my little blondies

That's Sylvie. With a shiner. Poor honey bumped her cheekbone on the side of the tub a few days ago. I tried to tell her that there is "no standing in the bathtub," but she's proving to be a little opinionated these days, so... she growled her sweet little growl at me, I turned for her towel, and then slip, smack, splash. A black eye.

In other news, her top front teeth finally cut through this week. So, with only two teeth on the bottom and two top molars starting to make their way through, our 12-month old still has a lot of teeth making to do.

Other milestones? Lots of "dada" these days, no "mama." Lots of stair climbing and crawling. No walking. (But it won't be long.) She loves to wrestle and tickle and belly laugh and dance with her sisters. She's full of life, energy and sweetness. And we love her, black eyes, growls, and all.

This is Claire. Smiling for the camera. Oh... this little 20-some pound package of life just warms my soul. What a honey. Look at her... crossed arms, tilted head, squinty eyes, wispy mullet, pig tattoo. I mean, you can't script this. You can't stage it. This is Claire. And I always love to see what she's going to do or say next.

She has three new words in her vocabulary this week. They are pretending, frustrated, and definitely. All words she learned from her big sister. It's priceless to see this little body say these three and four syllable words. And then the other day, while playing in her room, she says to me, "Mom. I'm doctor. You... bad guy." With a crinkle in her nose and her little confident smile. Count me in. I'm bad guy.

My Elise. Our performer. Graceful. Energetic. A tad dramatic. Lovely all around. She's always ready for a song or a dance, and when she's not putting on a show, she's up at the table drawing. This girl loves to create.

She is smart and funny and sensitive. She soaks up every ounce of love she's shown. And, man, do I love this girl. Some of my favorite moments in life these days are when I'm snuggling with my Elise. And after a pretty impressive growth spurt this summer (I think she gained at least five pounds), it's becoming more and more clear that this little girl is growing up! I'll hold her on my lap as much as I can, as often as she likes. Legs dangling. Long arms wrapped around me.

Somebody - please! - buy me a freeze gun! I want to freeze my little blondies in time. Thankful for who they are and who they will become and trying to enjoy every minute. I don't always enjoy every minute, I admit. But even in the tough moments, I'm trying. Because I've been told a million times by other mom's now in a different season to "enjoy this time! 'Cause they grow up too fast!"

Indeed.

Johnson's Giant Pumpkins

Elise took her first school bus ride yesterday for her first field trip.

I surprised her and showed up at the pumpkin patch as an extra chaperone.

Sitting in a wigwam and passing around animal pelts.

Class photo by the giant Papa Smurf. Elise is sort of hiding behind a boy in a blue jacket on the right. Notice Claire in the front. Claire tagged along for the entire field trip, visiting each learning station and fitting in with all the five-year-olds. I probably should have pulled her aside for this picture. I feel a little bad now. But she really felt a part of the group. I just didn't have the heart to pull her aside.

Sylvie sampled some donut too.

(My mom says she looks like my brother Carson as a kid in this shot.) :)

Pumpkins!

Sylvie can climb to the top of the stairs. All 13 steps. One giant smile. Even Claire can't stop her. And, yes, I spot her every wobbly step. Anyone want to recommend a good baby gate?

birthday highlights

Who knew turning 34 could be so wonderful?

Claire Bear helping daddy mix up some banana oat pancakes. Those + good coffee + bacon + an awesome family to share it with = best birthday breakfast I could ask for.

Elise busy coloring her second picture of the day for me. I love my little artist.

After a fun trip to the Saginaw Zoo on an unusually warm October afternoon, Claire Bear was beat. The second half of her nap was in my arms. I loved every sweaty minute.

Me and my super talented and loving husband. Every October Toby makes a homemade cheesecake (my all-time favorite dessert) for my birthday. From scratch. Without my help. Yes, he's wonderful.

mommy's helpers

Pumpkin Cheesecake, Toby's best cheesecake yet.

Sylvie's zoo party

Thanks to the help of my mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, we pulled of a sweet, zoo-themed 1st birthday party for Sylvie. Elise and Claire helped set up the Long family zoo by strategically placing all of their stuffed animals around the family room, and they also decorated the cupcakes. (Claire also taste-tested or inadvertently licked her half of the bunch.)

It was an awesome family event, a perfect celebration for our perfectly sweet Sylvie.

zoo food

Nana and Papa arrive.

zoo-rific cupcakes

Big sister Elise hands over the sweet treat to the birthday babe.

She definitely enjoyed the vanilla cupcakes and ice cream, but the best moment was when we all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She just lit up. It was so sweet.

Happy birthday, Sylvie!

Happy 1st Birthday, Sylvie!

Harvest Party

One of the huge benefits of living back in Saginaw is reconnecting with extended family in person. (Facebook, you're great, but face-to-face is way better.)

Last weekend, we went to Uncle Mark and Aunt Lona's annual harvest party, complete with a hay ride, egg toss, caramel apple making, a bonfire, and more. Happy harvest time to all.

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a date to remember

making our way to the Saginaw Bay...

after school happeningss

Going to school each morning has still been a little tough for my sweet Elise. I think she's going to someday love school and I'd guess she's a great student, but for now this whole "Why do I have to be gone for SEVEN hours everyday?!" business has been hard for both of us. I'm not a fan of full-day Kindergarten. I think fondly of my own Kindergarten experience... spend the morning at home, eat Spaghettios for lunch while watching the Price is Right before heading to school for the afternoon, probably no more than three hours of class time. But things have changed (although I admit I still like Spaghettios), and it is what it is.

On a positive note, Elise does have a lot of good things to say about school at the end of the day, and we really enjoy our afternoon time together. She usually has a little "homework" activity to do on Mondays, and it's been fun working on these things together while Claire and Sylvie keep occupied around us.

Last week Elise had to draw a picture of two things that rhyme. On her own she came up with "frog' and "log" and drew an adorable picture. I'm proud of her. Emotionally this transition is difficult, but academically there's no doubt this girl is ready for school.

It's amazing how long Claire stays busy with a sheet of dot stickers. :)

After "homework" time, the girls enjoyed drawing and painting at the table.

And posing. :)