Late Fall Fun

It's been a busy week.  First was Halloween.  Sarah wanted to be a ladybug again, so we headed to Goodwill.  I was hoping not to spend much because first, I'm cheap, and second, I knew she wouldn't get a lot of use out of it.  Halloween isn't a big holiday for the reticent.  Fortunately, Goodwill had a relatively inexpensive costume that I finished with a black turtleneck and jeans.  She was happy with it and loved the black spots on her cheeks.

She wore her outfit to our play group's potluck, and I managed to get her to keep the vest on until after we ate.  After that, she looked more like a cat burglar than a ladybug.  On Halloween night, she was eager to get dressed up again and posed happily on the front porch.  We visited two neighbors' houses on the cul-de-sac behind us, and she managed to mutter "Trick or treat" each time.  After the second, she said, "Let's go home."  She had probably the smallest haul of any trick or treater, but she was happy, and I was thrilled.

I can't resist throwing in a shot of her first appearance as a ladybug two years ago.  What a change!

Later in the week, I got her her very own rake. In typical Sarah style, she went right to work in the front yard and spent about 30 minutes making a pile, even though the breeze was working against her. She chased after her irreverent quarry constantly yelling, "Hey, come back here, leaf!"

Friday night, we attended a National Ad*ption Month celebration at the La Cr*sse Children's Museum. We had never been there (again, the cheap factor) and were pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the exhibits. Sarah had a ball. She was the most relaxed and carefree that I've ever seen her in public. I don't know if it was because Don was along, which is unusual, or because of the uncrowded conditions, but she really enjoyed herself. It was a joy to watch. We may have to buy a membership! 

The juice pouch and cookie at the end capped off a perfect evening!

Cute and Cuter

Emily, Omar, and Sophia visited on Saturday.  Sarah was so excited about seeing them.  She talked about it off and on Friday afternoon, reminded me at bedtime, and even brought it up again at midnight when she got up to go potty.  Yesterday morning, she made the rounds putting away any toys that she didn't want Sophia to play with.  Obviously she was also a little anxious about having someone in her territory.

She had a big hug for Sophia when they arrived and took her to see the baby chicks right away (see Cheep Entertainment).  Then it was out to visit the other animals.  As we approached the goat pen, Emily asked if the berries we usually feed them from the nearby shrubs were ripe yet and added, "What are they called again?"  Sarah, obviously misunderstanding but eager to help, replied seriously, "Goats."

After some time in the yard, we drove to a nearby state park for a short hike.  When we returned, Emily and Omar rested a bit while Don made dinner and I tried to keep Sarah and Sophia relatively quiet.  We ended up in Sarah's room, all in the rocking chair, reading books.  My lap and my heart were full.  Before dinner, the girls decorated cupcakes, which actually went better than I expected.

The girls play together well now and have fun most of the time, but Sarah gets stressed out about someone touching her stuff.  Certain things are off-limits.  At one point, she lost it because Sophia was going into the cabinet in her bureau where she keeps her doll clothes.  She was so emotional -- kind of panicked and screaming.  I felt so bad for her.

By evening, I think she was exhausted from playing and trying to control her world.  We were all in the living room, and she crawled into my lap and announced, "Sophia needs to go home."  Not the best example of Midwestern manners.  In her defense, she knew they had to leave after dinner, so maybe she was just stating a fact.  :)

Cheep Entertainment

We got the call from the post office at 6:15 Friday morning:  "Your chicks are here -- please come get them."  By the time Sarah got up 20 minutes later, there was a box of 28 little peepers awaiting her in the kitchen.  It's hard to say who was more excited -- she or Cadi.

We took them out to the garage and introduced them to the cardboard box they'll call home for the next month or so.  They seemed happy to have room to move around after the close quarters of the last couple of days, and some stretched their little wings and legs dramatically.  We ordered the "Rainbow Layers," so they're a colorful lot of various breeds that will make themselves known as they mature.

Sarah is taken with them and visits every hour or so.  "I'm going to see the baby chicks," she'll announce, as she heads out the door.  She's very gentle and has learned quickly how to hold them without squeezing.  She scoops one up, holds it to her cheek, then gives it a kiss.  "They're very, very cute, Mom," she says.

Emily, Omar, and Sophia came for a visit yesterday, and Sarah relished her role as docent.  She coached Sophia on holding them and reminded her not to squeeze. 

The only member of the family who isn't thrilled with their arrival is Sophie the Cat, who, because she insists on waking us in the wee hours of the morning, spends the night in the garage.  Needless to say, until the chicks are big enough to go outside, she'll be sleeping in her travel kennel.

Uncle George and Chelsey's Wedding

We survived another road trip...this one to M*ssachusetts and back for my little brother's wedding.  I'm happy to report that it was a fairly smooth, albeit looooooong, trip.  Sarah had only a couple of meltdowns, averaging out to about one every 1,200 miles -- not bad.  We arrived at my mom's with just enough time to unload the car (including Cadi the Lab) and change clothes before leaving for the rehearsal dinner.

The weather was awful, but the wedding was beautiful.  If the Brits are right and rain is good luck on your wedding day, my brother and his new wife are truly blessed.  It was cool and damp, with occasional downpours, the whole time we were there.  Not what you'd hope for for an outdoor wedding, but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

Chelsey and George bought about 100 acres, including an old farm house, more than a year ago.  Unfortunately, the house was beyond repair, and they had to tear it down and rebuild.  The shell is finished, but it will be a while before they can live there.  They had the wedding in the field across the street.  The ceremony was in a small tent, with hay bales for seating and pumpkins and mums for decorations.  It was beautiful.  The bride arrived in a red 1965 Impala Super Sport, which caught everyone, including the groom, by surprise. 

The reception was joyous and relatively informal, with lots of dancing.  Unfortunately, Sarah was a bit overwhelmed by everything and went into survival, ultra-control mode.  She wouldn't dance and didn't want me to, either.  I wasn't about to miss out on the rare opportunity to shake a leg, though (and the music was awesome).  After a couple of meltdowns and trips out of the tent, she relaxed a little, and I was able to enjoy myself.  Don and I snuck in a couple of spins, and, in classic Sarah style, she finally hit the dance floor just as the DJ was wrapping things up.

We had a couple of days at my mom's house after the wedding, and Sarah had a ball with all of her relatives.  Fortunately, she now feels comfortable with everyone right away.  She and her cousin Sam are particularly fond of each other.  And she never tires of Uncle Brian finding money behind her ears.

We spent the night with my good friend Alison, her husband Eric, and their boys Jackson and Joey, near R*chester, NY, on both legs of the trip.  They are such a nice family, and it was wonderful to spend time with them. 

After a week surrounded by older boys, Sarah is speaking more clearly and rough-housing a lot more than before.  On the drive back, she would occasionally grab her toy laptop and say, "I need to check my email so we don't get lost."  She is looking forward to going back east at Christmas.  We're flying this time, thank goodness. 

The world traveler heading into her hotel

Playing with Joey and Jackson

Kelley and Sam practice their moves at the rehearsal

Kelley, Sarah, and Sam out for a stroll

My brother George and Don

Sarah and decorations

A shot of Don and me taken by Sarah at the rehearsal

Cousin Kelley on the big day

Grammy and her grandkids after the ceremony (note the bride's ride in the back)

Mr. and Mrs. George B. Munroe IV entering the reception

First dance as husband and wife

My mom and brother

Chelsey and Sarah

Kelley, Sarah, and Sam

Sarah crafting at Grammy's kitchen table

Sarah on Grammy's tire swing

Alison's Jackson plays the violin and the clarinet!