Double Halloween

Give me your rich icy masses, yearning to breathe free...

We got to celebrate Halloween two days in a row this year: first at our friend Charlotte's.

Charlotte and I painted our own pumpkins.

Then at school for the annual parade and party, where I could hang with Jack, who was not cowardly at all.

Then at mommy's work, where we clowned around, before we met Mema for trick-or-treating.

Top O' the Morning to You!

At the park this morning, we got higher than ever before on this swing.

But not as high or as fun as being on daddy's shoulders.

Who's tire-d now?

Happy Birthday BoMa

We celebrated BoMa's birthday by going to the VH1 Music Festival. I thought we were the headliners, but instead we mostly watched other people perform.

Although we were too scared to watch these guys perform, we saw them ham it up on the playground.

Then we got to meet daddy's hero. He was even wearing his square pants!!


After a nap, a walk on the High Line, and a delicious dinner, it was finally time to blow out the candles. Happy Birthday, BoMa. We love you!

Friends: Old and New

We met mommy's college friend Rachel with her husband and daughter, Ella, and took them to meet some old friends at the zoo. Food pellets anyone?


I was too shy to take my usual photo in the spider web, but I was willing to pose next door.


Fortunately, we weren't too shy for a group hug!


Or for this one with Ari later in the day.

Fun in the Key of Wilde

Since we're such big groupies of Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke, we dragged daddy all the way downtown to see them play in Battery Park.

In return, we showed him our moves.

A Little Off the Top

Today I got my first haircut. Actually, I got all of them cut.


Do you feel lighter already?

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Three girls we like invited us to join them in Connecticut to pick some apples. Even though the trees were dwarf, middle sister Gabriella wanted to be extra high.


Big sister Rafaella was even higher (and not as vision-impairing for her daddy).


Meanwhile, I was focused on what was behind me...


...and I've got it in the bag. While it was fun to eat them fresh off the trees, the apples got even more delicious the following week...


...when mommy made this. YUM!!


So many girls, so few apples.

My How Time (Fire)flies!

Today I started in the Fireflies class, just like Yaya did two years ago. (And yes, mommy did make sure you wore the same dress as I did for the first day of school back in 2009. One day you will resent her, but for now, we all thought it was cute!)

Egg-citing Labor Day Weekend

We had a fun weekend in Mahopac - all ups and no downs.


It started off well, since we had gummi fried eggs for breakfast. Then we were counting on chocolate sandwiches for lunch, and lollipop steaks for dinner. Visiting Mema sure is fun!


The weather cooperated so we didn't have to be cooped up. We went swinging on the hammock...


...and swam in the lake (since I don't have feathers, Mema supplied a cozy towel).


Which came first, the chicken dance or the egg?

U.S. Open and Shut

Our family had a big BALL at the US Open. (Thank goodness, because the closing of the RFK bridge meant it took us two hours to get to Queens.)


Although the prediction was for rain, this was the only water we saw falling the whole day.


Still, we spent some time indoors at the kids clubhouse, where we competed in the air balloon challenge.


Disorder in the court...


My verdict: this is a big racquet.


No, sis, THIS is a BIG racquet.


Ice cream, set, match.

Mahopac Boot Camp

Who knew life in Mahopac was so tough? First, we had to swing across the dangerous swamp.

Then we scaled the highest mountains (or at least AWOL).

Next, we jumped into the frigid waters...

...and had to avoid sea creatures.

At last, mommy said the most important part of boot camp was getting your toes ready for your boots. Princess Army here we come!

Happy Birthday, Octoscar

Today Oscar turned ate. At least that's what we said, after we had Mema's yummy dinner and Aunt Julie's homemade Magnolia Bakery cake (cooked with huit flour).

The next morning, we headed str-eight to the lake for a swim.

But the highlight of the weekend was a trip to Brooklyn to watch Oscar throw out the first pitch as the hometown eight--um, nine--Cyclones played the Tri-City ValleyCats. We all convened on the diamond (too bad it isn't an octagon) before the game...

Mema gathered with seven of her eight grandchildren. Yeah, can anyone figure out who's missing?

Oscar threw an amazing strike, right over the pl8.

And then got to take home his very own Cyclones baseball - we had ocho much fun.

Newport Department of Transportation

Our final trip this summer to Newport required all modes of transportation.  On our first day, Mary arrived by carseat (accompanied, of course, by her family).

I figured I should show Nora how we big sisters swing - with help from "Uncle" Sean.  Funny how with all this energy exerted we don't seem to be going anywhere.

After they left, Liana and I tooled around town (or at least the parking lot) on a Plasma Car made for two...

...but daddy said he wanted to take me horseback riding.

Then I took a spin on Liana's two-wheeler (note, no training wheels!).

We spent a rainy morning at the library and built these special binoculars to go on safari - by elephant of course.

But imagine our surprise when a turtle made himself available for a ride!

After a busy week like that, it was nice to kick back in the tree to take our annual family photo.

 Bye, Newport and thanks for a "wheel-y" fun time.  See you next year!