LinvilleUSA.com

We are thankful for our family, friends and freedom!

This year, we’re supposed to spend Thanksgiving with the VB side of the family. However, we have a wedding in Indy, so we decided to head up to WI a couple weeks early (the 2nd weekend of Nov) for an extended visit. It’s the first time that the whole fam – including Trevor, Natalie and Leah – were together!

On a non-holiday weekend, its always tough to get out of the house (or maybe that’s all weekends). So, while I packed, Natalie very seriously played with my extensive make-up collection:

Natalie Quote: Putting on lipstick is serious business. I don’t have this chance very often!

Natalie quote: Whoa… Aunt Leah, did they teach you how to make those big bubbles in Alaska?

I posted this picture when we were actually in GB but I had to post again. The weather was chilly, but not chilly enough to stop Natalie from playing bubbles! Esp. with Aunt Leah, who Natalie very loudly called “LEAH” many times throughout the weekend, whenever she wasn’t in immediate view. Her voice is esp. cute when she says it – I wish you could hear it!

Surprisingly, Grandpa Dave had not raked the front yard for a few days, which provided a lot of fun an entertainment. Esp. when Aunt Leah would throw leaves up in the air.

Trevor quote: Don’t worry, Natalie. I’m right here. I’ve got you!

A Children’s Museum opened in Green Bay – and my mom has been waiting since April (when she first read about it) to take us all. It was great! Trevor was kind enough to “catch” Natalie going down the slide.

Natalie quote: And then you take a pear and put it in your basket…”
Trevor response: Actually, would you mind passing it my way? I’d love a taste.

Trevor looked on as Natalie grocery shopped (Natalie is a pro, as she helps her Daddy with shopping every Sunday morning before church – lucky Mom!) I cannot believe she’s a head taller than him… they both adore each other and have so much fun.

Natalie quote: I’m always ready to celebrate a birthday! Who’s is it? Oh yeah, Grandpa’s! I hope you like chocolate frosting as much as I do, Grandpa!

The car rides home are always the most difficult part of the trip. Natalie has recently become fascinated with things between her toes…. so in addition to the stamps, markers, Dora videos, baby Kathy and books, we did impromptu pedicures! So pretty, right?

I guess with this post starting with lipstick and ending with a pedicure does illustrate that Natalie has plenty of “girl” in her. She manages to counter balance that with a lot of wrestling moves, which Pinto and I have been privy to this weekend.

Thanks for a great WI visit, Grandpa, Grandma (both known as “Ga-ga”), Aunt Becky, Trevor, Uncle Rob and Aunt Leah!

It’s great to be home! After 3 days away, Natalie’s hair is noticeably longer, and she is saying many more complete sentences. Such as: “Mama no go bye bye”. Which she told me 40 times. Words I am only too happy to abide by. 🙂

I am in Pittsburgh for work and missing these two like crazy!! I am so lucky that Jordan takes such good care of her but am relieved that I will be home in less than 48 hours (knock on wood) and won’t have to travel without Natalie for about 6 months.

Who wouldn’t want to cuddle with me?

While mom is away, dada and I will play. Dance party!

It’s never to cold for bubbles!

Natalie and her classmates “driving” along with the story. Her teachers told me that her preferred seat is always the front chair by the teachers. Maybe so she can see all of her friends well?

Welcome to My zoo! We are having a mid-day slumber party! have you met Moo Moo and his mama?

A fun thing about being a parent of a young child is that Halloween turns into a week-long affair.

On Sunday, we went to “Henry’s Halloween”. I don’t have a picture of Henry (a little monkey) and Natalie (who refused to wear a costume other than a Minnie t-shirt), but we do have some family shots (a rarity, so thanks, Heather!)

Cheese! Okay, now can I have one of those delicious peanut butter crackers, Mom? Before Henry gets another one!

Mom, if you mix it all together, you get purple!

Then, on Tuesday, Natalie invited me to a Halloween party at preschool. Her teacher, Ms. Saba, actually got her to wear her cow costume, no hood of course.

Just because I like milk and cow poo, doesn't mean I actually want to be a cow!

With a few tables of crafts to eat, Natalie soon forgot about her cow costume. Ms. Saba’s table had little graham cracker pies, which you filled with half yogurt, half pumpkin filling. A healthy Halloween treat (much healthier than the table with 90 calorie marshmellows, frosting, M&Ms and candy corn, which was nearly impossible to drag her away from).

Then, on Halloween, Natalie surprised us by choosing the Monkey costume! She may have been influenced by the fact that the monkey had a banana in his pocket, and she and I had just made banana cupcakes.

Our neighbor Katie clued us into the hot street for trick-or-treating… not only was it great to see all the kids, but some houses passed out full-size Kit Kats and giant pixie stix. Just what an almost-2-year-old needs!

Cheese. Okay, Mom, where is the candy corn that you bribed me with to smile for this picture?

The only downside of Halloween is that someone rang our doorbell… living on the 3rd floor and being on an “unpopular” trick-or-treating street, we didn’t expect any trick-or-treaters. I asked Jordan to go down and figured that we could share a couple pieces of Nat’s candy. Unfortunately, instead of just 2 little kids (what I was expecting), Natalie’s pumpkin was ransacked by about 15 middle school kids. Whoops. Less chocolate for Mom and Dad, I suppose. Thankfully, Nana promised to bring over more of the whole grain bunny grahams that Natalie likes.

And, Natalie learned to say “trick-or-treat” and “Happy Halloween!,” so that’s the message she’s leaving you with. I am also proud that she said Thank you a lot! 🙂

Addendum: Natalie is tall enough to snatch food from the counter. I told her she couldn’t have another banana muffin. Jordan then walked in the door, so she snatched one without me knowing to “share” with Daddy (maybe because I had said he could have one). She did share with Daddy, but expected him to share a lot in return. She really is a little monkey!

Natalie made a decoration for Nana

Cheese! Come on Mom. Hurry up with the pic!! I want to see the front side of my artwork!!

More fun photos from the weekend to come (from Jordan)!