Happy Halloween 2011

Nothing says Halloween like a snowman.

Of course we aren't complaining.  A lot of communities - especially in the western part of MA - postponed or canceled Halloween outright.  Imagine explaining that to a 4 year old.

Syl still has a nasty cough, and we were about to go out to hit just a few houses to check the "trick or treating" box, when the Cocchiarellas called.  A few minutes later and Sylvie had a posse for what turned out to be a pretty ambitious tour of the neighborhood.  

Face paint by Daddy 

Of course the fact that the Cocchiarella girls were both Wizard of Oz characters meant Sylvie was obligated to continually clarify that she was NOT the Cowardly Lion.  "I'm Simba! From the Lion King!"

Dancin' in the Dark

A serious haul

"You been waitin' here long?"

Last house!

Trick or Treaters (through a fogged up lens)

Many more in the Halloween 2011 Gallery!

Learning the Important Things in Life

As I mentioned previously, Sylvie has developed this random, intense fascination with Star Wars - but she refuses to watch the movie with me.  So I went on Amazon and found a classic children's story book version - same one I had.  She cannot get enough of it, and has a million questions... but still will not so much as consider watching the movie.

O'Leary's Salon

Power back on when we got home around 8...  A couple of scenes from the O'Leary kids' impromptu makeover of Sylvie...

With great power comes great responsibility

Powerless

Apparently less than an inch of snow is enough to trigger widespread power loss, including at 11 Willowgate Rise. So we - along with everyone else in MA, apparently, headed to the Mall for lunch and to get Syl boots. Little diversion through the American Girl store doomed our wallets for life... And now we are at the (kind and generous) O'Learys where they have power, and where I am watching a very frustrating Patriots game.

First snow

At least someone is excited.

Dealing with Disappointment

Sylvie has been looking forward to classmate Liam's birthday party all week (as an aside: I am still trying to figure out how a class of 16 supports what feels like a birthday every weekend).  Sadly, she's come down with the latest plague.  She stayed home yesterday, hacking up a lung.  This morning she convinced us that she was feeling much better.  She got gussied up in her party dress and we headed out.

Just as soon as the cold air hit her lungs, though, the cough came back with a vengeance.  By the time we arrived at Liam's house it was clear that we were dropping off the gift and heading home.  She took it very well - a little pout but no tears.

Back at  home, Sylvie and I enjoyed a Daddy Day.  Lots of romping around, then a screening of last summer's Winnie the Pooh movie.

Loving her Halloween Hello Kitty Shirt!

Pumpkin Carving

We were all pooped on Sunday, but Syl and I realized that if we didn't get to carving those pumpkins of ours we might not do it at all.  So we sucked it up and started in.

Turned out we had a great time.  Syl was a really good partner this year.  After initial hesitation about the "yucky stuff" she overcame her hesitation and scooped with gusto.  We went with simple designs in deference to our initial lack of enthusiasm, but they came out passably well.

These are iPhone photos all, so not such great quality.  They capture the moments.

Liggetts' Halloween Party!

Great time this weekend at the Liggetts' INSANE Halloween party in Chester, CT.  We have to hand it to Allison and Jeff - when they open their house to their friends, they seriously open the house.  100 or so people, tons of them kids.  Trick-or-treating throughout the house.  Lawn games, karaoke, food, drink, costumes.  It was a wild, fun time.

Simba and Minnie 

Our gracious hosts

Us

 To answer the obvious questions: Yes, it was uncomfortable.  Yes, I realize it left somewhat less to the imagination than I realized when I bought it.  Yes, I could see (kind of).  And yes, I could drink beer through it.

I might as well jump

Sydney - not a fan of the Blue Man

Blue Crayon though, she liked. 

My sister tells me that Apple is about to get out of the photo hosting business, which means I am going to have to switch all of my photos over to another site.  Annoying!  So I'm starting with a Liggett Party gallery at SmugMug - check it out here for a lot more photos of the festivities.   And as luck would have it, one of the Liggetts' friends is a professional photographer - so there are even more (and better) shots (including of my epic battle with a horde of kids and a gorilla) by clicking here.

After the party a few of the guys retired to the Pattaconk Tavern in downtown CT.  The establishment very kindly allowed me to bar tend for a brief moment.  Turned out there was yet another professional photog who happened to be in the bar.  He snapped a few shots with his Droid and emailed them to me for my collection.

A great time - and it isn't even Halloween yet!

Overcoming Obstacles

Delayed video from Sylvie's conquest a few weeks back of the Celebrate Holliston obstacle course.

Art, progressing

The first is Mommy with Sylvie, "when I was a baby" (no hair). The second is Syl and Daddy, "when I was a big girl."

Sylvie's new fascination

I cannot say for sure it was last year's Christmas card that kicked this off.  If it was, then the reaction was delayed for almost a year. 

All of a sudden, Sylvie is obsessed with Star Wars - despite never having seen the movie, any of the cartoons, or really anything beyond that card, my Star Wars Burger King glass collection, and a sticker book she picked out at Coffee Haven (which might actually have been the trigger).

She's taken to pulling out my DVDs and studying the covers, front and back.  Then come the questions. 

"Dad, is Darth Vader the bad guy?"
"What does he do that's bad?"
"Who else are the bad guys?" 
"What do they look like?"
"What do they do to the good guys that's bad?"
"Who are the good guys in Star Wars?"
"What do they look like?"
"What do they do to the bad guys?"

I answer all of her questions as best I can, but they just prompt more questions.  Invariably I suggest the obvious. "Do you want to watch the movie with Dad?"  And just as invariably the answer is an emphatic - even panicked - "NO!!"  Why not?  "That 'cuz, I think Darth Vader might be scary." 

Last night during her bath, in the midst of a series of questions (she was fascinated to learn there are princesses in Star Wars, but still answers "NO!" to the offer of a viewing), I had an epiphany.  "Would you like me to order you a Star Wars story book that I can read to you?" 

She is very excited.  I found one, used, on Amazon.  It may even be the same on I had as a kid.  Should be here next week.

Notice a theme?

These are the three best takes of a class photo emailed to us this morning by Sylvie's teachers.  Notice a common theme?

Our little girl is developing something of a 'tude about obeying instructions from authority figures - in this case, the instruction in question undoubtedly being "Look up!  Smile!"  Gotta figure out how to nip this in the bud...

Before someone else says it in a comment, I realize this reaction of hers could easily be something along the lines of "forget this.  I get enough of the 'look up! Smile!' treatment at home!"