Pops & Pumpkins

This week, E and hubby got to go to "Pops & Pumpkins" at E's preschool. This fun new event was an opportunity for the children in E's class to spend time with their fathers crafting dazzling jack-o-lantern-sized pumpkin creations by using paints, feathers, pompoms, glitter, glue and more.

The event also featured a silly spider sing-along, story time (which featured stories about Dads), the opportunity for children to climb through or under a spider web "maze" made out of yarn, pumpkin-themed snacks and more.

E and hubby and the other Dads and students measured the weight, height and circumference of each pumpkin, and each decorated pumpkin was given an award. This year's pumpkin creations were awarded ribbons with titles including "Most Bootiful", " Most Photogenic", "Most Elegant" (E's pumpkin!), "Most Character" and more. So fun!

Dress up day at school....

E's preschool class had the option to wear costumes to school one day this week. Of course, E jumped at the chance. I convinced her that her fairy outfit (complete with antennae and wings) probably would be a little complicated in a preschool classroom....so she opted for the hula-girl get-up instead....completed with a very appropriate t-shirt from Alan and Lucy's Hawaiian honeymoon! And we just happened to have these fun pants (hand me downs!) to complete the look, can you believe it? Too fun!

"Kind of like Abby Cadabby..."

While we were getting her dressed for the local church fall festival we attended last weekend, E proclaimed..."Mommy, I look so sparkle-y and pretty ... I am a fairy, kind of like Abby Cadabby!" (For those of you who do not know, Abby is Elmo's buddy on Sesame Street....Elmo is one of E's favorites....and for those of you who don't know who Elmo is....well, you have no idea what you are missing!) :)

And, just for the record....while E was standing in front of the mirror, I saw her furrow her brow in concentration several times. I asked her what was wrong....she told me she thought her wings were broken, as she was trying to "take off" and nothing was happening....

(If you listen carefully to the video, you hear her say "I have wings, and a skirt, kind of like a ballet skirt, but more like an Abby one!" ... and then there's that precious little girl giggle!)

Fun times with my girl! Fun times, indeed!

Wordless Wednesday...

Fall festival fun...

E had fun this past weekend at a fall festival at the Lutheran church around the corner from our house....we've been to this event for three years in a row now - it's a nice, small setting, specifically geared toward the preschool set -- E always has a blast. She loved the fire truck tour, petting zoo, duck pond game (a favorite) and the pumpkin decorating activity. We even ran into her good friend Emma from school....such a fun morning!

Bountiful basil...

Our herb garden has gone nuts this year, producing tons of rosemary, basil, chives, mint, oregano and more. This year, I tried a new pesto recipe that I love (thanks Tiffany!) and also tried my hand at homemade, fresh tomato basil soup, with the help of a new immersion blender from my hubby....good stuff!

Rainy days....

....are still happy days when you get to use your Elmo umbrella!