margaretyagan

I got up with Dad and had a snack with Mom and Dad before Mom drove me to school.  When I got there, I noticed that all of my teachers and some of my friends were wearing their Halloween costumes!   But what about me?  Around 9:00, I was so excited to see Dad walk in with my kangaroo costume.  Most of the other kids’ parents came, too.  Dad got me dressed in my costume and then we played in the classroom and had a snack — that Mom and Dad made last night and brought for the entire class!   Finally, it was trick-or-treating time!  A bunch of the offices in my school’s building welcomed us to come trick or treat with them.

It was so cool, and again the videos will tell the story better than I can.  A bunch of the videos are similar, but I strongly recommend watching the last one, where I am entertaining about eight adults (the one called “I am Such a Ham”).

I got pretty tired by the end of trick-or-treating — it’s hard work to entertain people and lug around that bag of goodies.  Dad changed me out of my costume an then took off.  I spent the rest of the day and school and had a ton of fun.  Mom came to get me and with all the excitedment, it took us a little longer than usual to get on our way.

When I got home there was a box waiting for me — my winter coat (thanks Nana & Grandpa!)!  When we sat down for dinner I didn’t eat very well at all and actually a time-out for misbehaving at the table.

Today was an unusual Thursday because I didn’t go to school and because I didn’t see Mom at all.  I woke up with Dad and we went downstairs to cook an egg and eat breakfast.  Nana got here a bit earlier and than usual and we had a really good time all day.  Unfortunately, it was rainy, so we were trapped in the house all day.  Dad came up and visited us a few times, but mostly Nana and I were reading and playing together.

After Nana left, Dad and I went to the grocery store to get some food to take to my school’s Halloween party tomorrow.  Our car is in the shop, so we drove a “big car” today.  We were running late when we got bcak, so dinner was a bit more rushed than usual.  I really enjoyed dipping my lentil burger in yogurt and I finished the “swamp soup” that has been reheated for me all week.

Last year I made huge progress standing up!

I had a pretty uneventful three days this week. Dad was working from home all week, which meant I got to see him a whole lot more than usual. I’ve started to throw little tantrums when I don’t get my way, including crying.

On Tuesday I had a good day at school. My teachers said I was “a ray of sunshine” and I had a great time painting and playing with puzzles.

Last year I fell in love with blueberries!

I got up a bit on the early side today — Dad was in to get me well before 6:30.  We played and read in my room until breakfast time, and I was already saying “Grandma downstairs” before we realized that indeed Grandma was already downstairs!  We immediately “cookeh eggeh” and of course I devoured it.  I also enjoyed eating Dad’s new oatmeal recipe (with Mom’s seasonal suggestion) of apples and cinnamon.  I played with Grandma and Mom until soccer practice.

Soccer practice was outdoors for the last time this season.  With the sweatshirt under my jersey I look even huger than I would normally be.  I improved a bit (I was actually willing to go on the parachute this time), but I was still a bit distracted, as the videos will attest:

I think Grandma was really excited to get to see me play!  After practice we went to the park and I ended up hanging out on a bridge with Dad for about 20 minutes while Mom and Grandma got some treats from the farmers’ market (the last one of the year!).  I got to taste a cookie and other baked goods that were yummy.  We stopped my the house on our way to Crust, which I haven’t been to in forever.  I ate pretty well and then we headed back home, a skipping and a jumping:

I objected to my nap, but only for a few seconds before falling asleep pretty soundly.  I got up around 3:45 and played with Grandma (including icing and sprinkling the remaining cookies) including trying on my Halloween costume, which is still top secret.  If you watch the next video closely, you might get a clue, though!  Around 4:30 Mom and I gave Grandma a ride to the train station.  The rest of the night whenever Mom or Dad asked where Grandma was, I said “Grandma.  Train.  Choo-choo!”

It’s Sunday, so of course Dad and I cooked some fish, which I devoured at dinner time.  While it was cooking, I played in, with, and around my laundry basket, almost falling over more than a few times:

Finally after dinner I got a bath (it had been three days!) and went to bed.

Last year Mom finally came home!

I got up with Dad this morning and we tried to be quiet so as not to wake up Mom…at least for a while.  We went straight down Grandma’s room and I think she was kind of excited to be woken up by me!  Dad and I went back up and made breakfast (egg and waffle with pumpkin butter).  Dad also let me finish up the container of raspberries that we bought last weekend.  Just as we were getting ready to go grocery shopping, I screamed really, really loud and woke up Mom!  Dad wasn’t happy, but Mom didn’t mind.

We went to Dominick’s and I saw all of the regulars except Joanne.  I got to ride in the big red plastic car and it was fun to have Grandma around.  Our next stop was Stanley’s, which Grandma hadn’t been to before.  It was crazy, as usual, but we bought a lot of fruit.  Dad let me start eating the raspberries right out of the containter, but Grandma put a stop to that.  Mom would have been so happy.  Then we went to Whole Foods where the excitement was a huge pile of bacon that was available for tasting.  I was a bit apprehensive at first, but once Grandma got me to try it, I really loved it!  I also tried their seduction bread and it was so good that we bought a loaf! 

We got home and Grandma and Dad started cooking and I, of course, helped.  I also played with Mom while she tried to get some work done.   When it was ready, I ate a pretty hearty lunch, including quite a bit of Grandma’s chili and a treasure triangle.  Mom and Grandma went to buy some popcorn (strange, I know) and Dad was supposed to just put me down for my nap.  Well, I had other ideas.  I screamed and cried for a bit and eventually Dad came up to check on me.  I had thrown everything out of my crib and had a dirty diaper.  After he changed me and read me a book, he tried to put me down again, but I started screaming even before he got out of the room.  So he brought me downstairs and played with me.

After playing and reading, he gave me my afternoon snack and put me up in my bed.  I cried for a bit, but my resistance was futile — I fell asleep after a few minutes.  Around 5:15, Dad made just enough noise in my room to wake me up.  He rushed me right downstairs, put my jacket on, and put me outside to help Mom and Grandma planting some bulbs.   Here’s your video:

After I got the last of the bulbs planted, we came inside and I read some books with Grandma.  I didn’t eat dinner well, but afterward I played soccer with Grandma and we played with a few puzzles.  We went upstairs, read a few books, and went to bed.  Interesting, Grandma doesn’t give me my pacifier when she puts me to bed.  I didn’t get on Thursday night, either!

Last year was a whirlwind day!

I woke up around 6:15 with Mom and we got ready for school, though we were slowed down a bit by my cough.  Today was Porter’s birthday!  I was very excited to celebrate his birthday and even more excited when I saw that I got to wear an Abby Caddaby birthday hat!  I was really interactive with my classmates and I used a lot of new words today.  All the way home I sang “Happy Birthday to too” and I also ended up breaking my Abby Caddaby hat in the car.  I was so surprised when we picked up Grandma Droste at a bus stop in the rain!  I had fun playing with Grandma!  Of course, as with any new house guest, I had to give her a check-up.  Her ears and heart were just fine! 

After reading the poop book, I ate dinner and then Grandma gave me a bath and put me to bed.

On Friday morning I woke up with Dad a bit later than usual (7:20!); I was actually up earlier than that but I amused myself in my crib for a while.  We made breakfast together and then Grandma Droste fed me and made sure that I drank my whole cup of milk.  I had a lot of fun with Grandma even though it was too rainy to go outside.  We read books, played doctor, put together puzzles, practiced soccer, played with the sandpaper letter, stacked cones, and rode my Sesame Street car.  In fact, we were so busy playing that we forgot my morning snack!

I ate a good lunch, read two stories, and took my nap at 12:55.  Dad got me up and I played with Grandma until Mom got home.  The three of us had fun together until dinner with Dad, including baking sugar cookies.  After dinner, Grandma and I iced them and then I got to eat them — even while Dad was standing right there.  I love the special powers that Grandma and Nana have!  Check out the videos:

Last year I was recovering!

It was a very long morning today as I had a runny nose but had to get ready for picture day at school.  My nose was out of control all the way to school.  Maybe I even had a fever, but my good mood covered me.   I did very well during the pictures and I was happy and smiled a lot.  I also loved painting and taking the babies for a ride in the stroller!  When Mom came to get me, I was the last kid eating snacks at the table.  There’s a new friend named Nora in my class.  We had a great ride home and practiced saying hi to grandma.  Dinner was rough — yogurt ended up everywhere and I threw a spoon on the floor.  Mom gave me a time out for that.  I didn’t cooperate with my bath, either.  Finaly I went to bed at 7:45.

On Wednesday I got up with Mom and was happy to see Nana.  I had a cold but played pretty well.  I slept easily at 10:00 and napped until after 12.  I was in a great mood and Nana and I practiced flushing my poop down the toilet!  After lunch we went to the park for two hours and had a great time.  After we got home I ate a plum and soon enough Mom was home and we had a good evening together.

Last year there were apples everywhere.

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I woke up with Dad this morning and we made breakfast, as usual.  Nana came much earlier than usual because Dad had to go to an interview!  Nana and I went out to the park right away and we had a great time.  I had an okay lunch, but the strange thing today was that I refused to take a nap! 

When Nana got me ready and put me down, I started crying.  Nana left me a one for a while, but finally she came to see what was wrong.  Dad even heard me crying and read me a couple books, but as soon as he put me down, I started screaming again.  He brought me downstairs and I got right back to playing with Nana.

A couple hours later, Nana tried again, and again I refused to get in my crib.  She felt bad for me, so she rocked me in her arms and I slept for about an hour — until I woke up with my eyes wide open, ready to play again!

My new toys today were…teabags!  Long story, but I counted 13 different teabags and learned to “spin” them.  I also impressed Dad with my use of the Arabic word “kaman.”

I ate a great dinner, devouring the leftover salmon and sloppy joe and nibbling on zucchini before eating a ton of grapes.

Last year I was hanging out in Grandpa Droste’s shop!

I got up around 6:20 and as usual on  a Sunday, Dad came in to get me.  We hung out in my room for over an hour, playing and reading and horsing around (including jumping on Dad’s belly!).  We even reorganized the basket on my dresser.  Finally we went downstairs (very quietly!) and cooked an egg.  I rejected the oatmeal Dad tried to feed me.  I impressed him by asking for khoubiz!  After giving me a slice of bread, Dad realized he could do better, so he toasted a waffle and spread pumpkin butter on it!  I loved it, as you can see:

After Mom got up we went to soccer practice, where the videos tell the story:

After practice we went to the park.  Mom got us a yummy treat from the farmers’ market while Dad and I practiced climbing:

After we got home, I played with Mom while Mom and Dad got lunch ready.  We didn’t eat until 12:15 and by the time we got done at 12:45, I was pooped!  I slept for two and half hours and woke up in a great mood.  I helped Dad put my laundry in the washer and then pretty soon thereafter, all three of us went for a walk.  We stopped by K-Mart and Jewel before getting back home.  I helped Dad cook cauliflower and fish and then played and read with Mom  until dinner was ready.

I absolutely devoured my fish, eating almost two full portions of salmon.  I ate a bunch of cauliflower, too.  Dad tried to trick me into eating plain yogurt for desert, but he quickly relented and let me have as many grapes as I wanted.  We folded my laundry and then I went to bed at 7:30.

Last year I was in Dow!

Friday morning, I woke up with Dad after Mom had left for work.  I made Dad read my new poop book (yes, you read that right) six times before going downstairs!  We cooked an egg and just as I finished eating breakfast, Nana came as usual.  We had a great morning and I was in a wonderful mood.  We read books and played with my toys.  I ate a banana and cheese snack around 10 and then went to bed around 11.  By the way, some of my favorite toys are my pumpkins (a big one and two baby pumpkins), my penguin, and my soccer ball!

Mom got home in the afternoon and we hung out.  Mom tried to get to me take a nap with her, but that didn’t work too well.  I had dinner at the usual time and then Grandpapa came over.  In order to get me to eat he made airplane noises and had food flying in my mouth.  I loved it!   After dinner, I started screaming “Lego!  Lego!” because that’s what we always play together, but he didn’t come early enough for play time and I had to go to sleep.   Papa stayed around while Mom and Dad went out to dinner to celebrate her 2^5th birthday!

I got up on Saturday with Dad and we played and read (quietly!) in my room before heading downstairs.  We cooked an egg and before I knew it, Mom came downstairs.  Dad and I took off for the grocery store, but then picked up Mom before heading over to grocery stores two and three (yes, our weekly trip now includes three stops — it used to be just one!!).  Mom is a very slow shopper, but that just gives Dad and I more time to run around the store and cause trouble.  I loved the free cheese and bread samples  today.

When we got home, I had lunch and then got ready for my nap, which was pretty short.  When I got up, Dad was gone helping Nana and Papa move.  I played with Mom and then we went to the park.  Since it looked like it might rain, we took an umbrella — and I fell in love with it because it has a dog handle. I hugged it, kissed it, and it even rode on the swing wtih me.  When I wasn’t loving my umbrella, I was scaring away other little kids with my big hugs!

I wasn’t very happy to see leaves all over the jungle gym! I kept having to stop and pick them off and put them on the ground.  We went to the bank and then after we got home, we shared a seasonal treat (toash with pumpkin butter and cheese — the same kind they were giving free samples of at the store!); I learned that Mom loves to eat seaonally!  Mom tried to get me to take a nap, but I wasn’t tired.  When Dad got home, I helped him cook squash soup before eating dinner.  I ate quite a bit of Nana’s burger, but as I was dipping it in yogurt, I realized that I liked the yogurt even more.  So, I picked up the bowl of yogurt and drank it straight!  Mom was horrified, but Dad was cheering me on. 

After I finished it was bath time.  I wanted to sit on my potty for  a few minutes, which was fun even though nothing came out.  Tomorrow is soccer practice!! 

Last year I flew SWA!