Zoe at the princess float

Parade Company Fun

Sami, Zoe and Maggie at the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade Company tour.

Zoe Fairy

Zoe loved trick-or-treating this year! She has a cold so we stayed in our neighborhood. Every house we went to she said: "Let's go cheer that house up!" She also is enjoying handing out candy at home!

Pioneer Montessori Halloween Parade 2009

Creepy Witches' Fingers

Cookies Zoe and I made for her pre-school Halloween party tomorrow.
Find the recipe and others here: http://www.britta.com/HW/HWr.html Here's a video that demonstrates how to make them: http://www.eerieelegance.com/podcasts/FreakyWitchesFingers.mov

First School Photo

Zoe's new school had the traditional annual school pictures taken last week. The prints arrived today. Here it is:

Big Girls Bed

Zoe has been asking for a "Big Girls Bed" quite a bit since starting her new school last week. So, yesterday, Labor Day, we went to Ikea and got her a new bed. We spent 2 1/2 hours there, then we spent another 4 hours taking apart the crib and putting together the new bed. Here's a before and after shot:










Considering we spent last year at the Pediatric Emergency room after Zoe cut her hand, I say we've improved our Labor Day festivities this year!

Karaoke Girl!

We went to a family friend's house for a birthday celebration this evening. When our friend Teri broke out the Karaoke, guess who took over the microphone and belted out "Twinkle, Twinkle" , "The ABC Song" and "You Are My Sunshine". She also got me to join her in a duet of "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from Lion King. Here are a few photos of the gang:

First day at new preschool

Today is Zoe's first day at her new Pre-School. She was ready and excited. This morning as we were eating breakfast, she asked "Do they have a potty there?" Which told me, she was thinking about what her day would be like. I'm amazed! Over the last week her old day care at two "away parties". So, between that and Vera and me talking to her about it, she really seemed ready to go.

We got there, talked with the director and all Zoe wanted to do was play with the toys there. She had to go potty while we were there and Vera went with her. She remembered where it was from when we visited 3 months ago. Vera said she wanted to do everything by herself. Unfortunately, they don't have a small potty seat and she fell in. Doh! At least she didn't get her clothes wet. Good thing Vera was there with her ;)

We'll see how the day goes and if it will be this easy to drop her off as the week goes on, but when we left her, she was playing with the toys and could barely peel herself away to say good bye. She was confident, excited and having a great time. Which made it so much easier to leave.

The photo on the left is at home, getting ready to leave. The photo on the right was while we were talking to the director of the school. Notice the new shoes and new dress, we went shopping yesterday for new school clothes, she loved it.

Zoe's new gardening "glubs"

Chillin' by the pool

Nothin' like relaxing by the pool on a very hot Sunday afternoon!

Another fun visit with Tom Lebay

Tom is in the bay area the second time in two weeks on business. We got to meet him for dinner both times! This is Zoe and Tom near the Rockridge BART this evening.

Yummy lollipop

We accidentally left her Easter lollipop in Monterey, a gift from Tia Sahsa. Of course, we discovered this on the drive home and consequently she cried most of the way home. So, Vera promised that we would find a new lollipop today. After first going to Target today and finding no lollipops, we found this one at The Sweet Factory in Sun Valley Mall. Whew, averted tragedy!

Up in the air with the greatest of ease

it's the daring young Zoe on the double trapese!

Rock Star Zoe!

Zoe's new outfit after a trip to Children's Place. New purple sandals, new hat and new glasses!

Looking for snakes in the park

Zoe in her girly dress looking for snakes in the park:

Kissing Cousins Zoe and Maggie

Zoe on the plane from SFO to Ohare

This was not her first plane ride but she sure enjoyed it as if it was.

at SFO

We got Vera a gate pass at SFO today. This is Vera and Zoe doing a nebulizer treatment in an airport nursery.

Makin' Cookies

Her face speaks for it's self.

Play-doh Mommy

Zoe made this with Vera the other night while I was out at a late meeting. When asked, she said "It's Mommy". She insisted that Vera save it and make sure I saw it when I got home (after Zoe had gone to sleep).

Zoe, The Moms and The Boys in Tahoe 2009

Our second annual trip to Tahoe with the Moms and the Boys. Here we are sledding on Mt Rose Meadows in Nevada on Saturday. In the photo are (Left to Right) Karin, Evan, Chris C, Rache, Chris P, Mackie, Adrienne, Vera, Zoe, Lori and Enzo. Colleen was not able to go with us this year... we missed her!