Happy Reformation Day: Princess Style

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, but any excuse to dress Zoë up like a princess and go have some fun is good enough for me! We went to the Portland Children's Museum on Monday to hang out with a lot of other toddlers in their costumes.

Trick-or-Treat Storytime - see Zoë sitting there like a big girl? That lasted for about 2 minutes, so we didn't hear much of the story.

 Instead we found a puppet show going on and had some fun playing with the camera while waiting. We also discovered the Bubble Room with all kinds of glow-in-the-dark fun under black light. Did you know that you can "paint" with Tide under black light on black paper? It is pretty cool! Although, Zoë managed to spill the "paint" on the floor then slipped in it. She was glowing from head to toe! At least it was Tide...

This is the only picture I got without her entire hand covering the lens. :)

Today Zoë got to dress up again and go to the zoo with daddy to celebrate the twin tigers' birthday and get toddler-safe treats. :) How fun!

I have to admit - before Zoë was born, I was a bit anti-pink and anti-princess; I would much rather her have Mulan as a heroine than want to look like Sleeping Beauty. But how can anyone resist such adorableness?

Especially with a grin like this one? :)

Pretty Princess in Pink - and a real Princess at heart

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

After a terribly hot and dry summer and a lovely warm fall, we were due for some rain. It seems we are now in "normal" Portland weather. And, with a little girl who hates being cooped up all day, we decided it was time to get our girly some puddle-stompin'-boots.

We were out having fun in the puddles this afternoon when the rain had died down, and our next door neighbor walked by and said, "Oh how cute! I designed those boots!" She works for corporate Fred Meyer. How cool is that?!

They are still a little big, slightly hard to walk in and fall off every once in awhile (like, every time I pick her up, or she goes up a step - haha!), but they are great for puddles!

Zoë is even learning to hold an umbrella all by herself. Such a big girl. :)

Here's to many more rainy days! (They will be coming, that is for sure.)

More Family Football Fun

Today we packed up as quickly as a young family can and made our way to Molalla for Adon's 9:00 A.M. football game. We were only 15 minutes late...not bad for having to drive 45-50 minutes!

Thanks to a rainy few days, it was a mud fest out there. I think those boys enjoyed every minute of it! Wet metal bleachers, on the other hand, were not so enjoyable - especially for little Zoë who kept slipping and falling down. We had to change her pants 2 times (fortunately, we had 2 extra pair!).

#4 - my little cuz.

 Keepin' warm, like a little blue burrito.

Dedicated fanclub - Anna, Aunt Sheron & Uncle Dan, Michaela

I have to say, 3rd grade football players are so 

cute walking around in those big shoulder pads :)

Dancing in the mud :)

 The Indians had a tough game, but played well! 

They hung in there until the very last second!

All muddied up. Way to go, Adon!

Thanks for a fun morning (and delicious chili to warm us up afterward :)

Family Football Fun

We got to hang out with 14 relatives for half of the day on Saturday...and it wasn't even a holiday! How cool is that? It was a special occasion - we all got together to go support our football boys. Our family didn't make it to cousin Adon's game (we will next week!), but we had a great time watching cousin Joshua play and Uncle Jim coach. It was the most enjoyable football game I've ever been to! Zoë seemed to enjoy it as well. :)

There he is - #80, defense champ!

Zoë cheering with Aunt Mary

I have recently started forcing myself to stop using auto on my camera (I know, I've only had it for 3 years!), so this game was good practice for me. I had a good time and took a ton of pictures (as you can tell...and these are only some of them. :s) Aunt Heidi - I think I got a few keepers! Enjoy!

When we weren't watching football (which was usually when Joshua wasn't on the field - haha!), we hung out with the cousins, watched Zoë climb up and down the bleachers, and the cousins/Aunt Mary played with Zoë on the baseball field behind us.

My beautiful cousin, Rachel. Zoë's BFF.

The cool cats, Wesley and Adon

Who knew rolling weights down the baseball mound would be so much fun?!

Zoë, cheering for the team and making new friends

 

What great cousins :) Zoë is a lucky girl!

With Oma and Opa, trying to steal Oma's camera :)

With Lola. Now, I just need to get my little squirmy-squirm-squirm

 to sit still so she won't be so blurry...

Half-time snack time

 Sherwood had a great game and fantastic finish. Way to go, Joshua!

Joshua's cheerleaders - we had a whole section of the bleachers to ourselves.

Here's to many more Saturday hangouts with the Farner clan!

Dolly & I: 17 Months

26 years ago, my Grandma Lorraine gave me, her one-year-old granddaughter a life-sized Dolly that I loved very much.

Now, 26 years later, I watch my own one-year-old daughter play with Dolly and cuddle with her, carry her around the house, kiss her, hug her, dance with her and push her in her grocery cart through the apartment.

It is so precious! I wish Grandma Lorraine could have lived to see her great-granddaughter lovin' on Dolly. Oh, and Dolly is still wearing the same baby dresses (which used to be mine!) and looks as good as ever. Maybe she will last for another generation...

Enjoy Zoë and Dolly's first photo shoot together. We had a good time, and Zoë even listened to mommy say "Now, sit next to Dolly" for a few seconds. :)

What a face!

"Bye, mommy! We're goin' out"

Happy 17 months to my little-big girl!