the belly

here it is at 37 weeks in all its glory.

a breadmaker's hands

i've been anxious to share my love for making handmade bread with marianne and no hands are too small to punch, knead, and shape dough. she really got into the process and devoured the product.

boo. eek. spooky.

my favorite photo from fall 2011:

the pumpkin patch at our local farmer's market

PUMPKIN CARVING:

marianne wanted a scary jack-o-lantern but he turned out a smidge on the friendlier side. she loved pulling out the innards...which was her assigned task. i drew the face and daddy carved. scary or not, marianne was pleased with our handiwork.

pumpkin

elbow deep in pumpkin entrails

marianne took a stab at drawing the face

jack-o-lantern

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT PRESCHOOL:

marianne's school had a halloween party for the kids to dress up, eat yummy treats, make monster-hands, and have a costume parade!

  

TRICK-OR-TREATING:

weeks before halloween marianne had resolutely decided she was going to be a bumblebee. i was a little worried that she might change her mind last-minute but she was all about going as a bee. she LOVES trick-or-treating and refuses to let momma or daddy go up to the door with her. 


we were coaching her on saying 'thank you' after getting her candy. most of the time she wouldn't remember until after she had started walking away so she'd turn around to go back up to the door, wait until she got their attention, and then say 'thank you.' with all of the commotion of other trick-or-treaters, usually the homeowner wasn't paying attention or didn't hear her so most of the time she would end up with another piece of candy. score!!! at one door when she remembered on her own to thank them, she ran to the edge of the porch and yelled "mom and dad, i said 'thank you'!" it was a proud moment! 


i could have let her go all night it was so cute! i think i have more fun watching her trick-or-treat than watching her open presents at christmas...then again, this year will be our first year watching her open gifts at our own home on christmas morning, so maybe that will change.


for some reason i got pretty lousy photos this year and failed to get one of her on our porch with all of her pumpkins (ERRRRRR!!!!) but here are at least a few anyway:

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END:
i finally got around to taking down our halloween decorations tonight and marianne is already asking about putting up our christmas tree. so, i know what we'll be doing thanksgiving weekend! she'll probably ask a thousand and two times before then and, honestly, i won't want to push it off any later/closer to hank's arrival anyhow.