Day Maker

Me: "Harper what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Harper: "Just like Mommy. "

Wow. Heart melter.

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily

Hope everyone's Christmas was wonderful.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a holiday full of the things that warm your heart most.

Here's to a wonderful 2009!

Much Love,

Amanda, Buster, Harper and announcing..."Buds" (estimated due date: 4.27.09!)

All Partied Out

Man, kids have a lot of parties, huh? Harper's been to a bunch of em lately. And if we thought it was exhausting as parents, well, we probably didn't give enough thought to how taxing it is to
socialize at these things. As evidence: A post-party Harper.

Hopper Mae

For those of you who haven't heard Harper pronounce her own name it sounds a lot like "Hopper."

While I was fixing supper one night I noticed that she was very intently watching a cartoon about a grasshopper on TV. Shortly there after she pointed to herself and inquisitively asked me, "Mommy, I Grasshopper?"

Recycling

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I know it isn't what it appears, because I was there. I took the picture. Even still, it sure does look like a crazed Amanda is punching Spiderman Collin in the face as Princess Harper looks on while Meghan grabs Elephant Aneliese's arm to keep her from getting mixed up in the fracas.


This picture only needs two words: cute and harmonica

Halloween Weekend

Halloween Weekend Wrap-up, featuring all the kids. Enjoy.

Fall!

I love Fall. This weekend we took Harper to a Pumpkin Patch complete with lambs, hay rides, pumpkin bread, sand art and pumpkins (of course). See below as Harper feeds this little guy. She told him repeatldly that he was tickling her with his mouth.


We took a hay ride.

Harper played in a stall full of corn. That's right, corn. As you can tell she was a little confused at first too but ended up loving it.


Then she picked out the perfect pumpkin. Actually, she picked out three. One for herself, one for Collin and one for Aneliese. She insisted. Also, she did all of this while wearing big girl panties. She's been diaperless for three consecutive days with only one major accident. She is very impressed with herself as are we.


Happy Fall, all.

Just a picture

Just a picture to start your week off. Love from Harpertown.

Halloween Costume

So, after desperately trying to decide between a butterfly or pumpkin for the last week, Harper has decided (in no uncertain terms) that she wants to be a dolphin for Halloween. That's right, a dolphin.

Any suggestions on how I pull off a dolphin costume without copious amounts of duct tape?

Shirt Hat

We take a lot of baths around here. The adults of the house fly through the shower in a matter of moments, but the kid around here requires a little more cajoling to get clean. Rituals, characters and props all help when we're trying to shine up an otherwise grubby toddler and one of those rituals has been to pull Harper's shirt halfway over her head and call it a hat. We call it Shirt Hat (I know, not our most clever moment.) Also, some other bathtime pics. Happy Saturday to all.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Store

Wha?!

Friday already?! This week flew by!

Weekend Pics

This weekend Harper played golf, ate quesadillas, took naps, drank juice, played with friends and loved life. We did the same. Love to all y'all.

Big Labor Day weekend

So, first things first, Harper has had multiple potty successes this weekend. Big news! Huge news even. She may or may not get diabetes from the amount of jelly beans she has eaten as a result of our reward system, but I am choosing not to worry about that today. I really wish we had a recording of the shriek I let out when I discovered that she actually HAD peed in the potty this time. BP thought the house was on fire until her heard me scream a second time, " BABE, BRING THE JELLY BEANS. SHE'S PEED IN THE POTTY!"

Next, Buster and I finally bought ourselves a really nice camera as our anniversary present to each other. It's something that we have coveted for quite some time and you Harper Town fans are the real winners as this thing takes some GREAT pictures. Please see examples below. I would like to think that I have tapped into an enormous well of hidden talent as a photographer, but I think it's closer to the truth to admit that it's hard to take a bad picture with this new camera. Anyway, enjoy! We sure are.

Sadly, she's too young to vote

Sssshhhh....

Traveling Salesgirl

Formal logic

So, there is very little logical about the way Harper behaves lately. One second she's the sweetest, most charming little gal you ever wanted to meet and the next she's hurling her toothbrush at you and screaming, "NO! MOM!I DO IT!" Yes, she calls me Mom now. I mean, why wouldn't she? She is two and Mommy is so for one-year-olds.

Anyway, I throw this one out to the blogosphere because it truly baffles me and I would love some help deciphering her code.

Nonnie recently bought us a new CD for the car. Thank you, Nonnie. We really needed a new cd. I have now listened to the Backyardigans Greatest Hits more than I ever listened to U2's Joshua Tree and that is REALLY saying something sad.

Anyway, the new CD is a compilation of popular kids songs. The first one is the Alphabet Song. You know, "A,B, C, D, EFG...." When this one comes on she squeals with delight and if I don't almost immediately begin to dance my a off in my seat she screams, "C'mon MOM! C'mon MOM!" as if she were coaxing me out onto the dance floor at a middle school social. I am a real sight to see at red lights.

Anyway, here's the part that's hard to figure out. When the next song comes on "Itsy bitsy Spider" and I begin to sing and "dance" as previously instructed she screams, "NO! NO! NO MOM! IT'S MY FAVORITE!" If I don't cease and desist immediately she gets really upset and she's really serious about it. I have to admit that sometimes I just accidentally pick up the chorus at a red light or something "down the water spout" and she comes un-glued.

So, what gives? Any thoughts? Please note that any comments on my singing voice will be chalked up as tired and un-creative.

Some New Pictures to Enjoy

Harper says hello and hopes August is treating you right.

Let the weekend begin!

What a great summer shot. Harper's hair is still so sparse that when she gets hot her hair almost instantly become completely soaked with sweat. You know, sort of the way a balding man's head might look after an afternoon of golfing. Luckily, vanity doesn't exisit at her age and we would still think she was beautiful if her hair were made of trash.

Fourth of July

How do you start your 4th of July off right? With Group Baby Yoga. How do you start off a 4th of July Blog on July 23rd? By saying sorry. We're a little behind around here.

Hope all's well.

Northerly vacation

As I mentioned before, we headed North to Warren, Rhode Island and Boston, Mass to visit with some of our favorite folks in the world. We've all known each other for a very long time and enjoy staying up way too late, talking about old times and wondering how in the world it's possible that we're responsible for adding six little humans to the world. So, our vacations are a bit different than they used to be. Fewer bars, more zoos you get the picture. Here are some highlights. Thank you to the Pipers, Schofields and Morgans for reminding us why it doesn't get any better than y'all.

Pizza party overlooking the water at Asher, Erin, Flavia and Hazel's house.

Harper and George discussing whether or not this zoo was a good representation of the elephant's natural habitat. Millie (left) just being precious which is exactly how she is about 95% of the time.

Flavia and Harper catching some Z's

Harper enjoying a train ride. Something that she has asked to do every single day since we rode on this one.

Asher, Hazel and Flavia enjoying a walk on the Fisherman's Bridge



BP serenading us.
Asher and Harper playing dress-up. I promise this wasn't as disturbing as it looks here.


Safety first, Millie.


We even carved out some time for fishing.


Asher showing me why we have to get a scooter.

Doyle and Harper enjoying some waffles that he prepared for her. Well, I think Sam actually prepared them but Doyle talked about making them for her quite a lot. Very sweet.


Buster and Harper enjoying an exhibit at the truly awesome Boston Children's Museum



Millie and Harper enjoying a girls' lunch



Harper and Sam making spaghetti for our "cook out."



Me feeling like I need a vacation from my vacation.

Man, we already miss you guys so much.