Lucky Penny for Santa

Santa is one penny richer this Christmas season. Elsie was intent on giving him a "lucky penny" when she met him at the Children's Museum last week.

She's a believer! It's fun to listen to her rationalize his existence in the face of some offhand comments she hears from bigger kids - "he has to live at the North Pole, someone has to take care of the reindeer..." Ah, the innocence of youth! She wants to give him a big fat carrot and other "healthy snacks" (under advice from Mum). I keep hinting that what Santa really wants is scotch.

Elsa is 5

On Sunday we took six of Elsa's friends to see The Princess and the Frog, then after had ice cream cake. Monday night we had a family party- complete with rose petals decorating yet another cake.

That's our son Henry in the bottom left hand corner.

Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down!

Cross the laces, pull tight, make two loops, wrap them together, pull tight.

At 4 years, 351 days, 12 hours, 35 minutes, and 4 seconds: Elsie learns how to tie her shoe!

Thanksgiving Day at Mendon Ponds Park

We took a hike at Mendon Ponds Park Thanksgiving morning and visited the Birdsong Trail. Finches and Nuthatches eat seed right out of your hands. It was great. Henry tried but he started eating the seeds himself. He much preferred the off-road strollering.

Pumpkins

Elsie drew the faces, and I carved the pumpkins. It was truly a collaborative project. She has a certain style already. You can tell, look at both faces- they are similar. The mouths sort of remind me of the way in which she draws princess gowns. The little crayon just goes and goes and goes on a wide arc.

Don't Back Up

Mountain biking at the "Grand Canyon of the East" last weekend: Letchworth State Park. That's the mighty Genesee River cutting through in the background. I fell several times. It's hard to see the roots under all those leaves.

Mr. Rabbit and the Queen

Armed with my trusty holstered carrot, Elsie and I took to Marion Street with a vengeance in search of Kit Kats, Snickers, and Sour Patch Kids. We were successful, but I did freeze my cotton tail off. We had to convince Elsa to wear her fleece, which she finally consented to in hour two.

Here we are relaxing on the porch enjoying our bounty at around 8PM on Halloween night. I heard Elsa wake up about four hours later crying, "my tummy HURTS!"