A new nephew/cousin!

Dutch Rudy Collins, our new nephew/cousin was born last week, a whopping 10lb, 13 oz!

Leana - 4.25 years old

Leana has hit the 4 and a quarter mark.  This is such a fun age, so many interests, so much imagination and pretend play, such curiosity about the world!  Her latest interests are: dinosaurs, fairies, girlie accessories, like jewelry and hair clips and in general being "fancy" - we've been reading a lot of Fancy Nancy books. She also has a new BFF at school (Kaiya) who also happens to live a couple blocks away so we spend a lot of time together.

Leana and Kaiya

 Leana's idea of "fancy" hair (and below, the dinosaurs get fancy too)

with friends from school 

 and of course she still loves bugs!

Leana's Special Week in France (Year 2!)

Once again we visited France for Leana's special week at Preschool.  She got to pick 2 special activities for the week which were tree fairies and dinosaurs.  Nana Kathy came to do a watercolor still life demo, which was a big hit with the kids.  Then Daddy was a special guest on Thursday and got to paint with Leana and her friends, play with tree fairies, make paper dinosaurs, and who knows what else she had him doing.  It was a very exciting week for Leana!

 the mini museum

 circles of the sun!

 still life paitning

 climbing room

 dinosaurs

 daddy's fan club at reading time

 Nana's water color demo

 tree fairies

sharing pictures of Leana and her family

Happy Halloween!

Leana was a "dinosaur fairy".  She told me that dinosaur fairies help take care of dinosaurs and help them to not be scared.  Julian was a parasaurolophus (even though Leana pointed out that his costume has spikes and parasaurolophuses don't have spikes).

Trick or treating was an adventure - lots of excitement, sugar, tears, and fun were had by all!

 Zia, Leana and Kaiya

 Lucas and Julian

 The fairies are off!

 Hey guys, wait for me!