Yes, we did celebrate Thanksgiving...

We actually had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend...I just haven't written about it yet!

I can honestly say it was the least stressful and most pleasant Thanksgiving I have ever experienced. Despite the fact that we had two different parties and I cooked and cleaned and prepped for a week, I wasn't stressed, everyone had fun and it was generally delightful.

Thanksgiving Day saw most of our family gathered 'round the table for our first Thanksgiving in our new home. The only absence was my mom, Grammy. Unfortunately, she was sandbagged at work buried under charts and the threat of an impending state audit. She simply has too much work to do and not enough time to do it. We really missed her and it was very different not having her around.

But we did get to celebrate with many others: Poppy, Nanny, Ya-Ya, Grandpa, Auntie, Reagan, Jeff, Wayne and Jane. It was wonderful and we were so glad everyone could come.






We were also pleased to host this year's Annual SCAT Christmas party. SCAT stands for Summer Camp Assistance Team - the staff at Johns River Valley Camp - which I attended as a child and where I worked both as a volunteer and on staff for several years. My friends from camp are my closest and dearest and being with them thrills my soul and brings me great joy. It was such a pleasure to host everyone this year and it was just perfect. The younger kids enjoyed the playroom, the pre-teens made good use of the air hockey table, a few friends hung out by the fire in the chimenea, and the rest milled about talking and laughing and watching football. As always, we had a great time catching up and playing the "Dirty Santa" game. If only we could get together more often...

Changing of the Guard

Life is full of transitions. Sometimes they are big: moving, death, starting school. Sometimes they are more subtle: the new favorite toy, changes in speech, and new ways of playing.

The girls have been full of small and subtle changes lately, especially Abby. It makes me a little sad since each new development means they are getting older and giving up some of their "baby" ways.

Abby has probably shifted the most lately. She has had the cutest little way of saying Natalie's name - "Nannie". I think it evolved out of an attempt to say "Natne" and somehow the "t" just disappeared. Natalie calls her self Nannie too, and Ben and have also taken to calling her that. I think we like it better than the nickname "Nat" or worse, "Nat-Nat". Plus, it's been so cute hearing the girls say it. Of late, however, Abby has started calling her Na(t)-a-lie. It's hard to explain and it sounds very much like Natalie, but I think the "t" is still under-pronounced so it sounds a bit different. It's still cute, but I liked that she had a special little name for her sister. I blame their speech therapist. I think she spent a day on their names and Abby fell for it. Natalie is still stubbornly referring to herself as Nannie, and speech issues aside, I'm thrilled with it.

Abby has also started showing preference for her baby doll, Baby Sam, over Mouse. (I failed to document when Natalie gave up Elmo for Baby Bean and Abby "Dorge"/Curious George for Mouse, so I want to be sure to catch this...) It's not a complete transition, but I can see it coming (through my tears, I might add). Mouse is still required for sleep, but rarely makes it out of the bed. Most all day-time play is done with Baby Sam. This could simply be because Sam is actually a doll, vs a mouse, and falls more easily into Abby's love of pretend Mommy play. Baby Sam is regularly given a bottle, fed bear soup, put to bed, put in the swing to swing, pushed in the stroller and comforted when sick or hurt. It's hard to say which is more preferred, Mouse or Baby Sam, since she is very tied to both at bedtime. I do, however, see Sam gaining ground in the future.

Abby's Babies

(from left to right: Dorge (George), Mouse, Baby Sam, Panda, Pink Baby - aka Car Baby - meant to stay in the car)

Natalie's Babies
(Baby Bean, Elmo, Yellow Baby, Polie, Baby Susie)

and the whole crowd...

For the record, Natalie's Baby Bean has never been quite as involved in daily play as Baby Sam. Baby Bean often spends all day in the bed. But, Natalie is quite insistent on her at night and in comfort situations. I think this is in part because Natalie is less consumed by "Mommy play" than Abby. She does rock, feed, etc Baby Bean (in fact, she just fetched her from her bed about an hour ago), but she is also just as likely to pick up whatever is closest (bunny, duck, other doll) and plop it into the high chair or give it a bottle. (Natalie swinging Baby Bean)


Another rather surprising switch is the hostile takeover of a oinky little upstart named Olivia. For a change in pace (for me), I let the girls watch an episode of Olivia instead of Wonder Pets, and they've become quite hooked. Now, instead of "I want to watch Wonder Pets" at 8am, I'm hearing, "mommy, I want to watch Olivia!" Sesame Street is also getting popular, but we only watch it downstairs. (It's an hour vs only 30 minutes and gives me more time to cook or clean or do whatever if I need to.)

Play time is getting more sophisticated too. They still spend a good bit of time engaged in imaginative imitation play: feeding, rocking, and putting their babies to bed and cooking (usually bear soup). They also do a lot of climbing: on the stairs, on the couches, on Mommy. They love to jump and will sometimes place pillows around to create things to jump on on. Spinning is also popular and various forms of ballet and dance movements.

They are also starting to create games and give directions to each other. "Now, Nannie, you do this..." They are also beginning to independently seek out puzzles and more fine motor activities. We have started playing a couple of games and they are getting the idea of taking turns and how games work. They also like to color and cut. Books are still a favorite activity and I've caught them "reading" the books to themselves and to their babies.

Other favorite games include pretending to fish, hiding, chasing daddy, playing with their little animals and building block "houses", taking care of the cats, and Natalie loves riding her little tractor around the house with a few animals or babies in the trailer. They also love to help us cook. They are also getting really independent and like to get their own water from the dispenser with one ice for Natalie and 2 for Abby:-)




Some of mommy and daddy's favorites:
- Having the girls come running and climb in our bed in the morning (we took the crib tents off so they can get out by themselves).
- The girls like to fix daddy coffee in their little kitchen and bring it to him on the weekends.
- Mommy loves to watch the girls play together, make up games and help each other.
- Watching them take care of Baby Sam - the real one:-) They are so sweet with him. They bring him toys and hug him and kiss the top of his head. It's so sweet. Today the girls held him in their laps and just beamed - especially Abby - she is incredibly maternal.

I'm a bit nostalgic about all these changes - especially the switches of the beloved comfort item. I have this Velveteen Rabbit complex that the forsaken toys are now lonely and sad because they have been rejected and replaced...(Names and numbers of competent psychiatrist can be submitted in the comments section). Mostly, I'm just sad because it means they are growing up and I'm really, really, really not a fan. I love this stage. They could stay 3.5 years old forever. Maybe what I have is a reverse Peter Pan complex. I want to go to Never Never Land not so that I won't grow up, but so my girls never will. Well, there's always the grandchildren...

Now to wax a bit philosophical...

I've always loved watching children play. If you really just sit back and watch and listen, it's quite an extraordinary experience. To see their little minds at work, watching as they work out problems, express their own fears through their babies or toys, and find fun and joy in something as simple as a pipe cleaner (snake, fishing rod, a little shot). It's truly amazing what a child can do given the space, time, and encouragement and even just a few simple toys.

We have spent a number of afternoons at the Marbles Museum in Raleigh which is an enormous and astonishing hands on museum for kids. There is a pretend bus, ambulance, fire truck and burning house, grocery store, kitchen, garden, stage, post office, and barn. And that's just in one part downstairs. Upstairs, there are art spaces, a sock hockey rink, giant legos, fashion design station, pet spa, pizza restaurant and woodworking area where you can make your own birdhouse with a hand saw, hand drill and some screws.

What is absolutely amazing is to watch the children at work in these spaces. They know exactly what to do and they are so intent on doing it. There are no electronics, TVs, video games or music. Yet, the kids are completely engaged and entertained. The revel in the freedom and opportunity to be creative and explore. It's a world of make-believe where they can be firemen, bus drivers, cooks, architects, fashion designers, or pirates on a giant ship that frankly is probably not much smaller than the actual Santa Maria. It's truly joyous to watch and if you have never had the opportunity to observe children at play, I suggest you find a way. It will open your eyes to a whole new world.

Halloween!

This was the girls' first "real" Halloween. Last year, we were at my mema's and went to my aunt's and a friend of mema's, but the Natalie and Abby didn't really get the whole thing. This year, they were all about it.

This year we also did jack 'o' lanterns, which were more about Ben than the girls. Natalie and Abby were less than enthusiastic about reaching into the squishy pumpkins. So, we let Ben handle the muck and we just enjoyed the results.




Natalie had expressed for about a month that she wanted to be a cow for Halloween. I looked everywhere but couldn't find one. I was not especially inclined to get creative and make one, so I did the next best thing. I convinced Natalie she could be a farmer instead and carry around a cow.

This worked for me in two ways. One: I already had a funny "farmer" costume that was free in a bag of a bunch of hand-me-downs. Two: I no longer had to search for a cow costume.

So, I told Natalie she was Old McDonald and hooked up a little wagon to their little tractor. We visited the thrift store, found some stuffed pigs, a deer and of course, a cow. They joined a few other stuffed friends in the wagon for some trick-or-treating fun. Natalie bought into it completely and actually had a blast. She drove her little tractor up and down our street just as happy as could be. It was pretty adorable. She would park the tractor in the driveway, climb off, get her candy, get back on, back-up, turn and travel on down the road. She loved it.

Abby didn't seem to have any strong feelings about her costume, so she was a Bumble Bee (also found in the hand-me-down bag). She was the bee gathering pollen to make honey on Old McDonald's Farm.



We only visited about 6 houses, partly because it took a while to travel from house to house on the little tractor. But, it was plenty for the girls. They had a great time. After returning to the house, we had these comments:

Natalie: That was FUN! ....and my favorite

Abby: That was some good trick-or-treating.

Being very kind and generous parents who well-remember our stingy and mean parents on Halloween, we let the girls have several of their pieces of candy. (What's with that "only one piece on Halloween" crap...it's like saying you can stare at all the gifts from Santa but only open one!)

They tried out the sour worms, the Tootsie Roll Sucker, and of course, some chocolate. Ahhh....happy kids.

We've had several requests to go trick-or-treating again. They've accepted well the idea they will have to wait until next year.

Sister, sister

Ben just asked Abby if she would like to go out with him for dinner for some special one on one time.
Abby: No, I want to stay with Nannie.
Ben: Why?
Abby: I want to stay with Nannie because I love her.


Ahhhhh.

Teeny-Tiny Tushy

We have a few of the girls' old preemie outfits around. I've discovered they are great for dolls, and especially fit the Cabbage Patch Kids perfectly. So, Abby just found and put on a pair of bloomers that go with a PREEMIE outfit that she wore when she was 4 or 5 months old (at about 8lbs).

They fit.

*sigh*

Fall Fun

Wow! We spent last weekend at Poppy and Nanny's house and we had the most fantastic time. It is amazing how much we managed to cram into 3 days.

We started with the Luray Rescue Zoo. It's quite a nice little place (although Zoo might be generous) considering the size of Luray. The most impressive part of the Zoo is their extensive snake/reptile collection. They have an impressive number of highly venomous snakes (cobras, Gabon Viper, Mambas) as well as US and local venomous and non-venomous snakes. To me, the most impressive was the Canebrake Rattlesnake (sub-species of the Timber Rattlesnake). This snake was massive. It was easily 6 inches in width - maybe more. I had no idea they were they wide and it was quite impressive.

Natalie was impressed by the very large pythons, which both she and Abby seemed delighted to think were going to eat them. They find this more amusing then scary - fortunately.


The Zoo also has a host of owls, birds, some kind of monkey, a petting area of a pig, donkey, yaks, deer, goats, etc. There are also a few cats: a bobcat and their pride and joy - a Bengal Tiger.



Friday afternoon was spent on a canoe trip I'd been wanting to take forever. Luray has a wonderful walking "Greenway" through the middle of town that hugs a little creek perfect of canoeing. The water was a bit low, but it was enough to have a little fun. Ben started out with us, but the water was too low for all of us. He and the girls abandoned ship to feed the ducks, but I picked the girls up again a little downstream. The girls seemed to have a great time and I was happy to do something I haven't had a chance to do in probably 9 years.


Saturday night we closed the day with a roaring bonfire and smore's and hot cider. My chocoholic children were mostly interested in tossing the graham cracker and marshmellow parts and scarfing down the chocolate. It was a wonderful way to end an amazing day.





Saturday we started the day with a wonderful breakfast with a former member of Poppy's church who had always offered such wonderful support and prayers. Then we headed off to Syria, Virginia to Graves Mountain Apple Farm for the Apple Festival. This year was much more crowded, and hotter, so we didn't stay as long. But, we had plenty of time to ride some ponies, check out the hay bales, and visit the petting area of the farm. They even had baby pigs, which were a real treat to watch as they ran around chasing each other.









Saturday afternoon we headed back to Poppy and Nanny's to get in a little more fun. Ben and Nanny hung out with the girls and Poppy and Mommy took a little canoeing adventure. We put in on the Shenandoah River behind their house and followed the river to see where it would go! We knew it would hit under the bridge (our pick-up spot) but we weren't sure how long it would take or what water conditions we would find. (I was hoping for white water all the way:-)) What we discovered was a wonderful stretch of river with some beautiful smooth cruising water and a few fun little rapids.

















After picking us up, Dad and Ben dropped me off at the same spot we ran the day before so I could run it myself and go a bit further. It was wonderful, although going "a little further" turned out not to be so smart since there was not actually a good place to take out the canoe. So, Ben and I ended up carrying it a good bit back to the truck. Did I mention it was dark by then? While I was gone, Poppy gave the girls his own version of a hay ride in the little trailer pulled by his lawn mower. They loved it! The next time we are there in the snow, we will have to hook up a sled and go for a spin.

Sunday we enjoyed attending church at Poppy's church and seeing all our Luray Church friends. The girls were actually wonderful and made it all the way through the service up to the sermon when Natalie said she needed to go the potty. I think they would have made it through if not for that. (It was a short sermon:-))

At lunch, the girls continued to make liars out of our complaints about their eating habits as we watch them eat salsa with a spoon as if it were soup, handfuls of chips, and 2 or 3 chicken wings. It was remarkable.

After lunch we headed to Luray's Heritage Festival where Poppy had a friend who would give us a horse and buggy ride. The girls loved it. We also rode more ponies and took a ride on the cutest homemade train made from barrels - and pulled by a tractor! It was so much fun.

And to cap the whole weekend off - we found a lovely little garter snake on the road that we were able to hurry along before it was smushed.




As always, our time in Luray ended too soon. It was amazing to at least have a 3 day weekend instead of just two and it made all the difference in being able to relax and have fun.

Coming soon to a blog near you: Natalie and Abby's first trip to the NC State Fair!