Anne ... with an E

Every girl should read Anne of Green Gables.  And every woman should re-read it at least once a year.  I am currently reading it for the first time and really reading it... including the long "imagination" passages that Anne comes up with.

The reason for this is... the character of Anne has to be the most optimistic appreciative person in all of literature.  She is wacky, careless, and vain, but she is so happy!  When I read, I imagine Megan Follows from the PBS version.  She is the only true Anne.   It really does make me happy to go to bed at night just having read it.

The other things in my life that I am doing to make every moment enjoyable are listening to great music (try Beautiful Life by Charlotte Martin, anything by Mika, or even M'Bob by Hansen...).  I am watching funny television reruns on Netflix (I just finished Arrested Development... again!!) and playing in the sunshine with Aiden every single day that we can.

Try it.  It might make the Holiday season happier for you too!

Halloween 2010

As Uncle Chris used to sing,
"Furious George.  The Furious little Nonkey..."

Mister Mister was Curious George for Halloween.  It was a torrential downpour and it was awesome!

Our day started off at 5:15am... Darn that Aiden's internal clock can not differentiate between work days and weekends.  We cleaned the house and car.  Then, we went to Salt Lake for a little errand.

Then we went to Aunt Kari's to get ready for our Halloween Tradition:  Fondue and a funny Halloween movie.  This year, it was Private Eyes.  That was awesome.  Between the prep and the eating, we went Trick-or-Treating in the neighborhood where I grew up.  (Aunt Kari lives next to my old house...)  All the neighbors that I used to know were still there.  It was amazing to see them.

Misser Nonkey hated his Curious George hat, but eventually forgot he was ever wearing.

Sixteen Months

Aiden is sixteen months today.  Sad face for Mom.

Isn't he just so handsome?

My little snuggle bug is definitely his own person.  He is very stubborn, very independent, and very happy.  In the last month, Aiden has learned so many things.  He knows perfectly well how to walk.  He just doesn't want to.  And that is A-OK with me.  The less mobile he is right now, the better.  He is into EVERYTHING including wipes, lotion, toilet paper, pots and pans, and anything gooey or gross.  He loves the slide more than anything in the world and lovingly calls it "thleye".

He loves corn, hates peas, tolerates beans.  He loves to dip his chicken nuggets.  Still loves Thomas with a vengeance and can watch Hero of the Rails all day.

When you ask him a question like, "Would you like to go to Aunt Kari's house?"  He gets a huge grin and says, "Ohhhhh!!!"    It is awesome.

BUSTED!

My mother once said that if you leave a toddler alone with a box of baby wipes, they will entertain themselves for hours.  

Boy, she was right.  Mister was totally busted.

Who me?!  Naughty?

And while Mom cleaned the wipes, aforementioned toddler got into the pots and pans.  

So I put him in his new jail-bird jammies with matching socks.

Then we watched Thomas.  

Mom caved in.

Cut and Spew

Mister had the first official professional haircut of his entire life today.  It was truly awesome.  We went to Cookie Cutters in Bountiful (and for anyone who has small children, it sure is fun.... I highly suggest it...) and Aiden sat in a car and watched Thomas the Tank Engine while the nicest lady cut his hair.  Best $13 spent in my life.  He looks amazing.

It was wonderful to find something that Aiden will handle as far as grooming assistance.

THEN AIDEN PROCEEDED TO SPEW.  

He threw up all over the car and the car seat.  And himself.  And Aunt Kari.

Now, at 8:15 in the evening, he is sick with a fever and vomiting.  

What a fun weekend we have in store.

The Perfect Day

Today was quite possibly the perfect day.    There is a small picnic area by my old home.  Fernwood.  And, yes, it is just as lovely as it sounds.  Aiden and I went on a small field trip to see the leaves.  And we played and played.

This was so lovely.  I could not help but take a picture.  

We went leaf-watching and ended up playing in the leaves for about an hour.  It was divine.  What a perfect day.

Pumpkins Part 2

What to do for a toddler activity in the fall?  Carving pumpkins is flat out of the question.  Aiden + sharp objects = no bueno.

So on the way home, we stopped and bought paint to decorate our pumpkins that we bought at the pumpkin patch.  Three.  Orange, white, and black.  

Aiden had a blast.  Became very colorful with much paint, and then had more fun in the bath following the painting.  Ha Ha Ha!!  

The black one by Mom.

The white one was a collaborate effort.

The orange one... um.... still drying.  That one was Aiden's pumpkin.   It is kind of.... well, painted by a one-year-old.