Gramma Jean's Chickpea Fix

My mom says she needs more pictures, stat. Here you go, mom. I don't have any video clips short enough to upload today; when I try to upload longer clips, Chapman (my laptop) breaks out in hives.

Yeah, I called the help-desk for that diagnosis. Anyway, here are the pictures.

Cleaning out cupboards while Mom cooks. Makes that tries to cook. Is there a school of cooking where you prepare the food in 20-30 second bursts and then let the food "rest" while you pull your toddler out of the crisper bin?

Spats! Audrey got new shoes this week to fit her growing, walking feet. The other pair are chickens and even your tough, unsentimental correspondent thinks they are unbearably cute.

Trying on winter gear. We tried to go for a short hike in the Fells after I wrestled her into this, and she basically cried the entire time. A woman who was walking her dogs on the trail came up to see what was wrong-- said (kindly) that her dogs were very worried by the sounds of human wailing.

And a monkey hat.

Pa Skip and Cousin It read books together

We've been saying for weeks that she needs a haircut, really got to get her a haircut, boy now we really really need to get her a haircut... She won't stand for any hair clips or headbands (she gets that from me, I never could stand tight socks). So what's the hold up on the haircut? Dunno. Laziness. We don't want to drive up to the mall to the kiddie hair-cut place. But today she was tipping her head back so she could see through the hair that falls down over her eyes, like a person wearing bi-focals trying to read a newspaper and I thought, all right-- this is starting to look like bad parenting. Mark my words: Audrey will have a haircut by the end of the week.

She had a grand time with her Pa Skip this week. They read all the books in the living room and she went from a few hesitant steps at a time to full-fledged walking. Scott calls her style "Frankenstein is off the table."

Good habits at table

In this house it's not a question of whether you read at the table, it's a question of which board book will pare best with tonight's courses. We like a little Mother Goose with the amuse bouch followed by Seuss with soup.

Audrey with her pal Brady in Milton

This weekend we visited with friends Heather and Brian, and their son Brady. Great fall day for crawling in the leaves. Brady and Audrey are both learning to walk. Like drunken sailors.

Babies for Obama

Dad and Audrey kept each other entertained while I went to vote on Tuesday. We are still celebrating!!! You'll notice a small teddy bear in the pack with Audrey... that's Lemon Bear, so named because she recently squeezed some lemon slices all over him, giving him a fresh, citrusy scent.

Pumpkin atop pumpkins

Had to add this one of Audrey with her friends Ruth and Bethiah on top of one huge pumpkin.

At Wilson Farm on a busy pre-Halloween Saturday. For our porch we picked one largish pumpkin to carve, and two small sugar pumpkins, which we will make some spicy pumpkin soup with, if we are industrious and get to it before the pumpkins start to get squidgy. I'd give that about a 10% chance.

Waiting on the front porch for trick-or-treaters

Audrey and Scott waited together for the early set of trick-or-treaters. Audrey did not actually eat that Milky Way bar, she just smashed it. Luckily, our neighbor was handing out boxes of raisins which we did let her have. Next year I can see my way to giving her a candy bar-- this year, I just wanted her to go to bed at the usual time.

Safety Bear is pleased to report that no one tripped on their costume this year and fell headlong down our steep front stairs, maiming themselves and driving up our homeowners insurance. But there's always next year! I may be installing a safety net.