Maybe Next Year...

Halloween did not turn out quite how we planned. Mommy came home on the red-eye, so everyone's schedule was a bit off. Genevieve had a great day at school. Daddy kept her busy so that Mommy could get some sleep. When Gigi got home, the situation disintegrated. She refused healthy food and sobbed at quiet time. When quiet time finally happened, it lasted until 7:00 pm. Oooops. Still time to trick-or-treat at a few houses, but the hunger strike continued. Mommy and Daddy drive a hard bargain -- no healthy food, no begging for candy. Perhaps we are the meanest parents in America. Genevieve decided that she would eat some food, but it was now after 8:00, and trick-or-treating hours. The consolation prize was a piece of pumpkin pie. She dressed-up for a pretend costume party (and quite a costume it was), and seemed happy with the evening.

Mommy's Sad Heart

Mommy is far away in California missing her family. I received a phone message with poor Genevieve crying, telling me that she misses me so, so much. So I had to cry too.

Later I spoke to Daddy and learned that it was not really so bad for my sweet little dear. She got to go to Glenwood Gardens and play with Lily and Alex. Aunt Kristen sent a pic, but I have no details to fill in. Looks like all had a wonderful time.

Daddy gave her a special treat of TWO ice cream sandwiches! Some fun things are happening while Mommy is away!

Peanut Butter & Jam

At bedtime, I asked Genevieve what was the best part of the day. She replied enthusiastically, "All of it!"

It was the typical Daddy planned, action-packed day. She started with a Peanut Butter and Jam concert featuring a string quintet and the Madcap Puppets telling the story of "The Gingerbread Man." She had a Graeter's cookie at the end. She asked to go to Findlay Market (we were in the neighborhood) and tried to buy everything in sight. After Findlay, we went to Grailville in Loveland to pick up the co-op produce shares. While Daddy sorted produce, Gigi and Mommy made fairy houses in the field. We then picked up Grammy from her bridge game (which means candy too).

After delivering the produce to College Hill, Gigi and Mommy went to "the art studio" (Happen, Inc.) and carved clay pumpkins.

Twin Lakes Halloween

Tonight was the annual Halloween party at Grammy's retirement community. There were games, treats, petting zoo, pony rides, trick-or-treating, decorative exhibits, carriage rides, a haunted house, and a pumpkin patch. The final event was a costume contest with a parade of all the participants. Genevieve was definitely not up for a best costume prize, but she was a shoo-in for Miss Congeniality! She marched (it was a parade, afterall) with vigor, and yelled "Hi!" with wild waves to elderly bystanders on their own (couples got no special greeting). She complained that a bigger boy in the line near her "sworded me."

She spent some time drawing in Grammy's room to settle down as the party was winding down. She created her first portrait of someone other than herself. It started out with a daffodil "for Grammy, because it is her favorite flower." (it is Grandma Jeanie's favorite too). Then, she drew Grammy - much like Miss Carmy, her teacher, said she might. When she finished Grammy's face, her legs came straight down from her head. She explained that this was a picture when Grammy was walking (which she thinks about often). Grammy then got an arm and a hand to pick the flower. I was terribly amused by her descriptions, and wanted to document. This was suddenly inportant to her too. She wanted to write Grammy's name. She asked me for the letters.

Farewell, Delta Queen

The usual fun Tuesday at the library with Mr. Eric and Servatii bakery visit was bigger than usual. Gigi went to Tuesdays with Tchaikovsky at CCM at noon. For a 3 year old, Genevieve has great concert manners. Gigi also got to play with neighbor Lily in the sandbox. THEN, she got to go say a final goodbye to the Delta Queen with Daddy. Plenty of local and state politicians were on hand. When John and Gigi picked me up from work, Genevieve was crying -- though it did not seem quite genuine. She was crying because she misses the Delta Queen. Apparently it was a very moving experience. She talked about one speaker (who she called Katie) whose grandma (who bought the boat)died on the boat.

The doll-to-replace-the-blanket experiment is not going as planned. Tonight while reading stories, Genevieve wrinkled her nose and said that she smelled something that smelled "not good." I asked her what it smelled like. She said, "a diaper." She assured me that she did not have gas. The nose-wrinkle continued. She said in a stage whisper - "I think it's Greenie....she wears a diaper. I better change her." After Greenie was changed, she let me know that Greenie really doesn't like the smell of a yucky diaper either. She then explained to me the diaper changing process in great detail.

Genevieve was very upset that Daddy was not at home for her at night. She asked repeatedly why he had to be at Grammy's so so late when she needed him at home to help her. I reminded her (for what felt like the tenth time) that Daddy was taking Grammy to a lecture - a talk about art. She asked,"Is it a talk about art where people sit in wheelchairs?" Shortly thereafter, the great sadness for "the lady boat" resumed. She also wanted to know if she was there when Katie's grandma died (on the boat). I reminded her that she did not actually get on the boat, and I told her that Katie's grandma did not die today. Her response was a simple, "Oh."

Fairies in Red Bird Hollow

After a loud day of happy kids (at Shaw Farm), Daddy needed a quieter day. We chose to hike in Red Bird Hollow. Aunt Kristen, Lily and Alex joined us. It was a day of happy frollicking dogs, kids on big rocks in the creek, and the building of fairy houses. Gigi and Lily found a great place. Liliy laid lots of moss carpet. Gigi collected walnut furniture. Alex got lots of sticks. The final fairy digs were elaborate - living room, kitchen, bedroom.

We moved to another park for a picnic (no eating on the Red Bird Hollow trail). After a quick lunch, the kids were back on task, building fairy houses. This house had more diverse building products - leaves, sticks, flowers, fuzz balls, mushrooms, nuts, and berries. The girls worked for nearly two hours - Alex, not quite so long. His boyness kicked in and he had to go throw rocks in the pond. Aunt Sharon and Grammy came to the park too, and got to admire the fairy house.

More Pumpkins!

Genevieve and Grammy went to Shaw Farms. There were pumpkins everywhere! Genevieve had a wonderful time running about all play structures and teepees and petting zoo. Grammy watch. Mommy snacked. Daddy did his best to keep all the girls happy.

Gigi's favorite activity was searching for stray pieces of corn, which she collected and fed to the chickens, despite a sign forbidding her to do so. We read the sign together several times. Each time the message was slightly different, but the jist was "do not feed the chickens or will not get any ice cream."

Before picking up Grammy, we picked up the the van at Patrick's house. Gigi was so excited to say hi to Patrick and Aunt Sharon. Patrick and Sharon were preparing for dinner guests, so greetings were brief. As we were saying our good-byes, Gigi yelled, "Good-bye Aunt Sharon- enjoy Patrick!"

"Ponk-mun" Time at Parky's Farm

It is fall festival time at Parky's Farm! Daddy and Genevieve went with friend Rye, along with his brother Denim and mom Andrea. They got to do the usual Parky's stuff- play barn, see animals, touch animals -- and see an juicing demonstration. Daddy even got to try!

The foursome got a private tour.

Later in the evening, we watched a glass-blowing demonstration at Rivercity Works. The Toy Lab folks were there makingtoys, which the River City Works (part of the Art Academy) blew into glass. Mommy, and Brad - Rye and Demin's dad, came too. There were carmel apples for all, so Gigi had a great time. She was surprised to see her Happen Inc friends (Look Mommy! There's Tommy!).

Our First Parent-Teacher Conference

Miss Carmy's opening words were, "for Gigi, life is a party." Yep, that's our girl. John had noticed that Genevieve was always with Miss Carmy when he saw her class around the school on picture day. Thinking of how she likes to be around Miss Amanda (her music teacher), we were concerned that there might be an issue with our only child demanding adult attention. We asked her teacher about it and learned that keeping Genevieve near an adult was a pre-emptive measure. Seems Miss Genevieve is a flight risk. Her big challenge will be learning to focus on an activity without keeping one eye out for fun she might be missing. Miss Carmy noted that she is extremely social and embraces every activity enthusiastically. She was surprised to know that one of Gigi's classmates, Merina, was not a friend prior to arriving at school. Miss Carmy seemed pleased that Genevieve, Merina, and Isabelle were becoming closer friends with their other classmates.

As we approached the studio, the Junk Man was outside with his cart of "Junk for Sale". There were all kinds of items for sale; all ridiculously high priced. As the program began inside, the teacher was talking about shapes and how important they were in the art world - all the while the junk man waving his junk from outside, hoping to get a sale.
Next thing we know, the junk man changes his sign on the cart to say "Shapes for Sale", has rolled his cart to the front of the studio, and wants a second chance. The teacher sees the merit of using his junk as shapes and talks the Junk Man into letting us borrow his shapes for 1/2 hour AT NO COST!! The Junk Man then announced he has a model that we can draw using his shapes and a man surprises us by jumping out of the cart (from beneath all of the junk) and poses for the kids to draw. Genevieve brought a pig, a baby bottle, a plate, a xylophone and many other miscellaneous objects to use as shapes for drawing him.

I think cousin Lara will be the only esthetician in the family. Gigi decided to bathe her friend Bear (he is pink after all). She scrubbed him with rocks and left him to soak with egg shells and a plastic ghost. I don't think a spa would give her a job with that technique.

Four-Eyed Erna

After naptime, Daddy could not find his glasses. He located them on Erna's face. Gigi explained that Erna needed them "for the show." We are not sure if Erna was to watch or perform.

Biking through the Arboretum

Gigi and Daddy had an adventure at the Boone County Arboretum in KY! Gigi started out enthusiastically riding her bike on the Dogwood trail, pointing at the bamboo, stopping at all of the signs, reading the letters, playing the trail games, and saying hello to four week old baby Annie. After passing through the conifers and magnolias, Genevieve gleefully pointed out the cherry and crabapple trees -- and started getting hungry and tired. We cut short the tour and headed back until Gigi spotted a playground. "I thought you were tired?" Daddy can't wait to go back to discover the rest of this beautiful gem.

Bearcats!

Go Cats! It was the University of Cincinnati homecoming, and the Twachtman's were there. The festivities began with the parade. Gigi's favorite was the tiny ambulance. I think Daddy's favorite was the calioppe, or the jet-ski team. Genevieve was so excited to go to the game, but she did not understand why she could not play football. She also was not thrilled with our seats. She wanted to be on the lower deck - who doesn't? Like her mother, she was very focused on the snacks. She settled on a snow cone.

Greenie, Punk-mans, and Another Day at the Park

Since beloved blanket “Greenie” is treated like a person and friend, we finally decided the girl needed a new doll. She was mildly excited about the doll. She held her, removed her clothing, asked for a bow to be put into her hair, and named her Erna. But, at bedtime she decided Erna could sleep on the floor. Greenie got to go in bed. It has been a couple of days and it is clear that Greenie is deeply loved, and will not be replaced anytime soon. She relays conversations that she and Greenie have had. She tells how Greenie feels about things.

Genevieve has become preoccupied with unpleasant things she observes.
Yesterday we saw broken glass on the street which looked like somebody’s car window had been broken. Genevieve wanted to know where the car was, and why would “summa-body” do that? She continued to talk about it throughout the day, and was the first thing she wondered about when she came outside this morning.

Later, she saw something else she considered bad which upset her just as much. While Gigi plays on playgrounds, Daddy’s normal routine is to pick up litter around the park. He found two ant-covered cheetos which he choose not to pick up. Genevieve could not move past this. Why would summa-body drop food on the playground and not pick it up? She said that it was a bad choice and it must have been a not nice kid who did that. She brought up the ant-covered cheetos over and over again to Daddy. It was one of the first things she told Mommy after work. She brought it up again this morning when we drove past the playground.

Genevieve had a nature class today about pumpkins. I told her about it. She seemed enthused. I reminded her this morning about her class. She told me she does not know the right word for that, she just calls it punk-man. I let her know that I like the way she says it.

After her class, she and Daddy headed to Swaim Park (day three) for a play date with Lily and Alex. They got to feed the ducks!

Here is a picture of the cousins – V. kids posing perfectly, and Genevieve deep in thought, considering perhaps a piece of litter and the not nice kid who left it?

A Different Art Studio

Genevieve got to see Will (and Charlie) again today! They met for lunch and play time at Swaim Park. Then they had studio time at Imaginattic in Montgomery. Genevieve loved painting, and necklace making, but her greatest excitement was making a heart shaped magnet. Charlie got in on the fun too.

Genevieve is lucky to have a Daddy as primary caregiver. When Mommy saw the pictures of her fun day, instead of being excited about the fun things she got to do, she scolded Daddy about the fact that Gigi was wearing a sundress in October (and a dirty one at that). Daddy was quick to point out that it was an eighty degree day and who needs a clean dress for playing at the park and painting. Good point.

Lazy Day with Aunt Lizzy

It was a lazy morning and a late church service. Poor Genevieve was not briefed about the plans of the day. In the car she asked, "uuuhh, mommy? Where are we going?" OOOPS. I apologized for not letting her know what was going on. She was pleased to learn that we were going to church. She was even more pleased to learn that she would get to see Aunt Lizzy later!

We ate lunch at the park near Aunt Lizzy's old house (on Bruce in Northside), which was very confusing to Gigi. At the park, we saw Bella - a little girl we see around town at various parks. After much berry collecting, stick finding and leaf-sandwich building with Aunt Lizzy, it was time to leave.

We went to our small group meeting and Gigi finally got to play with Will (and Eva) after a long separation. Will and Genevieve got as wound-up as ever. There were episodes of sand dumping and salad dressing smearing in the face and hair. Ugh. It may have been the dirtiest her hair has ever been. She had to take a bath when we got home, but really she was overdue anyway.

Super Saturday

Daddy planned a big day, once again! We started with a long walk to redeem a bagel certificate. Then we went to the Cincinnati Art Museum for Family First Saturday: Puzzling Portraits. Genevieve created a collage self-portrait which she decided to paint entirely red. Mommy made a portrait of Daddy, with some advice from Genevieve along the way. We took a break from painting to watch a play, an adaptation for kids of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Mommy wasn't sure if the headless horseman was the right thing for a young impressionable mind, but it did not seem to cause any lasting damage.

After a rest, it was off to the Harvest Moon Festival at Swaim Park. Grammy, Aunt Ceci, and Aunt Muffy came too. We also saw many of Gigi's friends - Olivia, Nicholas, Will, Eva, and Rye. Gigi got to decorate a cookie, eat spaghetti & cheese -cotton candy - kettle corn, build sand castles, line dance, ride a pony, and play on the playground.

After the festival, we saw Grammy's new room - 121. Genevieve played doctor (aka Dr. Boo) with Grammy - employing some alternative techniques. She brushed flowers "flower medicine" over Grammy to "feel her better."

Her First Self-Portrait

Genevieve was so excited to present to Daddy her first self-portrait. She said, "It's me!" and shared with us all the details, her hair bow, her hair, and her ponytail.

She showed us all the face parts - eyes, nose, mouth, and pointed out the skirt, legs, and shoes. Arms and hands were skipped completely. What would Freud say? Is she not held enough? Does she have an aversion to touch - or just too many hair details to bother with hands?

She also drew many butterfly pictures, and a picture for Paul and Med-o-lee's cat who is not feeling well. Then drawing morphed into playing doctor, which as usual meant I became the nurse she bossed around. When Daddy addressed her by her pet name "Boo, " she corrected him. "Actually, it is Doctor Boo."