"Looking Forward" - Crosby Stills & Nash

 So, I'm sick of being behind on my blog, so here is October through November - a brief picture story :)

 

One Oct weekend we went to meet Santa for the first time.  We spent about 10 min prior trying to explain to her who Santa was.  I'm not so sure she got the concept by the time we made it to the Jolly Man.  She carried on a pretty in depth conversation about his soft fur and the North Pole sign behind him, and the creepy elf, and her pink shirt.  You know the important stuff.

 

 I'm trying to trust my 2.5 yr old more and more.  It's hard, but she is starting to prove to me that she is capable of things.  And 99% of messes, are really not permanent.  Something can always be cleaned or replaced, clothes are meant to be warm not pristine.  I felt like I was saying "no" all the time to her.  So I decided to stop saying "no".  Was it really that big of a deal if she got her shirt covered in washable paint?  Is it really that big of a deal if I have to vacuum the dried play-dough off the carpet?  This kid really does know her boundaries and I need to give her the room to expand and explore.  So I'm working on it.  It stresses out my OCD though...but that's another issue :)

 I got to make Turkey Day dinner for us and our good friends.  I thought I had ruined the turkey (long story) but it turned out PERFECT!  Juicy and delicious and it looked good too.  The rest of the spread wasn't too bad either.  Especially the side of baby ;-)

 I knew these would get out of order...this is the post Santa meeting activity.  We got to see his reindeer.  Bug was pretty concerned that their antlers were bleeding.  Such a love.

 First time Daddy lovin' on his little girl.  Warms my heart :)  This was from Thanksgiving too...the lack of order is tugging at my OCD.

 Our first moose.  These are the two we had video of posted on FB.  We've seen them a few more times.  Once it was just mama and Caitlin was pretty upset that the baby wasn't with her.  A couple weeks later we saw them both back together-thankfully.

 2nd house project: Kitchen floor.  Success.  I love it.  It's crazy slippery in socked feet.  The 2 yr old is finding that out the hard way. 

 Believe it or not, that's Jerry Seinfeld.  Also our first time out sans both kids.  Thanks to Brad & Aleece & Family.  I had a beer-it was delicious!!

 This is my first pedicure in -0 weather conditions.  I feel like this is a rite of passage.  And yes, I drove home and walked outside like this.  Baller (or insane) I know.

 

 Veteran's Day-we listened to a book that was read by soldiers and then made these cool wreath things.  All for free :)  Good time with my Bug.

 Oh, non-chronological order you slay me...this was how we trick-or-treated.  I specifically got warm costumes and then we never even went outside...The hospital goes all out and each department dresses up in a theme and everyone walks through trick or treating :)  It's complete chaos.  But fun chaos.

 This is just our crazy kid in her natural habitat.

 Yup, some places do use the whole dial on the thermometer.

 Caitlin's new thing is to raid Miles' dresser and dress up her stuffed animals.  I will probably have to save a handful of his clothing specifically for this activity.  He's getting too big!

 This is how we ended November.  I got rear-ended by a Stryker (36,000lb armored military vehicle).  Surprisingly, this is all the damage it caused.  The glass was shattered out, there are a couple dents on either side of the Ford emblem.  That's it.  Thankfully.

Wheew, I couldn't let these pictures just go to waste.  Sorry for the whirl-windedness :)

"September In The Rain" - Frank Sinatra

I've been trying to set good routines for us when it comes to getting out of the house, and one of those out of the house activities has been Romp-Stomp.  It's a toddler get together, ultimately.  They do a craft and read a story and have play-time (indoors if weather demands).  But it's been about a group of 3-6 toddlers and I really enjoy the chance to drink coffee and watch Caitlin learn the ins and outs of other kids.

It's been kind of weird to let Caitlin get out and do things on her own.  As every parent has probably said, it's hard to do, to trust that they know what they are doing, and if they don't know what they're doing, to trust that they can figure it out.  Now I understand that this is by no means anything compared to when she turns 16 and I had her keys to a car and she gets in it without me for the first time...or that first time she is out late at a 'party'...baby steps...just thinking about it raises my blood pressure...

Anyway, we do our best to teach her by example -

- and I'm glad she usually loves every minute of those teaching moments :)

Life here is in full Autumn mode.  The leaves are beautiful.  They are either yellow or orange.  We only have 4 kinds of trees in Alaska...it's no Michigan Fall, but it's a better view than Louisiana!