Monster March

Sunday afternoon we joined family and good friends for the Monster March parade. It was a beautiful, Portland Fall day--cool, but sunny with lots of beautiful colors--and Franny had a great time scooting through leaves, watching, and then, joining in the parade. This year, she was an earless cat, although we did manage whiskers, which was an improvement over our last Halloween event. All in all, it was a great community event, full of festivity and fun, and we had a great time!

"Earless" Franny Cat, setting out for the parade

Auntie Cherl and cousin Thomas checking out the costumes

Franny and Megan taking a rest

The apple of her eye

Franny can be incredibly stubborn when it comes to having things a certain way, especially when it comes to food. Quite consistently, she won't eat food she has seen me take out of a package and put in a bowl; but she will eat it if she can take it out of the package herself; she almost always demands her own silverware, even if she doesn't use it; and, she will always prefer to eat what someone else is eating rather than what she has to eat--even if it is the same thing. Today, I was eating an apple, when she indicated that she wanted some (of course). I cut off a piece for her, which she immediately rebuffed, pointing instead to my whole apple. Thinking she would get nowhere with it, I gave it to her, thinking she would quickly move on to the next new and exciting thing to catch her eye. To my amazement she bit right into it, and eventually ate it down to just a small piece. She had even eaten the top, bottom, and part of the core! Crazy girl!

2nd annual Kruger trip

After taking a trip to Kruger's Farm last Halloween, we immediately knew we wanted to make it one of our family traditions. This year, I had been eagerly anticipating our return trip; this time, with an older Franny, who, unlike last year, is walking, talking, and signing, but above all, is always enthusiastic and thrilled with a new adventure, which makes trips like these so much fun!



We began our excursion by venturing through the corn maze. The cool air and misty fog really leant to the feeling of Fall and Halloween and made me glad we hadn't gone earlier when the weather was more summer-like. Franny loved running up and down the pathways. We actually had to cheat a little in order to get out with enough time to enjoy all the other great events going on!







Another big hit with Franny was the hay ride to the pumpkin patch. From standing in line, where she could be around all the other kids, to the ride in and back, Franny really enjoyed the ride!










Once we got far enough away and Franny stopped making u-turns trying to get back to the truck, we explored the pumpkin patch. Unlike last year, when we went on October 30th, there were lots and lots of pumpkins to look at. While I think she liked exploring the pumpkin patch, she was not complaining when we headed back for our return ride!







We then headed into the market to check out all the great foodstuffs and merchandise. Franny tried on this super-neat cat hat while we explored the market, warmed up with some hot cider, and noshed on some free samples--yum!!

Definitely, a very fun time was had by all!

The Cooshie Booster

The booster seat I ordered for Franny has finally arrived. Already, the "Cooshie Booster" has been a big hit, although I can't say that it's actually been used for boosting, yet. But it has been drug up and down the stairs, stood on, sat on (mostly upside-down), used as a step stool, attempted to be worn as a hat (that one didn't work so well), and hoisted up onto every flat surface within reach. Most recently, I think it found it's way into the master bathtub. So far, it's been such a great toy, it's almost a shame to utilize it for such routine business!

I am sure we will start to use the seat very soon. But now that it has arrived, I feel more reluctant to give up the high chair, as it does have many advantages; mainly, the tray, which has been very helpful in maximizing damage control with an extremely enthusiastic eater. Ideally, she will use both interchangably, but we will see what the fiercely independent Franny will agree to once she's had her first experience with the big girl booster. I think we had better start stocking up on the Spot Shot again...

18 months of Franny Rae

1 1/2 months

3 months

6 months

6 months (I couldn't decide!)

9 months

12 months

15 months

18 months

The open window

This picture of Franny almost seemed to catch a reminiscent, final gaze on what may be among the last of our warm and sunny Fall days. I love the changing of all the seasons, but Fall is my favorite. Unlike other seasons, it is not just about the onset of Autumn, but also the passing of summer--with each falling leaf the carefree days of summer gradually fade, evoking a nostalgic feeling of the relaxing, fun days past, but is also accompanied by a sense of resignation to the transition into a more serious time of year. Kids return to school; we pack up our summer belongings and store them away for another year; we prepare our gardens for a long, dormant winter; and we retreat indoors until the elements are again tempered next Spring. The changing colors are breathtaking, the cooling weather is somehow comforting, and I find this time of year to also be a natural time for introspection and evaluating life.

This year, I much more to reflect on, with two major aspects holding my attention. The timing of the unwelcome transition that has been thrust upon our family is unfortunate, but we are trying our best to embrace the uncertainty with as much grace and optimism as we are able. The circumstances are much more encouraging than the last time we faced this dilemma, but the anxiety and sense of urgency are still an underlying and constant presence. Our new addition to our family seems to both ease and accentuate the anxiety, but it is an incredible joy thatI am determined not to undermine or allow to be overshadowed by our current challenge. I am prepared for wherever our life takes us this next year, and I am anxious to watch the unknown unfold over the upcoming months. Our health, love, and strength will see us to the next open window, of that I am certain. Until then, those same precious things will keep us going with our faith focused on finding it.