O Christmas Tree.

We were very successful tree hunters this year.  Now our generous tree ("That would have cost us over $100 bucks in NYC!") stands in the living room, covered in hand-me down ornaments from Mr. Tea's family and my own, our own small collection, and cocktail umbrellas.  (I'm telling you, a few cocktail umbrellas in front of white lights really make a party.)  And Booboo loves it all.  The first thing she says in the morning:  "Nana, nana!" which translates as:  "We've got to go downstairs right now and look at the lights on the tree!"

And Mr. Tea gave me a fabulous new camera as an early present for Christmas, so I can do more than take iphone photos.  Hooray.  I've got a few nice shots, but want to brush up on the instruction booklet, (yes, I'm one of those dorks that does actually read instruction booklets!) so I know a little better what I'm doing.

I'm having so much more fun this Christmas than last!  Firstly, because last year we had a 2 month old and still weren't out of that new parent haze yet.  And Booboo just loves everything, and it's easy to catch her enthusiasm.  We've started a winter tradition of lighting candles for her dinner, and she is so excited each and every time they are lit, to the point of reminding me, "nana, nana!" if I've forgotten.  (We're still not exactly sure how "nana" is light, but it also goes for Grandma Lala, (also beginning w/ L) so at least she's consistent!  

This time of year makes me think about folks who are far away, and especially lately those on the west coast, which are dealing with such trippy weather lately.  I hope all of you get through this time safely.  Remember, steer INTO the skid.  Mr. Tea adds that judicious use of the e-brake can also be a lifesaver.

Artiste.

Booboo did her first picture this week.  Check her out holding the crayon...she seems to do most of her eating w/ right hand, so we think she's probably right handed, but when she held the crayon, she seemed more comfortable with it in her left hand, so who knows?  She could still be a closet lefty, which would make some of her aunties very proud.

Booboo and the Blue Crayon.

Making my mark is fun!

Caroling, Caroling now we go...

One of my greatest childhood memories is the "teacher christmas party" that my parents took us to every year when we were little.  The highlight as kids was Santa's appearance--he would come in, ho ho hoing, w/ a present for each kid there.  And the food--just hors deuvres and desserts, what's not to like.  But one of my personal highlights was the caroling trip, where we would go door to door singing christmas carols at the top of our lungs, in whomevers neighborhood we happened to be at that year.  My dad, being the music teacher and all, was always heavily involved, as was my mom, whose always up for a group sing.  It all seems so naive now.  But sweet.  I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable going door to door like that with Booboo, but we did find an outdoor neighborhood caroling not far from where we live, and Gma Lala and Booboo and I went.  Booboo was mostly entranced with all the lights--everyone in the gathering had candles--I think the whole event was more for GmaLala and me than her--it was lovely to sing w/ other people, stretch the vocal chords a bit, and get to sing all those fabulous songs.  It makes me think of so many other christmas caroling occasions, particularly around the Dodge Family piano, in one of its many incarnations, in 4 part harmony, most likely.  I keep telling myself one of these days I'm going to put out an ad in craigslist to get a group of singing types to spend some afternoon singing 4 part harmony christmas carols, but I haven't done it yet.   One of these days...

The Flame, the Flame!

Fun at the Holiday Singalong.

Lights on a local tree.

Standing and Stairs!

So, we have a climber, and a pull-yourself upper, at last!

I got a call at work from Mr. Tea early in the day, and he said he had run upstairs real quick, and when he came back down, there was Booboo at the foot of the stairs, standing!

And later in the day he called me again to report that had just come back down the stairs, and there was Booboo on the 4th stair!  And now she's pulling herself up on everything--the baby gates, (which are plenty, in this old house!) the coffee table, the crib, it's happening.

Here she is, testing the waters at the foot of the stairs:

I tried to get it Vertical, but it didn't work...even w/ help from Mr. Techhie.  We'll work on it.

Thanksgiving.

The funny thing about having Thanksgiving so late this year--we're already smack dab in the Christmas Season.  But before we go there, let's pause a minute to really appreciate this holiday.  A holiday without (too much) conspicuous consumption, just good food, good family, and a good excuse to get out of town for a few days.  Mr. Tea's parents were as lovely hosts as ever, and Grandma Lala's presence was a treat.  We haven't spent a thanksgiving together in years, so it was nice to have her along.  Booboo got to spend some quality time with her Nonnie and Papa.

A leisurely breakfast the day after.

A rare moment on Papa's lap.

The next day, Grandma Lala and I decided to do some exploring.  We had intended to go check out Rhinebeck, the cute chichi town across the river, but my sense of direction being what it is, we ended up going to opposite way and went to Saugerties, instead.

The coolest thing about Saugerties, (which is sort of Woodstock's blue-collar cousin,) besides the old movie theater, cool antique stores, and really great independent bookstore, is the lighthouse/b&b.  This is a lighthouse on a river, and on top of an actual house.  And has a real b&b, where you can stay overnight.  There were huge swans bedded down in the Hudson, big groups of them.  They looked very cool out there.  They weren't quite ducks, but being fowl, Booboo still enjoyed seeing them.

On the way to the Lighthouse.

The Saugerties Lighthouse.

Girl in the woof-woof hat.

Swans on the Hudson.

And afterward, a delicious burrito at Taco Juan's.  Booboo's favorite part was the window full of toys.

How much is that baby in the window?

Senorita Booboo.  (Love the Legos, mommy.  Not so sure about the sombrero.)

And finally, an attempt to get a family pic by Nonnie and Papa's waterfall...

Like father, like daughter.

Wait, wait, cut!  This is all wrong.

I said I need total creative control now, people!

Not bad, but what exactly are we looking at now?

Ah!  We found the waterfall, but lost Daddy!

More with the 3C's!

So Booboo is still in "strangers are scary, I must protect myself" mode, which is how she was most of the 3C's visit.   Until, of course, at the very end of their stay, when she was finally feeling more comfortable with Toddle C and the rest.  We tried to make the most of it, letting her stay up late so they could play together, (or next to, as the case may be!)  (And no, we did not plan for the matching outfits, but ain't they sweet!)

Reading books in Booboo's room.  

Mommies and Daughters

Looking at the castle book.

Old MacDonald.

Day Off.

I know, I know, excuses, excuses, but it is difficult juggling all this stuff and a blog too!  But it's been too long, and I finally have a day off to putter around at home, and enough said, let's get on with it.

We did have a great visit w/ the 3C's.  Not quite as much visit time as I would have liked, but so it goes when there are little ones around.

We got our visit to the Please Touch Museum, and it is worth every bit of the hype.  It's incredible!  I saw just as big smiles on some of the adults as the kids!  First of all, you have this gorgeous building.  And rather than it being a boring, staid, beautiful yes, but kind of dull kind of place, you enter in, and it's painted in this very whimsical way.  The spots on the wall that look like there should be dull old family portraits hanging there, are filled w/ pictures of kids faces.  And that's just the entry area.  The place has been so well laid out, there's fun stuff to do for toddlers on up to older kids.  I look forward to many trips in the years to come.  Gma Lala got a membership for us to share, so we intend to really take advantage of it.  I can't imagine a more delicious children's museum.  And we haven't even gone on the carousel yet!  (See the link for a sweet story of how it was discovered, as well as some great shots of the museum, as it was being transformed.)

Booboo is currently obsessed with ducks and eggs.  Luckily, the museum was happy to oblige, as everywhere you looked there were eggs and ducks.  She couldn't be more thrilled.

Toddle C, being more mobile and a bit more of an explorer, had a slightly different experience at the museum, but seemed to enjoy it all the same.

Booboo and friends at the duck nest.

Eeeeg!  Eeeeg!

Checking out the duck eggs.

Rubber Duckies!

Mommy and Booboo playing w/ ducks.

And later at the nursery rhyme corner, you guessed it!  More ducks and eggs!

Booboo looks pretty pleased with her egg collection.

Get me another one, will ya?

The museum by night.

Ginko.

Gorgeous Fall Ginko tree on the way to work...

Swing!

Just Shoppin.'

Look ma!

No Hands!

Well, let's see...we're still all reeling from the events of the last couple weeks.  But onward and upward, and now it's almost Thanksgiving.  We'll be headed up to Woodstock for a turkey day with Nonnie and Papa, and that should be very fun and very picture worthy.

In other Booboo news, she's working on her standing.  (Whoohoo!)   At present, her favoritest thing to do is to stand, leaning on the chair, and pick up stuff on top of the chair seat.  (I know, I know, sounds like scintillating stuff.  But when you've never seen the top of the chair seat before, it's pretty novel, I tell you.  And when you can pick toys off that very chair seat that eluded you for so long, well, you can understand just how that must feel!)

We are greatly looking forward to the visit of the 3 C's, which is just around the corner.  A necessary family trip to take care of Daddy C's dad makes us the happy recipients of a nice long visit.  Toddle C is about 6 months older than Booboo, so it will be great fun to see how the girls interact.  A trip to the fabulous Please Touch Museum is in the plans.  Can't wait to see it!

We interrupt this Historic Moment to give you...

PIE MONSTER!

Well, Senator Obama is now President Elect Obama.  Now how about that.  And not a moment too soon, I may add.  I have to admit, I've been a political junkie for the last few months, and am still sort of in a state of shock. That what we waited for for so long is actually true.  I have to admit, I was slow to the Obama camp.  I saw positive and negative traits and attributes in both him and Hillary, and was a fence sitter for the longest time.  And then he gave his speech on race.  That's what did it for me. Sure, cynics may say that it was the only choice he had, that he would have been creamed otherwise, that it was politically expedient.  Well, I'll tell you what I thought.  I thought this man gets it.  He really gets it.  And in this time, this place, this country needs him and needs him to be the next president.  We turned the page.  We turned the page on the last eight years, on all the fear mongering and stupid decisions, the pandering, on all of it.  

America, this crazy country we still love, who elected a second-rate first class idiot not once (well, maybe) but twice, has the chance to start anew.  Of course it's an uphill battle he inherits, and a deep hole to help us climb out of, but for once we have a president appealing to "our better angels."  For once, there is a leader who is demanding of us sacrifice and hard work, rather than to go shopping.  And my child will never know a time when there wasn't a President Obama.  It is a righteous time in our country's history.  Maybe we did grow up.  Just a little bit.

Oh, and Mr. Tea makes damn good pie.  Just ask Booboo.

Daring to Dream...

Please read Maya Angelou's lovely words...and then, GO VOTE ALREADY!

Maya Angelou, novelist: 'If he wins, it means my country has agreed to grow up'

I never thought I'd see a black president in the White House in my lifetime. I didn't even dare dream it. I feel like a child approaching Christmas, you can't believe election day is finally here. It's been so long since we've had people -- Asian and black, white and Spanish-speaking -- come together and say YES. Some did during the civil rights struggle but not as many as today. What it means if Mr Obama is voted in, is that my country has agreed to grow up, and move beyond the childish idea that human beings are different.

I'm talking to friends in the UK, in Italy, in China who can't vote, who cannot press anything other than the point home, so I know the world is watching. We have lain so long in the undergrowth of ignorance. Can we really be saved from the rage of consumerism where we identify ourselves by our spending: 'I'm a shopper'. What kind of stupidness is that? Buying things we cannot afford and do not need.

I'm no prophet, I'm no seer, I'm a beseecher -- so I have been out to thump the drum for Mr Obama. I started out in Senator Hillary Clinton's camp and I thumped the drum for her.

When it was proven that the majority of people wanted Senator Obama, she stepped out of the race and began to thump the drum for him, and so did I.

I think he has simply proven to everybody that he is very intelligent -- and by that I'm referring to what used to be called common sense, which is terribly uncommon these days. You can see him thinking before he speaks, which should be a presidential prerequisite but rarely is. Most of the candidates all the way back, save for two or three, seem to just punch a button. There's a question and they punch number seven and out comes an answer, which had been stored up.

Senator Obama has proven that he knows how to be a president to all the people, not just the rich and mighty, not just to whites, not just to blacks, but all the people. I'm so excited, the excitement can hardly be contained. How will I be spending election night? On my knees. Maybe getting off them to have a very nice Scotch and then getting back down on my knees again.

(quoted from The Independent)

GO VOTE!

Booboo says...GO VOTE!  (for my sake)

Taggie!

Feel the love.

I keep forgetting to mention that Booboo's Blankie of Blankies is a very special "taggie blanket" that Auntie E made for her months ago.  It is a treasure, and this pic captures just how special Taggie is.  Never nap without it.

On the Towpath.

 

Driving w/ Book.

 

On the Canal Towpath

Today Mr. Tea, Booboo and I went for a lovely walk on the Canal Towpath, in Manayunk. The Manyunk section of the Schuylkill Canal was established in 1818 for work animals to haul barges down the canals.  Another fun bit of trivia--this area also contained a branch of the Reading RR, you Monopoly fans.  (The Railroads were always my favorites.)  You can walk it all the way to Valley Forge, if you like.  Only about 13 miles from where we were.  Lots of bikers and joggers were along the path, and Booboo had to check out every one as they sailed by.  Water "wawa" is still one of her favorite things, so it was a good chance for her to try out her new words.

In other Booboo news, we are close to the pulling up.  She is doing lots of kneeling, even a little lunging and downward dog.

Balancing on One Knee.

Baby yoga.

Later at home, we were playing soccer with Percy and Gma Lala.  Cat/Baby soccer, what could be better?  We hope to catch them on tape one of these days, we'll have to see.

Halloween was pretty low key around here, although Mr. Tea and I did go to an amazing Gypsy Jazz concert downtown.  If you have the opportunity, check out these guys, they're great.  Takes you back to the days of Django Reinhardt and company--quite impressive.

We are the champions...

                    30 People Deep, 2 Blocks away from parade.

                                             Start'em young.

                                    1346 Chestnut Street

Most of you know I'm not really a baseball fan, but hey.  It's not every week that your adopted city wins the World Series, and the parade literally went straight by my work.  The energy and enthusiasm was absolutely palpable.  This town was starved for a winning season--25 years since their last championship win, and that's sports of all colors.  And Phillie phans are diehard fans, including some hometown boys who haven't lived in the city for years and requested clippings...I did what I could, gentlemen.  I hope you get a chance to savor the victory. 

From what I could tell, it really seemed like a group effort--this is not a team run by all-stars. Everyone pitched in--including former Mariner Jamie Moyer.  They all seemed like just regular guys, many of them with wives and children riding the floats with them, really it was quite sweet.  There was a couple of minutes there when we were waiting for the floats that I almost made a crack about how it felt just like a baseball game--lots of standing around, just kind of waiting for something to happen--but of course I kept it to myself.  I would have gotten my head bitten off in that crowd!  

Morris Arboretum.

I have been wanting to go to this place ever since we moved to Philadelphia.  This seemed like the perfect weekend since it is not far from our house, and in the opposite direction of every sport in town which was playing today, including the World Series (Go Phillies!), and a giant regatta on the Schuykill River.  We took a lovely walk through the Morris Arboretum, owned by the University of Penn. A beautiful crisp fall day, and we made the most of it.

A fall color view from one of the taller hills.

The Oak Allee.

3 Generations.

Sometimes, you just gotta stop and smell the flowers...

Hangin' w/ Mommy.

Booboo on a bench.

A hobittesque tree.

Earlier this morning on her trike in her special Monkey Pajamas.  (Every child needs special Monkey Pajamas.)

Booboo is into her B words.  They are all one syllable, but they are distinct.  "Ba" may be ball, baba, bath, or balloon, depending on the situation.  How economical, really.  You've got to hand it to her.  That, and "sh...," (which at this point means shoe, not what you were thinking, potty mouth.)

The arboretum pictures show Booboo sporting her fabulous new birthday outfit from Auntie A.  We found it on our porch this morning, (the mailman must have thrown it onto the porch, but it fell perfectly into the stroller's bottom pocket and wasn't discovered until now!)  We love the very Tea color combo, and, I'm sure you agree, that every girl needs something red in her closet.