Happy Halloweek!

When Happy Jo was here, we took Mckinlay to Mt. Auburn for another Halloween photo shoot (Can you believe how much she has changed in the last year? Crazy, I know.). In honor of "Halloweek," I thought I'd post a few of my favorites. I wish I could post them all, but believe me, we took way too many pictures. And since this is her Halloween costume, this is only the beginning of the pictures that will be posted of her in it. Heaven forbid I over do it on the li'l witch photos.

Enjoy!

"Broadway here I come!"

A new tradition:

We watched Robin Hood.
I think this is the best tradition yet.

Bibbity Boppity Boo!

Girl's got it right.
Suede snow boots are much more practical than glass slippers.

(This was Mckinlay's prize for 3 days with no accidents.
Thanks Happy Jo.)

just call her...

Someone keeps stealing my applesauce apples.

Go Crimson!

Yesterday was Allston/Brighton Day at the Harvard Football Stadium--meaning we got free tickets to the game and had a free lunch before hand.

Don't we look Harvard-y in our Harvard garb?
It was super cold and it didn't help that we were sitting on 100 year old concrete. But it only made it that much more enjoyable. The stadium is small and you could really see the game since you were sitting so close.

I'm sure the team appreciated our cheering section, as the game was less than crowded. Thanks guys, for making it a fun outing! (Sorry Melissa, I didn't mean to cut off your face. Oops.)

And thank you inventor of the "Pottette". We couldn't have done it with out you.

"Mommy's Wowed..."

"I'm a big girl now!"

Mckinlay and I have spent the past 3 days at home potty training.
(Hence the reason for the towel sitting.)

Day 1:
Super excited about her new "big girl pants."
(Thanks "Happy" for making her so happy!)

Day 2:
Queen of the potty

Day 3:
Rockin' the "Melmo" pants.

I have heard rave reviews about this 3 day potty training method. A woman who calls herself the "Potty Training Queen" published an ebook about her methods (a friend sent it to me, but I believe you can get it here.). In a nut shell, you stay home for 3 days, cut out anything in your regular routine that would distract you from giving full attention to your child, throw away all the diapers in the house, follow your child around, give them LOTS of liquids and fibrous foods...all the while using a lot of positive reinforcement, trust, and rewards. It worked really well with Mckinlay and her personality.

Before starting, I thought I was going to go crazy by the end of day 3, but it has actually been, dare I say, a fun experience. Not the cleaning up "peepee" part, but spending so much one on one time with the little girlins (correct me, the big girlins) without other distractions. (But let the record show, if I never color another picture of Elmo again in my life, I'm completely fine with that.) And who can help but be excited by her face every time she heard the "peepee" or "poopoos" fall into the toilet!? As part of the training, she wore only a t-shirt and her big girl pants. Ty and I just couldn't get enough of her walking around on her tip toes with her little wedgied bum. So. Darn. Cute.

I'm so proud of how quickly she has taken to using the toilet. Knock on wood. Who knows what will happen as the novelty wears off, but if anything we're off to a great start.

A week with Happy and Papa

We were lucky enough to have "Happy" and "Papa" come out to visit us last week.
Here are some highlights:

Mr. Bartley's followed by Sacco's Bowl Haven.
"Uncle Bill" came along too. He was a really bad influence.
(The next morning Mckinlay woke up asking for "Happy," "Papa" and "Bill.")
We kayaked the Charles.
Mckinlay almost went overboard several times,
but somehow still managed to keep drier than these two.
(Aren't my parents the cutest!?)
We toured Fenway Park.
(Apparently someone didn't read the sign.)
We donuted and took a hay ride at Wilson Farms.
Mom and I made the cutest little witch costume. Ever.
(There will be plenty more pictures to come.)

And we ate, shopped, played, visited and ate some more. Thanks for the marvy week mom and dad. I don't know about you, but we're tired. Having fun is exhausting!!

"yuckies"

"Stir Them In My Witches Brew..."

Breezy and Mom, you may be the only other people who remember this song. I've had this in my head for days.



Oh Mr. Hartley.
Best. Music. Teacher. Ever.

Enjoy!

A fall day.

A hay ride

+

giant pumpkins

+
your bff
= a perfect fall morning.

Oh. And did I mention there were apple cider donuts involved!? 'Cause there was.

And serenading.

My girl.

I just love her.

Yesterday Mckinlay walked in the room right as I
pulled my boots on. She said:
"Ooooh! Cute shoes!"
I think she knows how cute she is.

(photos by Holly Knudson)

Daddy Daughter Day

Mckinlay and Ty had their very first Daddy Daughter Date today. He took her to Lowe's where they built a fire truck. Twice a month Lowe's offers a free project for kids. You have to register online in advance, but that's it! Thanks for posting about this Kristen!

All the hammering scared her, but she got into it when it came time to put on the stickers. She loved the finished product. She's been playing with it all day...

and playing with Daddy all day. This is her new way of getting around the house.

Daddy pulls her--She pulls the duck.
Who pulls me?

The "Little Stink"

Some stinky things the "stinker" has been up to lately:

-Vaseline.

-"Playing Yahtzee"-- dumping out all the pieces, spreading the papers all over the room and drinking the dice out of the dice cup. And then moving on to Checkers.

-Losing Dad's tooth brush. Repeatedly.

-Playing dress up while in time out. The girl can't be punished.
(I know, Mom, I know. Sounds familiar, right?)

-Ripping books. And then coloring in them.

-Nodding when she is doing something she knows she shouldn't. As if she is saying "this is OK for me to be doing."

-Getting into the cakeover and covering her face/hands in cake. And then wiping it on yours truly.

-Taking off her jammies. And her Diaper. I've been doing a lot of laundry. I thought I solved the problem. Last night I put a onesie on her under the jammies.

She awoke like this. Notice the undone diaper.
Maybe I"ll try duct tape tonight.

BFFs

I had to post this. Can you believe we got a picture where all the kiddos were looking at the camera!? And nobody was crying?

Brianne, you are a miracle worker.

"Baby," "Book-n," "Din-dee" and "Dis-Dis"

Happy shopping!

There is sure to be great shopping at the NieNie Benefit Sale!

Check it out here.

4 hours later & I'm still giggling.

Best. Birthday. Post. Ever.

Thanks Breezy. You're still "preety radicle".

Ground Breaking

Last Saturday we attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Cambridge Stake Center!We have been hearing about this building since we moved here over 3 years ago. There have been a lot of bumps in the road getting this building started and we weren't even sure we'd still be living in Boston when construction began. The building won't be completed until 2010, but at least we'll get to see it in the beginning stages.
This is what the building will look like once it's completed. Our Stake does not have a Stake Center, our ward actually meets in an old Boiler Factory. We drive out to Westin (about 40 mins away) to use their building for Stake Conference.
Ty and I got to "break ground." We're pretty much famous.
I do appreciate that they brought in a sandbox for the ceremony in lieu of using jackhammers on the concrete.
This little stinker was really intrigued by the giant sandbox. During the program, Mckinlay went up to the box and took a handful of dirt. When the Stake President announced that the ground breaking would begin he said something along the lines of, "Well, the first to break ground was the little Loveless child..." That's my daughter for ya. Always trying to one up everyone.
Bless the genius who thought to bring sidewalk chalk to the ceremony. Brilliant I tell ya!

Here is an article from the Boston Globe.

"Din-dee Aree"

When did she get so grown up?
(photo taken by Holly Knudson)

Back me up ladies.

**update**
I just got the pattern. Ty said "Well, I guess you got enough positive reinforcement that you can get it now." Silly boy, didn't he know I was going to get it all along?

Darling, no?Ty needs some convincing.

I can see how he could find these little darlings "grandma-y", but don't you think they would be vintage-y and adorable sitting on our couch or under our tree at Christmas?
I mean, it's not like I'm gonna sit them on the orange and um, orange afghan that Grandma Lou made....but maybe I'll wear a caftan while I make them, just to bug Ty.

If you want to make them too,
get the pattern here.

A boy and 2 girls in a little canoe...

We finally canoed the Charles.

Glad Mckinlay was prepared in her boots.
'Cause you just never know, right?

Next time--
we kayak.

"Hap-hi" Birthday!

We sure love you Happy Jo! Hope you have a fabulous day.
I think we will bake some birthday cookies in your honor.

XXXOOO

Go Sox!

We are now official Bostonians.

We went to our first Red Sox game with the Christophers and the Spragues this weekend. Pathetic I know. We have lived here for 3 years and this is our first game.

The Sox won, but even if they didn't it still would have been fun. All because of two words:
Fenway Franks.
I will spare you the pictures taken with said franks.
(You're welcome.)

Don't you love our Sox gear?

We were talking about how we wished we had Red Sox shirts to wear to the game. Somehow I have developed a reputation for making things out of felt (no idea why) and we joked about making shirts out of felt. Well girls, never joke about felt with me, because you will probably get it.

Sorry boys.
Maybe next game you'll get some felt too!?