Dorothy did not want to carve our pumpkin, because she did not want it to rot

This weekend Brian assembled the tent in the backyard for the girls to play

It was a big hit, mostly involving "moving in", that is, carrying all their belongings from the house into the tent.

After the turkey suggestion, we hopped in the car and took her straight to the beach

It turns out that Dorothy had all sorts of ideas for making a sand castle with a moat and a water slide for her LOL doll.  I think she has been watching beach videos on YouTube.

Directions: Baste in the sun

For Dorothy's school we were supposed to decorate a paper turkey to represent our family.  Dorothy wanted to make it a "beach turkey."  Brian and I looked at each other questioningly and made some other suggestions.  But we ended up with a beach turkey!

The Sunday Funnies

I purchased a baby shower gift online while Dorothy was watching.  It was a car seat base.  I explained who we were sending it to, and why.  Dorothy observed, "When you're having a baby you get lots of baby gifts...that aren't really fun for your baby."

It was raining at the ND game, and raindrops clung to the camera on the field.  (Who doesn't love that?)  Dorothy said, "It's raining there.  Oh, I see!  It's raining on the camera, so the drops of rain are behind our t.v."

We were taking a morning walk before school.  Dorothy paused at an ant bed.  "In school we talked about taking care of God's creation," she said.  "Ants are part of God's creation.  Mom, when I get home from school, can I feed the ants?"

"Mama, 'plump' is a fun word to say.  It puffs up both your cheeks."

Dorothy confuses "annoying" with "ignoring," as in "Will you cut this string off my socks?  It's ignoring me."

Halloween 6: Trick-or-treating (finally!)

Halloween 5: School Parade

Halloween 4: Ballet Party

Halloween 3: Neighborhood Block Party

Dorothy was proud of the blue Elsa shoes she devised.

Halloween 2: SJS Trunk or Treat

Halloween 1: YMCA Trunk or Treat

The Sunday Funnies

I let Dorothy know that I would be joining her class's field trip this week because I would be driving her to the pumpkin farm.  "But I thought we were going in a bus," she said, disappointedly.  "Your school doesn't have any buses," I told her.  "What made you think you were going on a bus?"  Dorothy explained, "The teacher's calendar has a picture of a school bus on our field trip day."

Poofing Ariel hair

...and they liked it!

The kids climbed up this big slide on a field trip...

Festival Finale

More Fall Festival

"Fall" Festival at SJS

The Sunday Funnies

We went to a bowling birthday party last weekend.  The last time we bowled, Brian, Dorothy, and I all wore size 9 shoes, which we thought was funny and talked about a great deal.  On the way to Saturday's party, Dorothy reminded us that we'll all get size nines.  "That was true last time we bowled, but you wear a size 11 now!  Your feet have grown!" I said.  "Oh," Dorothy replied.  "What size will you wear this time?"

Dorothy and I have been making up jokes lately.  Here's one of hers:
What do you call a keyboard together with an iPad?  A computer!

I told Dorothy, "I drove to your school 4 times today!  I dropped you off, and then I came back to volunteer in your classroom, then I picked you up, and now we're heading back for the fundraiser celebration!  I'm a real stay-at-home mom."  "You're not a stay-at-home mom," she said.  "You're a go-to-places mom."  Then she added, "Go to the same place again and again mom."

Rainy day detritus

Watch out for the witch

Parents were able to volunteer today in Dorothy's class

Skinned knees

Dorothy tripped while running in rainboots (and shorts).

Funny ballerinas

Dorothy bowls

The Sunday Funnies

Taylor Swift has a song that says "I like shiny things but I'd marry you with paper rings."  Dorothy asked me for an explanation, and then followed-up: "How about marry with no rings?"

Dorothy and I were face-to-face.  "I can see me in your eyes," she said.  "I can see my reflection in your eyes!" I said.  "Open your mouth," Dorothy instructed.  "I want to see if I can see my reflection in your mouth."

Dorothy watches a children's show called Super Monsters starring happy kid-versions of Frankenstein, and a vampire, and a werewolf, and more.  A recent episode focused on Dia de los Muertos, and the kid-monsters honor their deceased relatives, including a witch, a zombie, etc.  Dorothy told me, "I don't think the day should be called 'Dia de los Werewolves,' since it is about more than just werewolves."

When I dropped Dorothy off at school, I saw her teacher in the distance and I said, "Ms. Cail always looks so nice and fancy."  Dorothy said, "And she's always so busy."

Brian was cutting a jalapeño.  "Jalapeño is a Spanish word," I told Dorothy.  "What is the other word for it?" she asked.

Dorothy asked why her school was closed for three days last week.  "It's so all the teachers can go to a conference," I said.  She asked more questions, and I gave a loose explanation of all the teachers getting together to learn new things.  "All the teachers?" she asked.  "Mmhmmm," I said, not bothering to note that it was all the teachers at the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Savannah.  She had a look of deep thought on her face, and after a long pause, asked, "Do you mean all the teachers who speak the same language?"

Room on the Broom

Still popsicle weather

Not smiling for the teacher's camera

Smiling for the teacher's camera...

Chatting up the dental hygenist

An afternoon visit turned into a sleepover Friday with our sweet neighbor Finnley