It just gets more fun every year...
Santa did remember to come this year!
Anything more in the bottom of the stocking?
What's this?
Checking out what Grandpa got.
She's beautiful!
Looking over the new book.
Ms. A remembers her girl needs a princess dose every year!
Belle plays the xylophone.
Looking at presents with Mom.
Over the years, our collection of Christmas tree ornaments has grown to beyond what we can fit on any tree that would fit comfortably within our living room. But that makes selecting from the wide variety that much more enjoyable. Cara is now old enough to join in the fun, selecting ornaments, hanging them or asking someone else to hang things on the branches she can't yet reach.
Deciding the next one with Grandpa.
Where should this little one go?
That's about as far as she could reach.
Three generations hard at work.
The virus did delay the birthday party we had planned with Cara's friends by a week. And also made for a smaller event than originally planned. But her oldest friends were able to make it, so it felt like a pretty fun time.
Getting the frosting spread out can require some help.
What goes on next?
Fun squeezing out the red stuff.
Is there a cupcake under there?
Birthday wish!
Having a birthday right around Thanksgiving has some benefits. This year Cara's birthday fell during the Thanksgiving break. So she got pancakes for breakfast, a trip to the cake decorating store to pick out decorations for her birthday cake, going to a movie in a theater (The Muppets) and finally birthday cake and presents.
Not on the schedule was fever that developed later that evening and subsequent trip to the emergency room when we noticed how rapid her breathing way. Not pneumonia - just one of the nasty viruses. And she was back to cheerful self in a little over a day.
Blowing out the candles. Cara picked out the rose for the center.
Reading the card.
How did you know I wanted a cabbage for my birthday!
Really Mom, you shouldn't have.
Big boxes are always exciting.
Taking the birthday dress out for a test spin.
It doesn't often stop raining in Seattle long enough for the autumn leaves to be anything other than wet, but this year we had a well-timed dry spell. With some concerted effort on Cara and Mom's part, enough leaves were assembled to make a pile. And we all know what you do with a leaf pile!
Yipee!
The theme for this year was a witch costume. As usual, Cara changed her mind multiple times during the months leading up to Halloween. As parents we tried to steer her towards a costume we could put together easily. So when the idea of a witch costume came up we were quite enthusiastic. The hat was easily purchased, the dress and cape gave Mom a chance to remember how to sew, but the broom turned out to be a little difficult. We have a proper-looking broom (not plastic), but it was way too big for her to carry. Mom turned to the neighborhood email list asking if anyone could help us out. We received multiple offers for loans, and found a perfect one with some glitter on it. Yeah for our neighborhood!
Prepping the pumpkin for carving is a big part of the Halloween tradition.
A chance to play with goopy stuff.
Look at these hands!
The witch flying out on Halloween night.
J's dad passed away over Memorial Day weekend. Over the last two years he had been suffering from very small strokes. At the end of March, Cara, J and C all traveled to Maine to see him, with Mom staying for a longer visit to help him transition into a nursing home where he could get the care he needed.
He will be greatly missed, and always held dear in our hearts.
Grandpa in grade school
Hanging out at Indian Neck
Wedding
Work before desktop computers
Mom as a baby with the family
Photographing wildflowers
Grandma and Grandpa Trekking in Nepal
