Restore Sanity 2010

We restored sanity on Saturday, it was insane. These pictures don't quite do the huge swarms of people justice, but we took these on our way out of the city.

Reading

Elsa has finally started to take interest in books! And beyond being read to, she really enjoys reading to us...and her puppy.

Current favorites are Goodnight Gorilla, The Carrot Seed and Big Dog Small Dog.

She thought Dalasi might enjoy a little Very Hungry Caterpillar action this particular afternoon though.

22 Months!

In the past month Elsa's language has exploded - in both English and Spanish - it is really amazing! She often uses both together, like "otro book" or "dame please" - but regardless, the kid can get her point across in more languages than Errol and I can!

This weekend we went to the Pumpkin walk here in Greenbelt on Saturday, and then Sunday went to the Zoo for the first time! Errol was in CT for work and missed out on some classic Elsa moments...like when she lead the charge in the woods jumping over branches and running around like a maniac even though it was dusk and there were 10 year olds more spooked than her, or how we spent almost 2 hours (seriously) watching the Gorillas at the zoo and all she kept saying was "Mas gorilla" and squealing at the top of her lungs. As we walked out of the zoo she kept saying "NighNigh Gorilla" - which is also her favorite book of the moment.

22 months is pretty awesome, we can't wait to see what the next month brings us!

Fall Festival

We hosted a bunch of our good friends and their kiddos this weekend for a celebration of fall. We had a plethora of fall goodies, mulled cider, pumpkin pie, pumpkin and octoberfest beers...and of course pumpkin painting for about 12 kids under the age of 2.

Yes, you read that right. I will admit that my first idea was a pumpkin carving party...I even bought a bunch of kits. Then I looked at them a little closer and realized, maybe not so wise to give 2 year olds sharp knives..I know, I am an amazing parent.

So I switched to painting - but of course finger paint won't stick on pumpkins so I had to go with acrylic. I was prepared for a massive disaster, clouds of paint all over and parents irritated that everyone was coated in paint. But it was a resounding success!

Virginia Get Away

Errol and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this past weekend by taking a quick trip to VA. We had an amazing, probably once in a lifetime, dinner at The Inn at Little Washington. Although the dinner was beyond amazing...sleeping past 6am may have taken the cake for the weekend.

Huge thanks to the Blanchards for watching Elsa this weekend - we owe you guys!

21 Months

In this last month, Elsa has begun to master many things - one of which is escaping our house. She quietly opens the door, makes a bee line to the fence, opens the fence gate and runs out of the house to the playground at the end of the block.

This whole scenario can happen in the matter of seconds (like the seconds when mommy is washing dishes or blinking). Errol happened to catch her in the act last night..and the chase that ensued.

Yard Work

It's a little hard to tell, but our shrubs were about 6 ft. wide in the first picture. They took a major beating with this past winters snow and needed a major trimming.

Now they are closer to 2ft. wide and we gained half of our yard back!
Elsa being a monkey on the newly trimmed branches.

Labor Day Festival - Day 3

Labor Day Festival - Day 2

Labor Day Festival - Day 1