no more shaggy 'do

Last night during dinner, I'd had it with Calia's hair always in her eyes. She won't keep anything in to kepp her hair back (elastic/clip/barette). In fact, she rips at her hair if she suspects we've snuck something pretty into her hair. So, I got out the scissors, held the top part of her hair to the side and snip...bangs, well, kind of. At least her hair isn't in her eyes anymore!

Playing dress-up

Last Sunday, while at my mom's, she found a mitten/headband set she had bought a while back for Calia. We were laughing at how tacky the headband was (more like an Olivia NewtonJohn workout sweatband. We thought it would make a cute tube top, then my mom remembered she had bought a princess/ballerina skirt. Oh, and just happened to have a Calia sized tiara...and so the fun began...

The face...

Also, here is a quick video of Calia laughing...

"Pineland Farms Heritage Festival"

Pick this one Daddy!!

Calia and Ben with the pumpkin

(check out how red Calia's hands were!)

Busy Bee

Yesterday, we ventured out to Pineland Farms for their heritage festival...Maybe it was because we got there at 4pm (it ran from 1-6pm), but man was it horrible. Not worth the $8 a person, thank goodness Calia was free. My friend Amy and her little boy Ben (9 1/2 months old) met us there. The kids got to wear their costumes, so that was cool. We took a hay ride out to the enchanted forest (actually, 20 feet of trail with some paper fairies hanging from trees and one girl handing out candy), then rode the hay ride back to the pumpkin patch (actually, a bunch of pumpkins in the field). At least we got 2 pumpkins for our $$. To top it all off , it was freezing...Maybe 45 degrees and blustery wind. Calia had 5 layers on, as did Mommy and Daddy, but Calia had no mittens. We didn't have any that fit...Sad with a yiayia who knits and all (just kidding mom). Anyway, so much for the campfire they had advertised :(

Kevin's off biking in NH today with the guys. I'm getting caught up on household stuff, since this is our only weekend this month in Maine (off to Bean Town next weekend for PriMed (big conference)). Then it will be Halloween, and then Novemeber...Where did fall go??

Calia's new face

Maybe it's because she spent the weekend with my mom who takes a picture of Calia every minute, but last night everytime Calia saw the camera she made this new funny face. Even her drumsticks could not distract her from making the new face. Gorgeous!

Calle de Bourbon

Dinner at NOLA

Kevin in front of Ricks...and no we didn't go in.

Yeah, Philly Fans!!
I'm so glad the drunk guy behind us got in the picture

NOLA Pictures

Pat O's and Preservation Hall

St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square
Typical NO street
Riverboats on the Mississippi
The French Market/Flea Market

NOLA

Well, this past weekend I suprised my hubby with a 2 night get away to New Orleans. Calia went off to her Yiayia and Papa's for the nights. We flew out Saturday am, had a smooth flight via Tampa. When we arrived in NO, it didn't appear too much different than what I remembered (hadn't been down there in 5 years). Flying in, we could see lots of blue roofs, from tarps. Otherwise, some of the areas that were previously run down, were still run down, or even looking a little better than I expected. Of course, we didn't venture into the 9th ward or any of the hardest hit areas from Katrina. But, Canal Street, which was under water, looked like it was being built back up better than before. We stayed at the Queen and Crescent (a historic hotel on Camp St. between Poydras and Canal. We were maybe 4 blocks from Bourbon St. and 4 from the Mississippi River/Riverwalk/Harrah's, close to the French Market, Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde, and all the tourist spots.

We had dinner at Nola one of Emeril's restaurants. I had the best Gumbo and Kevin loved the garlic/pesto bisque. My dinner was ok (mahi mahi), but Kevin loved his (pork). And our dessert of White Chocolate-Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with Foster Sauce and Fudge Drizzle was to die for! We then headed toward Bourbon St, walked along, grabbed some Hurricane daqs to go and went back to the hotel to change. We went back to Bourbon St and settled in at Pat O'Briens piano bar. After 2 hurricanes each and a bunch of sing alongs, we decided to head to Harrahs. Quickly, we realized the effect the hurricanes had on us and decided to head back to the hotel. Doesn't help that we had been up since 5am.

Sunday, we walked around...breakfast at Jasckson square, wander through the French Market, coffee au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde, walked back along the Mississippi toward the Riverwalk, then back to the hotel for a quick nap. We then, headed back to Bourbon St to watch the second half of the Eagles/Saints game, ate some BBQ nachos, walked around and shopped a bit more, then headed to Mother's for Po' boys for dinner. Another jaunt to Harrahs to donate some more money, then settled back into the hotel...feet killing, bellys full, and exhausted!

We didn't get to visit the garden distict, Audubon Zoo or park, Uptown, or a lot of other areas, but I'm sure we'll be making a trip back that way before too long. I'll down load some pictures tonight. Calia was a doll for my mom and Ben...of course she got up everyhour between 11pm and 2am for us last night...must've been because she missed us terribly!

Before we left, Calia cut her two top center teeth (finally) and started taking steps on her own between Kevin and I... Today is picture day at school...should be interesting! That's all for now...

Weekend in PA

Rockin' with Abby

Happy Birthday Jeremy!
With Great Aunt Rose
Standing by Coda
Watching Baby Van Gogh with Declan

We took a trip down to PA this weekend to visit with Kevin's family. John, Shelly, Abigail and Declan came over from NY. Abigail is now walking and she is quite good at it. Declan has an ear infection and wasn't quite his usual self. Still, Calia enjoyed plyaing with her cousins. On Sunday, we had an early 7th birthday party for Jeremy. Calia was mildly obsessed with the mini-rocking chairs that her Nana has. In fact, she spent almost an hour climbing in and out, then over from one to the other without her feet touching the ground. Yup, that's our monkey!

A civilized lady

So, we decided to introduce a bowl and spoon for Calia to "feed" herself with...
Here are some pictures.

Family Picture

Then and Now

The top picture is from apple picking today (10/1/06), the bottom is from apple picking lst year (10/2/05). Wow!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking today in the blustery wind. We tried to go to Sweetser's in Cumberland only to find out it wasn't pick your own, so we ended up at Hansel's in No. Yarmouth. It was small and pretty picked over, but the help of some kind of stick with a cage, we were able to get the apples up high. Calia actually kept her pumpkin hat on the whole time (a shock indeed).
Funny, Ben handed Calia and apple and she spent the whole time polishing it with her tongue and trying to eat it, a hard job when you only have 2 teeth! Needless to say, she didn't even pierce the ski, but it kept her busy! And yes, that is her highchair cover being used as a blanket. It was much cooler at the orchard than at our house, and we forgot a blanket.

Cold Weather = Fuzzy Jammies

Even if my fuzzy jammies are a little long (above),

I still love them.

Cumberland Fair

Goats will eat your fingers!

Bunnies (the only things mommy liked)

Prize winning guinea pigs?

Nasty pigs
Largest pumpkin

On Tuesday night, we headed out to the Cumberland Fair. We took Calia last year, when she was 6ish weeks old, so this year was an entirely different experience. Calia loved all of the farm animals (unlike her mommy) and tried to stick her fingers in every cage. I kept telling Kevin to walk down the center of the aisle, as to ensure Calia left with 10 fingers! Especially funny was the sheep who came right up to Calia and let out a big "Baa." Gross. She was unfazed and continued to try to touch everyting in her path, but had to settle for waving vigorously at every creature.

Then, we walked around and ate some incredible apple crisp (really the whole reason we go every year), and ran into some friends, also taking in the live stock. Finally, we settled down to watch Tony Boffa and his band play. After Calia's initial shock at how loud it was, she was happy to clap and sway with the music, as was her mommy, and the two little kids in the background. The lead singer even took notice of the little front row fan and was clapping with her. Too cute. Next year it will be all about the rides, I'm sure.

Another Saturday night...

Coda makes a great pillow

What spoon?

One busy Bubba

Coda's so funny

Playing with the Frige Farm
Where's Calia??
Bathroom girl

The new Mr. Binks??

So, this morning, I made an alarming, yet fun discovery. Calia has always had 2 Mr. Binks, one light blue, one dark blue. This morning, there was a third Mr. Binks, light blue. Kevin and I are baffled. I'm not sure how they procreated, but somehow the 2 Mr. Binks have produced an offspring, which doesn't smell quite as bad as the elder Binks. Amazing!

Calia's new ride

Bubba Luva