Grandma's Jumper

Grandma Sue knitted a dress for Sue last year that Sue rejected immediately. This was painful for "Gammie", as Sue calls this (of her three) grandmothers. I sadly put the knitted jumper in the back of Sue's dresser drawer, and expected to give it away (or reclaim the yarn) when it no longer fit.

Surprise surprise, Sue came down from getting dressed for school today wearing Gammie's jumper! She just decided that this was what she wanted to wear. And after coming home from school, she told me that it was very comfortable, and that all the adults had commented on her dress and given her lots of attention. Now she wants to wear it for Christmas Eve dinner too.

Thanksgiving

This year's Thanksgiving dinner was similar to previous years, although somehow it all seemed better. The turkey was especially delicious -- Richmond had brined it. Everyone seemed very well, and was relaxed, and there was good conversation. Although Little Sue was somewhat bored, she dealt.



Brendan was relaxed.



The pumpkin pie was especially lovely.



So much to be thankful for!

Anouk's First Birthday Party

Our niece and Sue's first cousin Anouk, adopted from China this past summer, was feted at her parents' house this weekend. Anouk has learned to walk since we last saw her. She is the most unflappable baby I've ever met, and cute as a button. The birthday party theme was "fairies", a huge hit with the girls, although the few boys present were no so thrilled.

Sue Tries Out The Camera

Sue has started using the digital camera in the last few months, and while the first several (many) pictures were frequently of the floor, or completely out of focus, or half of someone's head, they have been improving markedly of late. Witness:

Halloween 2008

This year Grandpa Jim and Grandma Gail came to visit the weekend before Halloween. The Peabody Museum was having their Halloween special, and since the weather was not great, we decided to have pizza in New Haven (always the best), followed by a visit to the Peabody.

There were bean-bag tosses, make-a-black-cat-witches-hat, win-a-spider game, and the spooky witches corner at the Peabody. But our favorite part was the "bird lady", who comes every year and brings her rescued owls and hawks.



We spent Halloween evening with the Dattilos, trick-or-treating around their neighorhood after a delightful spaghetti-and-meatballs dinner. It was a late night, but totally worth staying up for!

Natalie was Hanna Montana, and Sue was a black cat.



A sparkly black cat.



The candy haul around Natalie's was much bigger than Sue usually gets around Johnson's Point.

First Day of School

Sue started first grade last week. This year she'll be taking the bus to school, and then to an after-school arts program, where we'll pick her up. I asked her how she felt, and she said "I don't have any butterflies in my tummy Mama. I'm butterfly-free." Wonderful!

Sue with her backpack, all ready for school:



At the bus stop:



Then on Saturday, we went to the Haddam Neck Fair. Sue got her face painted, as a butterfly!

Look Ma!

Sue has lost both of her two front teeth, as well as another on the bottom. Her mouth is distinctly scraggly right now. But she doesn't seem to mind.

Anouk's Christening

Sean and Collette had a beautiful day for Anouk's christening. The kids played, the adult's talked, and Anouk was, of course, the star of the show.

Eli Whitney Summer Camp

Sue had a great time at the Eli Whitney Museum's summer camp sessions. We signed her up for three one-week sessions; each session was a different project. The first was water and boats -- they made a different model boat each day. Then it was a week all about the legend of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. They made a diarama with the forest and the castle and figures from the story. The last week was all about bugs. They made a bug-research tool chest in the shape of a bug and went on field trips looking for new bugs every day. Way cool!

Sue was also signed up for some after-hours care, when the kids played in the water "laboratory" outside.

There was an elephant fountain:






A sand and water exploration table:



A giant chair that was one of Sue's favorite places to play:


The museum is next to a reservoir and waterfall, so it's always a little cooler than in the city:



Overall, she was a very happy camper.

End of Soccer Season

Sue ended another season of soccer. She really started to "get it" this time around. I wish that we hadn't lost 3 sessions due to weather though.

And much to my surprise, when I asked Sue if she wanted to sign up for next Fall, she said "Yes!".

Here are the kids waiting to go up and get their trophies.




Sue with her trophy:



I'm not sure why the frown, but it didn't last long, especially when the ice cream truck arrived :-)

Long Time No Post

Wow, I can't believe it's been since the end of March without a post! What have we been doing? Seems like nothing special -- work is busy, Kipper's training continues, Sue is doing well in school. Spring is here, sort of. I've bought flowers for the garden, which are sitting in a box on the front stoop, waiting for me to find the time to plant them.

Brendan and I have both been too tired in the evenings to do much, but I have been spinning and knitting while we vegetate in front of the TV. I finished a hat recently, that had been intended for me but fits Sue, so it's hers now. She's such a big girl now -- I only see flashes of the very little girl when she's sick or really tired.

Sue's Spring Concert

Sue's kindergarten class gave their first (and only?) concert. Brendan, my mother and I all went. I must confess, I had tears in my eyes, they were so sweet!

Unfortunately we remembered that video camera after it was too late to charge it, but Brendan did get some pictures.

Sue's Big Weekend

Last weekend was a big one for Sue. On Friday we took her to Zane's spring sale and got her a new two-wheeler (with training wheels). It's pink with streamers at the ends of the handle bars and flowers everywhere. What does Sue love the most about it? The little white basket in front. Go figure.



Then on Saturday she went to her classmate Rachel's "princess" birthday party. It was a "girls only" party (except for one boy). They got their hair done up, with tiaras all around, eye-shadow, and finger nail polish. They all came home with purses filled with dress-up jewelry and candy. Sue said it was the best birthday party she'd ever been to. I'm trying not to gag.

Pics are here for those with a high tolerance for pink.

After the party, Sue's friend Maia came back with us for a sleepover. The girls were (predictably) up until 10:00 talking and giggling.

Sunday, we took Sue and Maia to the Bridgeport Discovery Science museum, where we met up with Maia's mother. When we suggested on the way home that Sue might nap in the car, we didn't even get any resistance.

Easter 2008

This year's Easter Egg Hunt in our little burg of Branford was held on a chilly but sunny morning at Foote Park. The town laid out four gridded areas for various age groups, scattered $1,000.00 worth of candy all over the ground, and precisely at 11:00 AM, blew the whistle for the gathered hoards of kids to snag the sweets. About 15 seconds later (it seemed), it was all over.

Here's the field before the whistle:


After about 5 seconds, you can see that the first part of the grass is completely bare of candy already:


Here's an action shot (Sue is in a light pink jacket in the center-back of the picture):


The Easter bunny was there too:


We had met up with Sue's friend Natalie and her folks. Sue and Natalie:


After the egg hunt we all came back to our house for a play date, kids and adults. The girls played dressup, while the adults celebrated the season with some bubbly and coq au vin.


On Easter Sunday we went over to my mother's for brunch. Sue got to spend some quality time with her Grandma Sue:

Brrrrrr

Brrrr, it's COLD outside! After a nice long spell of temperate weather, we've finally hit a cold snap. This morning, with wind chill, -7 degrees.

Sue is dressed for the occasion.





Kipper always has his coat on.

Kipper Is Growing

Kipper is growing by leaps and bounds. I don't know exactly how much he weighs right now, but he's taller and longer than just a month ago. And, his winter coat has finally come in. The fur on his back is thick and wavy.

We're currently in between dog obedience classes. But I'm still working with him on heeling, sit, down, and stay.

Reading Despereaux

Sunday, Brendan decided to read aloud the last of The Tales of Despereaux. My parents used to read aloud to me when I was a child, and I'd forgotten what a pleasant afternoon can be had, relaxing and listening to someone read a good book aloud.



Thanks, Edward, for sharing a wonderful story with us.