Cuts of Hair

This past Thanksgiving week, we have been at my sister's house. Luckily for us, Rob's sister also came to visit. She is a stellar hair cutting person and we all got to have a chance in the hot seat.

Bryn and Elle have the amazing capacity to sit completely still during hair cuts. They both got much needed trims.

It is obvious from this picture that I was in dire need of a new hair cut. This is the perfect before picture. I'm still in pjs and just took my hair out of the perma-bun that seemed to always make its way on my head.

I'm not sure when I last had my hair this short...maybe at age 12? But, I think I like it. It was a lot easier to clean. That's a plus!

Peep and the Big Wide World Birthday Party

About a week before Elle's 4th birthday, she decided on a Peep and the Big Wide World party. The characters are easy shapes and the show is quite fun, so I was game. Making the pinata was our first task. I used 4 elastic headbands on the balloon to help make it more spherical. After about 3 days of waiting, Peep was ready to be painted.

We did 2 or 3 coats. I think this was the girls favorite part. Elle painted Peep's red top also. Bryn kept wanting to paint Peep blue.

The day before the party, we set out to tackle the cake. It was supposed to be Chirp, Peep's friend. But, right before we were to ice the cake, I realized we didn't have red food coloring. Yikes! Elle's solution: put blue, green and yellow together. Ok...

Scared Peep!

Finally!

Chirp, Elle style. Just pretend the green is really red and the yellow is really orange. Then you'll have a perfect Chirp.
Happy 4th birthday Elle!

Look-a-likes

These are two different children.

I didn't realize how closely they resemble each other.

Good thing Wade has darker hair.

Tired

Something about a lovely fall day can make you fall right to sleep.


Yes...he is completely zonked.

Mary

We met a new Mary yesterday. Dr. Mary. If you're looking for a fantastic pediatrician in North Pittsburgh, find Dr. Mary Pagnotto. She was excellent! She was personable, kind and respectful of my wishes. The nurse and staff was also fabulous. Going to the doctor will be fun!

It seems every Mary we meet is exceptional. First, there was Miss Mary from the Seneca Falls Library. Elle was transfixed by her story times. Imagine my delight when we found a new Miss Mary at the Woods Run Library. Wow. Her story times took Elle and Bryn from clinging to my legs to independently finding a carpet square and actively participating with the other children. When searching for a pediatrician, I didn't intentionally search out another 'Mary'. But I did look for a young mother that looked friendly. Conveniently, she is a 'Mary' as well.

So far, I have been impressed with every Mary I have met. There must be some correlation with the name 'Mary' and awesomeness.

Anyway, the results:

Wade: 21.2 lbs 89 percentile. 29 inches 91 percentile.
Bryn: 29.5 lbs 66 percentile. 35 3/4 inches 63 percentile.

I was amazed at Bryn. She didn't flinch when she got her shots. Not a sound. She just watched the lady stick her, twice. Wade cried, but calmed when I picked him up. Bryn must have a high tolerance for pain.

Elle is beyond excited for her turn in 2 weeks, after she is officially 4.

Vote Day

We are on our way to vote. We were lucky enough to be able to walk to our polling location. This was my first general election since becoming a US Citizen. Pretty exciting!

We went on a great hike with a group from our ward. It was the Braille Trail in North Park. I didn't have my camera out, so no pictures.

It was just too beautiful outside to go back home, so we stopped in a playground in North Park. I've never seen a playground covered in leaves before, so this was cool. While sitting on the bench, the wind would blow and it would be raining leaves. What a great feeling!

Wade, trying to get me.

Of course, we had to cover each other in leaves. Elle was the first victim.

Bryn was next. She did very well at holding still, even when a leaf covered her mouth.

2 Ballerinas and a Dino

This year, we had 2 ballerinas (thank you Brianne) and a dino (thank you Laura). I feel like Halloween was over a week long. That is probably because we've been doing 'Halloween things' for about that long. I'll post on that later. This post is dedicated to just Halloween Day. We started the day early and got ready to go to the Children's Museum.
Happy and clean.

Still clean!

The Children's Museum had all sorts of great things to do for Halloween. A Cartoonist was there and did a show of drawing pictures while telling a story. Elle and Bryn each got to take home one of his drawings. The theater provided free popcorn for the screening of the Charlie Brown Pumpkin movie. The girls painted pumpkins, bowled ghost pins, created crowns, and....put on some face makeup (or paints). I obviously do not wear makeup right. Why didn't anyone tell me that I have red blotches all along my chin line???

Elle was looking fabulous. The glitter was so....shiny. She couldn't resist. I ended up rubbing the glitter all over their bodies and into their hair. It's so fun to be sparkly.

I got the troops home and the girls napped for about an hour. Then it was time for dinner and trick or treating. Somehow Brandon and I ended up holding the pumpkins. They were 'too heavy'.

Finally the girls got to go see one of their favorite friends....

The A-team's party was a hit, complete with homemade root beer and 'duck duck witch'.

The loot. Bryn has blue ring pop face and looks...crazy. She and Elle ate(not sucked) a ring pop on our way to the party. Until next year Halloween!