Macy's Parade

We landed at G&G's just before midnight on Wednesday and went to bed as soon as we got to their house, because the next day we got up early to catch the first bus into NY for the parade. The forecast for Thanksgiving was in the 60's, so lots of other people had the same idea we had! By the time we got into town the streets were already crowded. We finally found a spot that we would be about 4 rows deep but behind lawn chairs, so we had a small window of street view!

Waiting for the parade to begin!

M's whole family (other than Uncle W who had just landed back in the US after his deployment) was able to celebrate Thanksgiving together. M's cousin, who is going to grad school out east, also came for a few days.Enjoying the sun as we wait for the parade to start.

We got to our spot about an hour before the parade was due to start at Central Park. Since we were more than halfway through the parade route, it took another 1 1/2 hours to get to us.
One of the highlights of the parade was when Mickey Mouse came by!
I had been telling M that Minnie would be visiting us, so M was also excited that at least one Mouse was in the parade so that I wouldn't be too disappointed.
Over the course of the 2 hours the parade was going by us, C&I were held by many different people. Apparently they all thought we got too heavy!
Another highlight was the Macy's train going by.
Snoopy--always a classic!
Of course a Thanksgiving parade needs to have a turkey in it!
The parade just got a little too long for C, especially after such a short night!
The big finish--Santa riding his sleigh through the streets of NYC.
Walking back to the bus station 3 blocks away we passed this truck with all the street lights on it. The whole parade route had to have all the lights taken down so that the balloons could get through and they were already busy trying to get them back up so that the roads could open to traffic!
C very excited to see the balloons (and in the case the "ball" in the sky). You can also see just how crowded the street is as even our family is spaced out 3 rows!

Backpack, backpack

Both C and I love watching Dora. C's favorite part of the show is Backpack! So in preparation for our recent plane trip, C got her own backpack to carry her diapers and special toys on the airplane.
Showing the backpack off as we look out the window at our plane.

Of course I had to have M take my picture also!

We had a 4 hour flight to NJ to visit G&G. We left at supper time and landed after bedtime, so M thought that we would fall asleep on the plane. No such luck!!! C was pretty cranky the whole ride--not wanting to be held and not wanting to be put down. She wanted her own seat!! Finally near the end of the flight she found a corner on the floor she liked! However, it didn't last too long as we soon hit turbulance on the descent and she had to sit on M's lap again.

First Haircut

Before we could head to G&G for Thanksgiving, C needed her first haircut. It was getting so long and falling into her eyes, and of course she wouldn't keep any clips or ties in it. So M decided to let her have bangs.

The before picture, waiting patiently with D for her turn.Not really sure what to think of the chair, but ready for the adventure ahead of her.
Getting the hair trimmed.
Finished product! Look at those beautiful eyes you can finally see--with no hair falling into them!!
Of course, we couldn't leave without getting my hair cut also!

Sticker fun

For our recent trip to New Jersey to see G&G, M got the crafty idea of making C and I sticker books. She figured it would occupy us on the plane and also prevent us from sticking them all over clothes, paper and airplane furniture.

She started with printing some landscape pictures on card stock.
She then put them into protective sleeves and put them in folders. The idea is that the protective sleeves will act as re-usable pages where we can stick them, take them up and re-stick them and not "waste" the stickers with just one use on paper, clothes or wall & floors!

She then added some fun paper.Then final step was to add lots and lots of stickers.Getting the book out for the long airplane ride. The book got a lot of use by me on the airplane and for the next 5 days at G&G.

Y School Thanksgiving

Wednesday before closing for the Thanksgiving weekend, we had a potluck where all the parents could come and eat with us. I was super excited because that meant I got 2 Thanksgivings! One at school and one the next day at G&G's house. After enjoying the wonderful food everyone made, M and I headed home to pick up D and C and get to the airport for our flight out to NJ for the long weekend.

ABC's

I have so much fun at Y school and am learning so much. My teacher took this picture of me a week ago. I love practicing my letters. I have even been helping C learn her ABC's. Over Thanksgiving she started singing "W, Y, Z now I know" and 3 days later on the ride home from the airport, M heard C singing a good 70% of the letters. I am a good teacher!!

Zoo

Saturday we went to the zoo for the day with some friends. It was a free day, so it was indeed a zoo!! M had to park almost a mile away due to so many people. Even though it was so busy, most of the animals were bored and sleeping!After having a quick picnic lunch, we started our adventure around the zoo. One of the first things we did was ride the animal merry-go-round.

Watching the giraffes. I waited all afternoon to go see them.

C all tuckered out from the afternoon walking all around.

What cute kids! It was a fun play-date at the zoo even though it was a little windy.

Hanging out

Just hanging out on Saturday morning in my bedroom.

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all our veterans and active military. I appreciate the freedoms you give me.

I especially am proud of my D and Great-uncle D, pictured below in 1989 when D just finished Navy boot camp. And my P who served in the Army National Guard.And my Uncle W currently serving as a Marine.
Love you all. Thanks for your service to God and country!

Sledding fun

We still had snow on the ground from our two recent storms, so C and I took M out sledding. It was C's first time. She did pretty well until her gloves got wet and her hands started getting cold. It was a long walk back home with 2 cold girls!!M went down with C and I a few times first to get us used to the thrill of the hill.
My first ride down all by myself.

C's turn.

Halloween

C and I got to dress up for Halloween 3 times this year. Friday I went with C to her babysitter's house who was celebrating early for her kids who wouldn't be there Monday. We went as the Minnie Mouse twins--pink and red.Then on Saturday we went to Aunt J's house to have a Halloween scavenger hunt. I dressed as Daisy Duck and C was Tinker Bell.

Even M&D dressed up for Aunt J's party. M was a hippie and D was a superhero. Which one you ask?Underwear man!!!!

M&DOn Monday at school we went trick-or-treating to all the different departments. I was pretty excited to come to M's office with all my friends.

One of my best friends and myself waiting for the rest of the classmates to catch up so we could continue treat-or-treating. I'm not sure how a cat and a mouse became friends but we did!!!!

That evening D started taking C and I out in the neighborhood. C tuckered out about half way around so we came home so M could take me the rest of the way.

We have some trusting neighbors!

Room arranging

Last Saturday, M&D decided we needed more room in our playroom. So the room re-arranging began. The plan was to move the guest bed in the playroom up into my room in preparation for when C moves out of the crib in a few months.

My room before the change.

The playroom with the bed moved out, but nothing else moved yet.

My old bed moved to the other side of the room. This is where C will sleep when she is ready to get out of the crib. I got the new high bed!

Helping D put the frame together.Finished room!I was so excited to sleep in my new bed that night.All my stuffed animals are now in the playroom on the bean bag. and we have storage bins for all the categories of toys--dolls, stuffed animals, kitchen/house, dollhouse and misc. toys. Hopefully we keep it clean!!We also have a big open space in the middle of the room. Enough for train tracks or....

the new tent D found in the storage room that M forgot to put out for us this summer!

Beards.....

Who has the best beard?
C's blue frosting?
My little goatee?

Or D's?

I asked D the other day why he didn't have hair on his face, so he decided that he would grow it until I told him to stop. I think M and D are both getting tired of it, but as of yesterday I told D he couldn't shave yet!!!!

My second name....

M is so proud of me. I have learned to spell my second name (as I call it). It does take a little dicephering, but it's a good start for a preschooler.