pumpkin, a cat and of course, an A!

Pumpkin Carving with Mama

Halloween morning Becky and Ally carved a pumpkin. It was the 2 of them all the way, all I did was take pictures and try not to laugh at how long tasks take when an almost-4-year-old is fully engaged in the project. It took them over an hour to dig out the guts an scrape out the insides. Then they had to stop for Ally to go to swimming lessons, and finally when they got home they carved the face, working together it took then another hour. I have to say that it warmed my heart to see them having so much fun working collaboratively on this project.

Before they started Becky had Ally draw out the face she wanted on the pumpkin.

The first one got spattered with pumpkin guts so Ally did a 2nd one.

Pumpkin carving in her pajamas!

she was really into it

Literally- Ally had her entire arms inside the pumpkin!

Showing off her goopy hands.

After swimming learning to use the pumpkin saw to cut the mouth out.

Becky was a little skeptical and nervous.

Especially because Ally would saw with her had and then look away.

2 people cutting should make quick work of this.

Complete!

Happy Halloween 2010

We hosted our 2nd annual Halloween Party on Halloween. Ally and I made white chocolate dipped pretzel rods as table decorations, and yummy treats.
I felt very Martha St.ewart using the candy corn to create the display. They were so fun to make with Ally and everyone at the party commented on them.

Its not a party at our house with out cupcakes. Ally had fun unwrapped the tootsie roll stems and then placing them on the pumpkins after they were sliced.

This year Becky got a costume. She was Mr. Potato Head!

I kind of dressed up like a witch for party but not for the trick or treating.

Alice came to the party - she was a cat!

Here is the kid crew - there were certainly a lot of them. 12 families, including us and 44 people in all. Then most of us went trick or treating en mass - it was a riot!

The Toy Story duo.

A very smart jack-o-lantern "Pumpkin Pi" Becky loved it!

Ally and Aiden trick or treating.

The 3 of us just before we went home. It was pretty cold here, and one trip around the block was enough for us.

When we got home Ally was so excited to sit outside on the porch and give out candy to trick or treaters who came to our house. She told Becky she liked that better than getting candy. "But getting it is still fun" she said!

I asked a neighborhood mom to take our picture. I think this is my favorite shot from the whole weekend.

The party was lots of fun. It was really great to host so many of our friends, and to join some of our friend groups together, we had Guat. adoption friends, neighborhood friends and preschool friends. Becky and I enjoyed having everyone over, and not worrying so much about Ally. She is not really into crowds, so at one point she was sequestered in our bedroom with the 3 cats and was perfectly happy by herself. This party was not so much about her, as the holiday and enjoying friends. We did. She did too, in her own way, she just needs a break sometimes. Thank-you to everyone for coming and for the clean-up effort. We had so little work to do after everyone left and we really appreciate that.

2010 was a very happy Halloween for us.

Halloween Parade

Friday afternoon was the traditional Halloween Parade around the common after Preschool. Here is Ally with some of her classmates.
Unfortunately it started to rain just as we were getting ready to parade around! Fortunately Becky has an umbrella with her, so Ally and her friend Stella gathered under it to stay dry.

Ally held it all by herself to walk.

She loved it and felt so grown up.

The rain did not stop, so Becky trekked to the car and retrieved 2 more umbrellas which she gave to Ally's buddies, Stella (as Sleeping Beauty) and Semi (as Dora).

After the long walk, in her cowboy boots, Ally was pretty wiped out. But we did get this nice picture of the 3 of us!

It did require a lollipop to get Ally to look at the camera! Here she is on my shoulders for the long walk back to the car.

When we got home we decorated the house with spider webs.

Ally did most of the outside work.

Becky and I did the work up high for the inside pictures.

Today we're having a lot of people over for a Halloween Pizza Party and then trick or treating afterwards.

Ally Does the Monkey Bars!

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Sorry if the volume is too loud - apparently I had the microphone about 2 inches from my mouth!

If the embedded video isn't working, try this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlCztnx2_3k