Halloween 2014

Halloween 2014

This was our first year actually knocking on doors

Trick-or-Treat

The night before we did a test run of costume options

Here's a nearly too small pumpkin and an absolutely adorable Pooh Bear

Both costumes were too small but Pooh Bear was manageable

Turns out my 11 month old baby exceeded the size allotment of costumes I'd stashed away

Who knew he'd be wearing 18 month clothes at this age?!?

 Coming .... Going ... CUTE!

 Della's choice was somewhat simpler

What Princess do You feel like today?

Turns out she felt like Cinderella

Della's very first Trick-or-Treat

Turns out she was really cute

AND

everyone wanted to get rid of their candy

!Please have some more!

 A very full bucket-o-candy

which has since provided ample potty-training bribes

Enjoying the rewards of his sister's labors

I should mention that our Halloween adventure was conducted 

in the safe confines of Nana's gated residential community

 Pooh Bear living up to his character behavior

loving a tub of sugar  

not sure how he got it away from his sister

The whole process of knocking on the doors of unknown people 

and asking for candy absolutely unnerves me. 

Although Della enjoyed it I may have to come up with an alternate

creative holiday tradition for future Halloweens. 

Belated - The Beach in October

It's a little overdue but here are some pictures of an excursion to 

The Beach In October

We all enjoy the fact that that beach is just minutes away from our current home

On this particular weekend we had an unexpected break of beautiful sunny weather

and beaches are perfect for running off some stir-crazy energy

First things first -- off come the boots

we did manage to convince her to leave her clothing on this time

At 11 months Huck was confidently walking

on solid ground 

sand presented a challenge 

  Della is in her Castle building phase

Her architectural vision is still in development 

 Everyone fulfilled their dietary requirement for sand

 The face of a boy being forcefully removed from the waters edge ... over and over again

Not sure if he really wanted to go swimming 

or just enjoyed the ride back up the beach

Sun ~ Sand ~ Beautiful Babies

Disney on Ice

Our Darling Della is Disney Crazy!

and we fully support her obsession

As an early birthday present we surprised Della to a performance of Disney on Ice

She was told only that we were going on a Della Date

Which started with dinner ... 

and my daughter looking much older than her nearly 3 years

As it is very hard to take pictures in a darkened stadium

 ...of fast moving ice-skaters ...

this post is really a compilation of Della pictures 

showing just how amazingly beautiful our daughter is

and her HUGE smile as she enjoyed the performance

Waiting for the performance ...                ... watching the performance

***two peas in a pod***

For the record ...

It was a very good performance and 

ALL of Della's favorite Disney characters and princesses were in attendance. 

Can you spot them?

Della still talks about Disney on Ice 

and Disney Land 

and California Adventure.

I should probably start planning our next trip to California ...

I can honestly say that I'm very much looking forward to our next Della Date. 

Your conversational skills have significantly increased since this Disney Date 

so I anticipate even more fun on our next adventure.