Andover Halloween

This year I also took Pip and Viv to trick or treat in Andover with Rob, Tasha, and Aislinn. I had my hands full so I didn't get many pics. I'm hoping Rob with forward some of his.

I had to let Pip go on ahead with the rest of our crew because Vivie was in slow meander-mode. This doesn't happen often. She waddled along at a snails pace, checking out costumes, decorations, dogs, and cats. I think each house took us about ten minutes!!


While most folks thought she was a boy (I guess Elmo is when I think about it) .. the kids LOVED seeing Vivie out there in her costume. She drew rave reviews from other tots!

Here she is poking her way through the leaves.

Fighting for Pip's Eggs

Vivian insisted on stealing Pip's breakfast eggs. I am not sure if she was placed in timeout by Daddy or sequestered there by Pip, but she didn't learn her lesson either way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa6CtoYxbos

Melrose Halloween

Halloween 2009 was nothing less than a miracle. I picked up Viv and Pip from daycare a bit early, planning to rush home in time to meet up with Rob, Tasha, and Aislinn and whisk ourselves down to the Melrose Halloween parade. But Pip was not his normal self. He was tried, quiet, a bit warm, and well ... deflated. At first I thought he just had a busy day at school but nothing was helping him. When we got home he needed to be carried inside and wanted only to lay in silence on the couch. He refused his temperature to be taken and wanted only a light back rub. No videos. No food. No drink. Alarming.

So I grabbed a bucket in case he chucked and alerted Rob that maybe we should skip this year. Too late, Aislinn was hopped up for the tradition and could not be denied. We figured maybe Viv would go with them and Phil or I would stay home with our sickly Pip. I gave Pip some Tylenol and told him it'd be ok.

Ten minutes later Pip bounded off the couch and began playing with Vivie in earnest. ?? I did the Scoobie -- ughughgugh?? -- noise in my head. Moments later Aislinn arrived, Pip squealed with delight and ran to greet her on the porch, and the rest was history. We were a bit late for the parade but had a great night regardless.

Here we are loading up into the wagon.



It got dark on the walk (pull) home:


Our porch n' pumpkins pic...


I love to dump the loot and bask in it's glory as part of my tradition!

Halloween Party #1

It's Halloween already!! Pip is thrilled to be the ferocious Pip Dragon and Vivian is warming up to the concept of Elmo.

Here Pip Dragon attacks the innocent villagers.


and scales the castle.


Later they pose for a pic.

October Block Party

We had to reschedule our Fall Block Party to Sunday due to the rain. Still, it was a great success. We had a fire pit for S'Mores, made caramel apples over a outdoor cooker, and carved our pumpkins.

Here Don made a S'More with Pip.



Vivian played with Justin and Jessica, our neighbors grandchildren.


Later we worked on our pumpkins.


Vivian was such a fan of the pumpkins she was eating the pumpkin pieces raw ... hope there are no side-effects.

Return of the Sun

The Sun appropriately came out on Sunday and we were able to venture out without cover. Phil was able to adjust the training wheels and pump up the tires on Pip's big boy bike (inherited from Brian, the neighbor). He was amazing on it. No wobbles at all. He rode up and down the street happy as a clam, even navigating the little ups and downs of the driveways with relative ease. I feel like a new phase of my life is beginning.




And a quick video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whjTXWpruFU

Rain, what rain?

We were very excited to host Jen and Matt this weekend. Unfortunately, the rain accompanied them up for the visit and Saturday was a pretty constant drip. We decided to challenge the rain at its own game and went to Connors Farm anyway. I dressed Pip and Viv in their rain jackets and snow pants (genius if I do say so) and drank lots of pre-game coffee.

First we headed out into the corn maze. Somehow Pip's "how 'bout this way" strategy worked even better than following the passport stops and we didn't get too lost. Vivian loves every opportunity to do it herself, doesn't matter what the 'it' is. Here, she had fun finding all the puddles and walking with Aunt Jen.


Sometimes Pip and Viv would get separated and when she would see him she'd yell "PIP!!" and run to him. Here they shared a long lost hug in the maze.


Pip had a robust cry-fest after the maze ... let the rain get to him ... but Phil was able to pull him out of it with the help of their little apple photo props.

Meanwhile, Vivian was selecting and helping to carry 10 little pumpkins into our wagon for Jen.

The biggest puddle of the day and a proud, recovered, Pip.

The last shots

It was nearly time to head home. We had a great time! Phil took Pip to see the pineapple fountain one more time.




He also practiced his dragon skills ...


Vivie waved hello to all the passers-by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RyWUJWG2kw

The ride home is another sequence of events I am currently working to repress deep in the bowels of my memory. So we won't speak of it except to show this cute, pre-disaster pic of Vivie playing with a pen.

Taco Boy

I should probably stop at these photos, but I have to document some photographic evidence that my kids didn't misbehave the ENTIRE time ... which honestly it felt like. We aren't used to eating out, but I daresay we got a little better at it as the vacation progressed. Vivian found some tasty cheese dip which kept her entertained for about 2 minutes (before she smeared it in her hair).



Pip bragged he would eat this whole quesadilla, but really only took down a few bites.


There's no doubt Chase is a consummate professional in the restaurant scene. He downright schooled Pip and Viv on how it's done. Here he demonstrates a mean schmoozing technique on the hostess which I understand he applies at will to win table upgrades. Soon he'll be charming grown men to walk 6.9 miles across a windy bridge on a hangover.

Yorktown

Unfortunately I was not able to snap a pic of Phil's trip highlight ... walking across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge Sunday morning. We all woke up a bit worse for the wear. Katie prepared a fabulously bacon-filled breakfast, but this didn't seem enough for Jon to shake the blues. So what better idea than to invite Phil for a brisk walk/jog 6.9 miles to the Yorktown? Just call him Snake Charmer Curran. Phil was under his spell.

Katie, Chase, Viv, Pip, and I wisely drove over in the car and met them there.

The Yorktown aircraft carrier defied logic. Huge. Impressive. And painted with arrows. The latter seemed to be the only item of interest to Vivie, but at least it kept her busy.

Pip was brave enough to climb up into this plane but did not stick around long.





I thought perhaps they'd walk home, but they decided to give their little toes a rest and ride back. I got quite a few chuckles listening to Jon's commentary wafting up from the "way back".

Night on the town

Thankfully all this excitement pooped the kids out and they were asleep even before the sitter arrived.

We headed out to High Cotton for a truly tasty meal. Apparently I am less than photogenic, but this didn't stop me from trying.


All day Phil and Jon had worked on growlers that were approximately this big:


Katie tried to show me at least how to smile candidly, but I even failed that miserably.


I must say, though, this one turned out decent all around.

Aquarium

After an attempt at naps (and some various tantrums, negotiations, rolling of eyes, prodding, and general beligerence) we took the trolley to the Aquarium. This was lots of fun. I particularly liked the frog statue outside.




Afterwards we played in the grass before hitching a ride back on the trolley home.