Joyeux NOEL

ringgggggg... who is calling me?

Any idea what Noel dressed up as this Halloween?  Here is a hint - something her mama really wants :)

After the "violin costume" two years ago, this is the second time Noel's Halloween costume "won" the most creative award in the kids Halloween  concert!  Well, how about that for my artist resume?

There is no way of keeping Noel indoor on Halloween anymore, kids talk in school and for weeks, little girl has been planning on trick or treating on this very day.  Let's not forget how many peanut candies are out there, that one alone is spooky enough for us, but thanks to our wonderful neightbors, Noel got lots safe treats, all in that matching apple bag (thanks to uncle Mark sending it all the way from NYC!)  Of course Noel was mature enough to say no to families who just do not have the safe candies : " no, thank you though, happy Halloween!"  I was so proud of her!

booooooooooooo!

One more photo I just have to share - when an iphone meets a pirate! 

Did you say pumpkin patch?

A good lesson learned from the previous year - pumpkin patch, the sooner, the better, while the weather is still warm!

One thing to brag about surrounding our little town, is that the pumpkin patch farm really is super, many themes, acres of space for the little ones to run around, variety of different pumpkins and squashes, and this year, they even add a corn maze ( I was too chicken to go too deep into the maze as for the sun is setting, people are leaving, for someone who does not have good sense of direction, I guess we will try it next time!)

We actually "squeezed" this pumpkin patch into our insanely busy schedule, but looking at such beautiful weather and my increased level of stress, I just had to announce it to Noel when I pick her up at school : " we are, indeed, going to pumpkin patch... NOW!"  In hope that the outing with the nature will do us both some good.

It surely did the magic.  For a moment, my world is just Noel, pumpkins and corns, the only "worry" was how in the world do I get out of the maze :)

So here you go, a more relaxed me, able to finally update a long ingored blog!

I am a triceratops

Is there a better way to challenge an artist mom than Halloween?

"mommy, I want to be a triceratops."  Noel asked.

"...hmmm, how about something else?  A hippy or a cowgirl?"  I answered.  Trying to sound creative, but really, I was trying to find an easy way out.

"Nope, a triceratops, definitely a triceratops."  Noel insisted.

A baby triceratops look :)

All grown up!

....and don't forget to check out my tail!

Pumpkin Patch 2009 (part II- hay fight)

This pumpkin patch has two mazes, this year the big maze is proven to be less scary compare with last year's experience.  Perhaps  with the company of a good friend helped :)

But what do you expect when two 4-year-old got out of the maze?  Sitting still and looking pretty?

NOPE.

Hay fight!!!!!!!!!!!

Those two girls went crazy there, went up and down and hay stacks and throwing hays at each other... lots fun, I wish I have that kind of free spirit to roll in it with them.

Pretending to be a scarecrow.

Childhood, so priceless!

Pumpkin Patch 2009 (part I- come join me)

Living in the tiny mid-west town, I can count easily in one hand how many benefits we have over, let's say, people living in other area of the country.  One thing I am actually proud of, and would wholeheartedly invite  friends and family is - our pumpkin patch!

..but again, living in the farming community, if you don't have a decent pumpkin patch, what are you going to do?

This year, we did something different that made the pumpkin patch a great fun.  We decided to go in September to avoid the crowd and most importantly - the cold!  (we were still in summer clothes rather than freezing our behinds like the previous years.  Another smart decision was, we invited Noel's best friend Grace (and her family) to come along, so the kids pretty much entertained themselves, running wild in this acres and acres of pumpkin fun!

How cute!

And not just pumpkins, the girls got to experience the real deal - visiting the farm animals.

Bahhhh, goats.

crock a doodle do....hey, that is not rooster says in Taiwan!  There were also ducks, pigs and listen up - lamas, hahaha!

It really was a super fun day!  And by the way, people has been telling me that Noel has long legs... well, I never really notice it until I saw this picture....

..perhaps it's the priced $70 RL jeans she is wearing?  (and no, I did not pay for that whole price, but isn't it amazing how expensive kids' clothes can be?)

just a few things....

Not the greatest photo, but the day it was taken(yesterday), Noel looked so mature for some reasons, she looks like she is 6 or 7 here.
We were at the clinic last week for our flu shots and one nurse came running to us, with a big smile and said : " Wow, look at this girl, she looks just like one of these girls from "Jon and Kate plus 8!!!!"
Hahaha, I do agree!
By the way, Noel's Halloween costume won her  the "Most original award" on the Halloween concert.  Hmmm, should I be adding that award to my resume?

Happy and safe Halloween

Okay, on the last post, we forgot to mention, Noel and I both have a cold and asking a sick child to put on a Halloween costume for some photos, hmmm, not the best idea and that is why we got the pouting face.
We are all better now on the Halloween day, but still decided not to go out (why have her out getting candies that she cannot have.)  Seriously, 90% of the candies out there are not safe for people with peanut allergy (or other food allergies).
Thanks for aunt Denise's short visit that actually got us excited about the "Halloween spirit" so here is Noel, in her one and only violin costume, this time, with the accessories and the big smile!
Many asked about the violin costume, well, it was just an idea that came to me one day, and costs about 5 dollars - well, let's throw in another 2 bucks for fabric glue.  It took me, all together, less than an hour and half to finish the drawing, cutting and gluing.  Not to brag about it, but my profession makes this part really a piece of cake.  However, the sewing part, well, let's say my lovely babysitter Jenni is the one to thank to.
 How about a pizzicato?  This feels more like a cello than violin!

Hahaha, a violin plays a violin!!
Anyway, so we did not go out, but we did have fun, and no outside candies, our allergist and dentist will both be very happy! 

So what do you think Noel?

Halloween is around the corner, I never like Halloween, people go crazy that day and finding all kinds of excuses to play pranks. 
We are not going door to door trick or treat due to Noel's peanut allergy.  And I am definitely not dressing her in any scary costume (not that I am judging others, just for us, that is not an option.)  But just so she can somehow feel special, I made a costume for her. 
But Noel, what do you think of it?

Sure, I remember that....

I found this drawing on my desk.  Most of the time, I have no problem "deciphering" Noel's drawings, but this one got me.
"Noel, what is this?"  I asked
Noel came running, took a quick look and ran away while answering my question: " that is Noel freaked out inside the maze!"
Hmm, I see.
"...but Noel, why are you smiling when you are 'freak out' " (where in the world did she learn that word?)
She came running again, this time, took a few more seconds to study her own drawing.
"Okay, let me show you."  Noel said
She took out another paper from my printer and "correct" her work.
Hahaa, this surely tells us how "freak out" you are ! 
Flip the paper around, she finished it up with a happy drawing.
"Noel and mama made it out!"

Pumpkin Patch 2008 (IV - this is how we decorate it)

I cannot believe this girl, after a whole year  she still remembers it.  Noel insisted on decorate pumpkins this way, at the same spot of the house  (is it possible a 3 - year-old can retain such long memory?)

Might as well, no mess, no fuss!