Getting Ready for Halloween

 Not-so-scary scarecrow and pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

We went to the pumpkin patch on Sunday.  This year, we decided to just go to the corner “makeshift” pumpkin patch rather than the pumpkin farm (about 1 hour away).  At this age, it didn’t make a difference to C – she got to pick out her pumpkin and went into the bouncy houses and slides. 

This weekend, we are going to my sister’s house for a Halloween Party – it’s potluck.  I found a cute appetizer to make in the spirit of things – “Spooky Spider Eggs” (recipe from Sunset Magazine).    Every year, she has a party with pumpkin carving, and all the pumpkins are showcased when it gets dark. 

C is going to be a cheerleader this year for her costume – we had a dress around, and I went out to buy some pom-poms.   I think next year, she’ll probably have more of a say in what she dresses up as!

Front or Back, It Shouldn’t Matter!

Why doesn’t anyone make tops and pants for toddlers which can be worn equally well front or back?

C is learning to put on clothes by herself, but hasn’t quite mastered how to tell what is the front or back of the top or pant.  And, I hate to correct her, but if her clothes are backwards, they end up too tight in certain places!

Magical

We spent 2.5 days at Disneyland.   It was great fun for all of us – we went right after Labor Day on weekdays and avoided a lot of the summer and weekend crowds.   I’d recommend spending more than one day so that you don’t feel rushed and can go back on the favorite rides again and again. 

C’s favorites include:  Dumbo ride, meeting the characters, eating a chocolate covered banana, Winnie the Pooh ride, Small World, and more. 

And, S got to finally go on the Indiana Jones ride!

Disneyland Entrance and Goofy at City Hall

It’s a Small World

Walking through Sleeping Beauty’s Castle into Fantastyland

Mickey and Minnie Mouse were a hit

A Relaxing Town

Santa Barbara (California) is a tranquil town.  We spent two days there with nothing to do, but walk around the wharf and go to the beach.  It was simply wonderful not having any agenda.

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I had of experiencing/taking them.

Playing in West Beach

Stearns Wharf

  

View from Stearns Wharf of West Beach and the Ocean

Around 7am of the views outside of our hotel balcony.  (It was simply beautiful.  I left these photos “untouched.” )

(I had fun creating the collages and effects of the other photos in picnik.com.   Great tool!)

Crab Omelette

C has pretty much tried a lot of new foods.    I still give her a new food for 5 days in a row to make sure that there are no allergic reactions.  Her latest new food is “crab.”

So, for 5 days this week, she’s had to eat a crab omelette for breakfast.  

Lucky!

Let’s Play Rock Band

For Father’s Day this year, C gave S the game “Rock Band 2″ for the Wii.  It came with a microphone, guitar, and drum set.   It’s a perfect gift because S loves music, and as it turns out, so does C. 

It’s a pretty neat setup.  I tried out the guitar and drums.  HARD!   I am not musically inclined at all, but I found that I was able to pick up on how to use the guitar on easy mode.  The drum set is a different story – even on easy mode, it was very hard to hit all the notes.  I haven’t tried singing yet – let’s just say that S can sing all he wants on this game.

By listening to S play Rock Band 2, C has already picked up “Kids in America” and “Eye of the Tiger” songs – she starts to sing the chorus and a few words from the songs. 

There is supposed to be a Beatles version of this game being released soon so we’re looking forward to that.   I wonder if there is a “wheels on the bus” version for kids – ha ha.