Ballet Class

Last Tuesday was Watching Day at my ballet class and both Mommy and Daddy came. We danced with ribbons, did a folk dance and danced with partners. I wore the new skirt Auntie Juliet gave me for Christmas. It was so much fun to have the parents there to clap for us when we made our bows at the end.

Christmas in England - Part 3

Here are some more photos of me pushing Xander's pram with Granny, playing with Uncle Peter and giving Xander an Eskimo kiss.

Christmas in England - Part 2

Helping Grandpa open his present

On the train with Auntie Juliet & Auntie Hannah

Me & Busta

Christmas in England

We spent Christmas in England with Granny, Grandpa, Uncle Peter, Auntie Juliet, Auntie Hannah, Uncle Justin, Baby Xander and Busta the dog. I had so much fun, I don't know where to begin.

We went into Leigh-on-Sea, where Daddy grew up. We went to Hadleigh Castle and although there isn't much left of it, I liked to say "I'm the queen of the castle." I helped Granny make the Christmas cake and then we made Mommy's birthday cake. We walked along the seafront, we went to the SeaLife Adventure (an aquarium), and we even went into London on New Year's Day for a big parade. After the parade, we went on the London Eye, a ginormous wheel that you can see all of London and beyond from.

There were so many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who we saw and I loved every minute of it. I played card games with Granny & Auntie Juliet, and Uncle Peter and I played lots of games. He and I even had a pillow fight! Everybody says Uncle Peter is older than Daddy but I have my doubts.

We stayed with Granny and Grandpa for the first few days and then moved into a flat (that's what they call apartments in England) with Auntie Hannah, Uncle Justin, Baby Xander and Busta. They have lots of different words for things in England - trousers for pants, jumpers for sweaters, mobile phone for cell phone, lorry for truck, car park for parking lot, boot of the car instead of trunk, post instead of mail and pudding just means dessert. Everybody laughed at Mommy's and my accents - but we think they're the ones with the accent!

The airplane rides were very long but I was a good girl - mostly. I managed to fall asleep for the last 15 minutes of each flight, even sleeping through the landings both times! And we left Seattle in the snow and 17 days later we came home in the snow!

Mommy & Daddy say I have jetlag - this is me at 6 pm on Monday.

Together Again

Yes, it's true, Tashi is living with us again! After living with Papa & Nana in Portland for 14 months, Tashi came back home in late September. It has been so much fun having her back - even Mommy & Daddy agree! She is such a good dog and she lets me hug her and play with her. Most of the time she just likes to sleep but she also loves to run around the back yard like a crazy dog. When we take her for walks I put her leash on and I hold it for a little while until I'm ready to give it to Mommy. Daddy and I call Tashi "Muttly" - she is such a sweet dog and I am so glad she's back!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a great Thanksgiving weekend we had! We went to Portland for the long holiday weekend and we had so much fun. We saw just lots of friends and family- cousin Alyssa, Auntie Shaunmarie and the crazy boys, Hannah & Cameron...

On Thanksgiving Day, I supervised while Papa carved the turkey and I helped Nana make the gravy. It all looked delicious but I wouldn't know what it tasted like - I ate Cheerios for dinner! But I did have some pumpkin pie and some pecan pie off of Mommy's plate. The pies were yummy!

On Friday morning, we took the bus downtown and watched the parade with Auntie Shaunmarie and the crazy boys. There were marching bands, bagpipes, dancing trees and Christmas presents, llamas, and Santa Claus, too! After the parade ended, we went to Starbucks for a snack and to warm up. We stopped in Powell's Books before Daddy & I took the bus back to Papa & Nana's. Mommy and Auntie Shaunmarie stayed downtown and did whatever grown-up girls do when they get together.

On Saturday, we went to dinner at Hannah & Cameron's house - and I made up for not eating any Thanksgiving dinner. I had appetizers, lasagna and chocolate fondue. I love fondue!

Happy Halloween!

What a great week! I celebrated Halloween all week long, starting on Tuesday at Ballet. Everyone wore their costumes to class and we got a treat (a sticker) at the end. I was a ladybug this year and I wore the costume Granny made for me. My friend, Ella, was Snow White (and her Grandma made her costume, too!)

My school party was on Wednesday and it was so much fun. Mommy and I were in charge of bringing sugar cookies so we baked them in the shape of pumpkins, ghosts and cats. Someone else brought frosting and sprinkles and we got to decorate them at the party.

Finally, the big day arrived and boy, was Friday a busy day. I had school in the morning and I wore my sparkly pumpkin top and my orange pumpkin socks. Mommy and I baked pumpkin muffins after school and then we went to my friend Colin's house for a party. Colin and his mom had made sandwiches shaped like bats, spiders and pumpkins! After that, we came back home and, along with Daddy, we went down the street to Maren & Zoe's house where they were having a soup & chili buffet before we went out trick-or-treating.

Daddy took me trick-or-treating and even though we only went to the houses on our street, I got a LOT of candy. I even got a little ladybug toy from Joe & Barbara Erak (I wonder how they knew I was going to be a ladybug).

After trick-or-treating, we went across the street to Owen & Andrew's house for another party. I had one piece of candy, a lollipop, but then I was ready to go home. My friend Lily and I were both pretty tired at that point so we left to go home to bed. But what a fun day. I love Halloween!