Halloween On The Hill

Barbie-Princess Fairy (Bettina), a Princess (Ava) and our Little Prince (Alessandro)

Halloween was a fantastic time this year. The girls made up their own

costumes (and carved a pumpkin) while Alessandro got a chance to "understand the rules" and routine of trick-or-treating. At first, he didn't quite know what to do; we had to convince him to take a candy at the first house. At the second house, he took the candy from the first house (which as half-eaten) and put it inside the basket of candy. At the third house, he just picked up the whole basket of treats and started to leave. But, following Ava & Bettina's lead, he learned to take just one..and later, just one handful, and put it in his basket. Funny to watch the whole learning curve.

The girls helped to carve a pumpkin which we entered into the Community Garden Jack-o-Lantern walk party and then Farley's Jack-o-Lantern contest. They won a free hot chocolate, a lollipop, and a whoopie cushion (which has proved to produce much slap-stick style laughter)!

All were tired when we got home and went to bed before eating too much candy. Tomorrow we start daylight savings and gain and hour. I wonder if the transition will be an easy one or if we will all be waking up far too early!

Happy Halloween! Can you find us?

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Boogie for Ba'ha

Ava and Bettina participated last year in a philanthropy event called "Boogie for Ba'ha" (picture is from last-year's event). Their pre-school sponsors the education of a young deaf Palestinian boy named Ba'ha. Ba'ha lives in the Gaza Strip and attends a specialized school for the deaf called the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. Ba'ha is the only deaf child in his family with six children and the specialized school helps him to communicate with them as well as the outside world, giving him lifetime skills that will allow him many options to grow up more self-sufficient and full of confidence.



Last year, Ava & Bettina raised $160.00 for Ba'ha's tuition, which is only $600/year. That meant that, together, they helped Ba'ha go to school for nearly one-quarter of a year! This year, they wish to be equally helpful and will promise to dance in the dance party the whole 10-minutes the music plays for your pledges. YOU CAN HELP by:

• sponsoring their dancing efforts (a flat fee or a per-minute pledge) and/or
  
• writing them encouraging notes confirming they are doing something important to help
  

They dance next week, Nov. 4th at 10:30am. Please let me know if you'd like to pledge. Checks (make out to LOPC - Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church) need to be turned in by November 9th.

You can read more about Ava & Bettina's event last year on our blog: http://aboutourbabies.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
We are sure to post about this year after its end as well.

Thanks for your help!!
XO,
Allison & Paul

JUMP!

Cousin Braxton (almost 23 months) and Alessadnro (almost 16 months) entertain the crowd by showing they can jump off the fireplace hearth at Grandma's house (a whopping 4"!).

Alessandro - 15-Months

This month, Alessandro gets his 2nd haircut - atop a pony!

Alessandro is

growing like a weed. Each day seems to bring new surprises. While doing busy work around the kitchen, I realize I'm listening to Baby Brother sing "Happy Birthday." How he picked that up, I don't know. Perhaps at William's birthday party? (He was asleep during Elsa's.) However, the girls and I love hearing him so much, we sing it with him just to watch him grin at our recognition and the attention he gets from the applause. He is still experimenting with his gross motor skills, trying to master jumping. So, whenever he climbs a stair or the hearth on my mother's fireplace, we all count, "1, 2, 3!!!" and he jumps and grins, giving himself a hand at gaining both our attention as well as more practice. He is also getting anxious about wanting to hold the spoon during eating time and feeding himself. Usually a disaster, but it's good practice from time to time. I've also noticed that lately, he gets into the cabinets for the purpose of setting the table rather than just making a mess.

He melts hearts in public, insisting on greeting every person he sees with a dimpled smile, a "hi" and a hand wave. He will also blow kisses as he leaves. He is DESPERATE to join the girls at pre-school. He literally jumps from my arms and runs into the classroom, climbing up into a chair to reach the markers and paper or to join the other boys playing on the carpet. He doesn't understand why he can't stay with everyone all day long. The teachers suggest that I enroll him into the class for the 1-2 year olds, but that's not what he wants to do. He wants to be a Sunflower (4's class) just like Ava & Tina and their friends. Much more exciting to draw, do art and play with the big kids.

He still shows no signs of dropping his morning nap or drinking milk anytime soon. He loves watching and chasing the chickens. Sometimes he wants to be with them so much, he walks into their coop, swats and waits for them to come close enough to touch. He is captivated by animals and is nurturing a new love of books. He will carry books all around the house, stopping every now and again to open the pages and show them to people. His favorite is shaped like a race car and came from the Bairds' last visit. I'm loving this age where hugs and kisses come freely and he's usually not far from me - laced between my legs or singing or chatting closeby. He is a real blessing!