Baseball

So, sure, baseball season is over...but I was looking through pictures and realized I never posted these up.  We took James to his first pro baseball game in September and judging from his reaction, I think he'll be attending several more.  Considering his room is decked out in a Red Sox theme, it's not surprising he felt at home in the ballpark.  I'm sure the hot dogs, cotton candy and ice cream had nothing to do with it.

And, lucky kid, he made it out onto the field at his first game.  We participated in a pre-game "parade" around the field which was a pretty cool experience.  Jason had a big grin on his face during the walk and James stopped to pick up and toss the dirt around home plate.  Anna just kept asking for ice cream (the novelty was lost on her, I guess!).

According to Jason, though, they both have yet to truly experience a pro baseball game because they haven't been to one at Fenway.  Soon enough, soon enough.

We also had a really cool experience thanks to our pals - we had the opportunity to sit right behind home plate in the best seats I have ever had for any sporting event.  I don't know if I had more fun watching the game, or trying to spot us on TV (that's us up there!)...So, thanks Kings, and when can we go back?!?

October 365

Halloween

This Halloween Anna and James hit the trick-or-treat path as Ariel the Little Mermaid and her fish friend Flounder.

Being princess-obsessed, Anna's costume choice was not surprising (reference Snow White from last year!). Knowing that James likely will begin to have an opinion on his costumes in the next year or so, I decided to keep them as a pair at least one more time (reference Dopey from last year!). 

Anna of course was giddy with excitement for the trick-or-treating and kept proclaiming her bucket of candy was too heavy to carry. James was much less giddy, in fact he was more confused and overwhelmed at the beginning. That lasted for approximately one house...when he realized he was getting candy, he was all in.  The week before Halloween we had been practicing saying, "trick-or-treat" with him.

During the practice we got the occasional "twick" from James, but when he saw the magic unleashed by the phrase, his diction was all of a sudden perfect! After the first house all we heard was "twick tweet, twick tweet, twick tweet". And, upon leaving a house's front porch, James would get a few feet away and then turn around and say, "more, more, more." 

 Come to think, maybe he won't care too much about his costume...as long as the candy is flowing.

Ariel!

More, more, more!

Neighborhood madness.

Could anything be CUTER?!?

Siblings

22 hours of each day they love each other. A lot. But in 18 months they have discovered the actions that make the other proclaim, "You are the most annoying person in the world!" And that is how the remaining two hours of the day are filled.

Love

Love

What, you want this giraffe?  No, it's mine.  You can't have it.  Oh, that annoys you?  Good.

Exasperation.

Love

Her hair

I had to capture this particular phase Anna is going through. She is obsessed with her hair. Before school each morning she will gaze at herself in the mirror and ponder which hairstyle to go with.

She has her own style vocabulary: Circle braid, sidetail, full hairtail, alien buns, twisties, half braid, full braid, flat, the list goes on.

The style is not the only choice, either - then come the accessories. Flowers, clips, bows, headbands...

And boy, is she particular. Most days the hair gets done without incident. But then there are the other days. The days that make me cringe because they foreshadow days of melt downs over her hair in high school.

If she can't get the curls to lay just right or the clip to go where she wants it to, stand back. She will proclaim her hair "weird" and stomp/roll her eyes better than any 13 year old.

I try to console her as best I can (if my patience allows), but my words usually make the situation worse (a daughter getting annoyed with her mom?!?). I just hate that she would ever not like the way she looks (having those beautiful curls and all), but we've all been there. And, I do believe she has a flair for the dramatic.

I hope the future isn't too hairy in this arena (ha ha)...

I think she's beautiful no matter what!

Circle braid with flowers

Half sidetail with a twist (and blue arms/red face)

Fancy sidetail

Twisties

Headband (and a beautiful sweater made by Grammy)

Shaggy no more

The time finally came - after one too many "cute mullet" comments, I packed James up and headed to the barber shop. I had attempted a minor trim about a month before, but knew my weak shearing skills were no task for a full on "big boy" cut. He was a cooperative subject for most of the cut (I think the lollipop helped), and the results were fantastic. Such a handsome boy.

September 365