Trick or Treat!

Introducing:
Vampiress Shayna and Vampire Skyler


The little vampire:


Along the way they met a kindred spirit, another Vampire:
Skyler checking out his loot while Shayna already sorted hers!

Shayna and Skyler had a fun night trick or treating on Glendale and Leeland Drives. A lot of houses were done up spooky on both streets with spooky sounds, fog, giant robot monsters, and more. At one house a wizard (AKA Harvey Mathason) opened the door and did a MAGIC TRICK for Shayna and then gave her a bunch of brain teasers and unusual questions to answer. Now I know why Brian is so smart. Skyler fell asleep when we got to Leeland but woke up when we got home, just in time to ogle all his loot and proceed to step all over Shayna's candy, squash a tastycake treat he got, run away with a half empty bag of pretzels and hide it somewhere in the house.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Have a pumpkin patch cupcake! YUM!

Pumpkin Work

Here is Shayna hard at work scooping out the insides of the pumpkins. This is her favorite part, lucky for me since its my least favorite. I bought an electric pumpkin carving knife-its so easy to carve now. She spent about 2 hours scooping!



Later, while we were all in the family room watching TV, Skyler went and did his own scooping!

Skyler's First Pumpkin

Skyler picked a pumpkin out of the bin by himself. Then he carried it around, held onto it in his stroller and all the way home in the car. We didn't do a hayride or go to a pumpkin patch, but we'll do that next year when he is 2...AND if it doesn't rain almost every weekend in October!

Halloween Hollow Playground

We went to Snipes Farm today. There was an unusual playground there with a mini corn maze.

Not sure what this play area is, but Manny said he could begin his football training with those bags. Manny was also happy Skyler went to the blue hanging fabric and not pink.



Skyler encounters the roosters and chickens. This is as close as he got to them!















A unique music maker.

Peek-a-Blocks

Skyler started stacking his blocks rather then just throw them around, carry them from room to room, or put them in his mouth. After getting two he'll try for three. Now when he applies for G/T at age 6, I can answer all those questions on the forms that you usually can't remember, like "at what age did he start stacking blocks?" well now I can say 14 months old.

Red Ribbon Week

Shayna's school had daily activities for Red Ribbon Week. Tomorrow is "wear a red hat day." They are wearing them to say "use your head- don't do drugs." Shayna tried out her red hat look tonight and was showing it to Skyler.



Click here to learn more about Red Ribbon Week: www.nfp.org/redribbon.htm

Grandpa Babysits

Manny and I had to go to an important business meeting today so my dad came over this morning to babysit Skyler while Shayna was in school. It was very noble of him considering it was his first time taking care of a young toddler all alone. He did a great job: got Skyler out of his crib, changed his diaper (although it was on backwards but thats OK), fed him, and most importantly, entertained him.


Skyler had fun playing with Grandpa and they even had a conversation in Skyler language i.e. "ba ba ba.." "ba ba blah..."
Grandpa and Skyler played with blocks and Grandpa read him the Big Brown Bear book

Writing skills

Skyler is practicing his writing skills...his first time properly using the Magna Doodle. He also saw me "erase" and then he did it himself. Its progress for a 14mo! I am happy to see that he seems to be left handed.

School Stuff: Info. gleaned from other moms

Talking with other moms who live in other areas/districts you get a lot of information. As I gather this info. I will write it down.

This is information I gathered from 3 moms:

1. Nancy's mom, Olga: Nancy is now in the COUNCIL ROCK school district in the 3rd grade. Nancy has tested into the gifted/talented program but they are waiting to have thier final meeting so she can be officially started in the program.

* Class size: 4 classes with total of about 100 as opposed to 2 classes in Shayna's school, Valley.

* Gifted/talented program: in Council Rock, the elementary G/T is only Humanities, no math or science. Also, in most districts about 2% get places/ID'd as Gifted/talented, but in Council Rock it is 10%

* Nancy's school is also too easy (reading/math). They do not use the A/R program but have a "reading log" and Nancy has a reading list of 5th grade level books

* Olga told me that 2 former Trevose students now go to Abington Friends (private school) and thier mom said she thinks it is better then Newtown Friends. She also heard that A.F. has financial aid. So I will look into that in addition to N.F. for Shayna.

2. Amanda's Mom, Gwen: Amanda is still going to TREVOSE DAY SCHOOL.

*Due to decreased enrollment, they combined 2nd and 3rd grades this year. Mrs. Buckley teaches 2nd and 3rd grade, in the same room. (this means that if Shayna has stayed she would have Mrs. Buckley in the same room).
*There are FOUR 2nd graders and FIVE 3rd graders (Amanda, Sydney, Natalie, Ben and Grant)=9 children in the room.
*They combined 4th and 5th grades and there are only two 5th graders.
*The 2nd-5th graders eat lunch together.

3. Carole: mom of Emilie, 11 and Berkeley, 8 in HAVERFORD. Emilie is a Kid Caster for radio disney with Shayna. I don't know the name of the district.

*I didn't get to speak to her too much, but I did find out that in her son's 3rd grade they get to switch classes for math and reading. This means they group the kids according to ability -which is wonderful and as far as I know this is the 1st I have heard of a public school that does this.

Fashion show #2

Here is what I call the "college boy" look. Jean jacket/shirt over collared shirt. See any Keanu Reeves resemblance here?



This is the "hands got into the brownie batter" look. See added touch of chocolate evidence around the mouth.
Yum! That brownie batter was GOOD!

Adventures in Eating #2

Skyler using the spoon himself. He will feed himself using the spoon but the catch is you have to put the food on the spoon and then put the spoon down in the bowl, then he will pick up the spoon himself. If you try to just HAND him the spoon, he will get mad. Last night he had chicken nuggets where he just bit it/fed himself...instead of eating one until finished, then the next, he would take a bite from each and eat them that way.

Gym Outfit

Shayna in her new "gym outfit." On gym day (Friday for Shayna) they are not allowed to wear jeans. I found this adorable outfit at Children's Place. It has a pink and silver rhinestone heart on the left and little pink rhinestones (well not rhinestones actually but glittery things they put on clothes) going across from the heart. I just love this outfit- great for gym day but not "schleppy!"

Fashion Show

Here is Skyler modeling some of the clothes he got from his cousin Sam (Aunt Christy). He is walking down the "runway" saying "Thank you!" He was actually saying "ba ba ba ba ba" but it translates to "Thank you Aunt Christy...I am enjoying the clothes." We'll post more fashion shows as he tries various outfits. :-)


NEWS: Skyler got his left molar in, and his right molar is coming through. That is why his fingers are in his mouth in this photo. Skyler really liked the yellow raincoat!

Math Book

Shayna and I went to the parent-teacher store this past Monday and got her a bunch of enrichment books, mainly math, French and vocab.

Since the math she is doing in school is too easy and she said she has time left-which she fills with her AR reading or if finished with a book and waiting to take the test she has had nothing to do- I decided to send in the more appropriate math workbook- it actually says grades 3-4 on it so its not really all THAT advanced.

So I sent in the "How to multiply" book which pretty much covers multipying from simple to very advanced. Last year Mrs. Buckley had taught her some and also long division.
anyway...by mid-week she brought it home and she was already on page 22. She did it all on her own and didn't ask Miss Blaswick for any help until the part with 2 digits times one digit, no zeros, where you have to carry over. and even that was a simple question.

My point is that Shayna is SELF TEACHING herself 3rd grade math. I'm very proud of her.

She is almost on the double digit times double digit, no zeros section where you use the "ladder" method and add, so we'll see if she can self teach herself that...I may just teach her that myself. Math is my least favorite subject so I tend to favor teaching her language arts (hence the vocab. and French and history stuff)...Manny is better with math & science and he has taught her all the clever math tricks I never thought of.

Julia Roberts has good taste

As you can see by the photos- Julia Roberts has the SAME EXACT Baby Einstein exersaucer for her twins as I have for Skyler. Only her baby hasn't discovered how to knock off the globe yet as Skyler always did! Ours is on the floor in the kitchen too.

Radio Disney: "Dreamer" screening

Shayna attended her first official RADIO DISNEY event as a kid caster: an advance screening of "Dreamer" starring Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell. Here she is handing out goody bags as patrons enter the theater. The screening was in Manayunk and she enjoyed seeing the city from the "west" side which means passing through the city, then the Art museum, boat house row, and up along the Schulkill River where 76 then gets really high.

Want to know what manayunk is like? Click here: www.manayunk.com

Mysterious Missing Book

Shayna brought home a really cool library book yesterday about inventions. I am always trying to get her to read non-fiction.

Today the book is missing. We know Skyler has something to do with it. He got a hold of it and put it somewhere, only he knows. We have tried all his usual hiding places: behind the speaker, in the plant, laundry basket but it still has not been found.

So I keep asking him "Where is the book?" Then it morphed into "Where is ze book?" a la the infamous "Saturday the 14th" movie that happened to center around a missing magical book.

It just so happens Skyler is going to be a vampire for Halloween. I think he is getting into character. Besides making way with the book, last night I found a roll of toilet paper with bitemarks left in it. You could clearly see two upper "fang" teeth impressions in it. He was practising for his role as a Vampire on October 31st!

Skyler with guilty look on his face.....
HA!!! You will NEVER see that book again!! ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Halloween Goodies!

Shayna and I love to do creative baking and cooking. We also love Halloween so every year we get creative and have lots of fun. I always send in something for her school party (and then defer from the december holiday party). Here are some of the things we have made the last few years...maybe we can inspire you!

sugar cookies


Graveyard Cupcakes












pumpkin pancakes*









black cat cupcakes






*note: the pumpkin pancakes are just made using orange food coloring & chocolate chips and are not pumpkin flavored
**we made adorable witch cupcakes when she was in K but the photo is on my other computer

Ask Uncle Mike #3

Shayna asks:

Why are insects attracted to light?

Golf Caddy

Skyler likes to carry various items around the house from room to room. Therefore, things do not stay where they originally were. Tonight he was walking around from room to room carrying the toy golf bag. He just looked so cute I ran to take a few pictures. He moves SOOO fast its very hard to get a photo! Another funny thing he did today was he put a napkin and the lid to one of his food containers into Shayna's schoolbag front compartment. He also likes to put various toys into the golf bag...after taking the photos I found a playdough toy inside it.


Skyler: 14months and 4 days old

Finian's Rainbow

Shayna and I went to see the musical play "Finian's Rainbow" today at the Walnut Street Theater.

The play was a bit long and the seats too small and uncomfortable, but besides that it was good with some lively Irish dancing and some entertaining musical numbers. There was also one character who did not speak but talked by "dancing" which a young boy interpreted. The actress was the best dancer of the cast and was beautiful to watch. It starred Ian D. Clark, a well known film and TV actor.

One highlight for Shayna was she got to take her 1st cab ride since we ate brunch about 4 blocks away and needed to get back fast. She thought it was fun.

After the show she got to meet one of the lead actresses who played "Sharon." Sharon was Ian D. Clark's (Finian)'s daughter. She was extremely nice and friendly and was happy to hear of Shayna's acting/theatrical pursuits. While we were talking to her the OTHER lead actor came off the elevator, the one who played "Woody" who is Sharon's love interest...he actually came over and right up to Shayna asking her name and saying he played Woody...Shayna was like "who's Woody?" LOL So he made a joke and said "see...everyone remembers you, not me" to Jennifer.

Shayna had fun taking notes in her mini notebook so that she can write her review for Radio Disney. She also took notes to review the restaurant (Caribou Cafe) but I told her that they won't want a restaurant review because most kids don't care about stuff like that (i.e cool trendy in restaurants and French bistros)..since most kids are not like Shayna- 8 going on 20.

Here is a photo of Shayna with Jennifer Hope Wills. She has been in a few Broadway plays in NYC including a starring role opposite Brooke Shields. if you go to her website there are photos of her with Brooke Shields.



Shayna with Jennifer Hope Wills, actress

The website: www.jenniferhopewills.com

Names for clothing items

Shayna and I have a system where we have names for specific articles of clothing she owns. So if we are discussing what she should/could possibly wear...we can say "Well, you could wear the funky black sweater, or the black hoodie, with the red amy byer nice top...and would you rather wear the black skort or black theater pants?" and she would know exactly what I was talking about.

It happened that what she wore today to theater class and the theater ALL had specific "names" so I thought I would mention them. The pink dressy top is new (Sears can you believe it?) and the black pants fairly new (this season, but bought on sale during summer at Kids R Us). So here it is:

Shayna is wearing the FUNKY BLACK SWEATER (she LOVES that sweater!) with the SECRET SPARKLY PINK TOP, the THEATER PANTS (so named because for theater class she needs something comfy she can sit in and we wanted something trendy/dressy for the theater, along with her shoe boots (no special name but I buy her a pair every year) and the PINK PURSE JENNIFER GAVE HER (she has a few purses, so if I say do you want to take the one Jen Little gave you? she knows which one).

and a BONUS: I took the pic in the very cool all black theater classroom!

Radio Disney Meeting

Shayna and I went to her first meeting at Radio Disney tonight and she is now officially a Kid Caster. Elyse gave everyone free passes to an advance screening of "Dreamer" (starring Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell) this coming Thursday October 20th. The older two new kid casters will be "reporting" on the movie. What they do is after attending an event, movie, reading a new book that just came out, etc. they then write a review meant to be read on the air for 30 or 60 seconds. They e mail their review to Elyse...then they come into the studio to record...its edited...then thier spot is broadcast on the air on Radio Disney. Since Shayna is going to see the play "Finian's Rainbow" at Walnut Street Theater tomorrow, she volunteered to do a review of it. Elyse told us about what it was like when they meet & interview celebrities...sometimes they even get a photo with the celebrity and/or an autograph (one of the kids asked about the autographs). They also sometimes get to go to concerts. One of the older kid casters was there, Sam, and then later the other one Katie showed up. Both Sam & Katie are getting "too old" to be kid casters (they are teens about age 15 I think, maybe 16) so they are going to help the "new" kid casters and I guess eventually retire. ??

Then everyone left the boardroom and she showed us the studio where they record thier spots and where the main radio is broadcast from (the same as everyone hears- its broadcast out of Dallas- everything here is pre-recorded and then they put it in later). She played some samples of work both Katie & Sam have done...some of the interview Katie did with Hilary Duff and a review Sam did of the Wallace & Grommit movie. Katie & Elyse told us how they had to run to the interview with Hillary Duff and they were all sweaty ("my hair was all perfect when I got there!")...they only had 5 minutes with her and the guy was standing behind Katie holding up less fingers as the minutes ticked down.

After the studio she showed us her office and the wall with various celeb photos with Sam and Katie...from what I saw besides Hillary Duff was Backstreet Boys and the American Idol cast.

Elyse said that she will schedule one on one training sessions for each new girl with either Katie or Sam. They will learn how to do radio broadcasting!

After that everyone just hung out and chit chatted. Katie and Sam mingled with the new girls. I took these photos of Shayna with 2 of the other new kid casters (the 4th had left already): on the left is Sydney (Sassy Sydney) age 9, Shayna in the middle, on the right is Emily (Em the Gem) age 11 or 12.

Ask Uncle Mike: #2

Shayna wants to know:

How do they know the expiration dates for juice?

Adventures in Eating

One of Skyler's first attempts to self feed with a spoon. This is after me helping a bit. He didn't have much interest and just wanted to bang the spoon, and then tried using his hands and licking his fingers. But we'll try again another time.

Skyler fell asleep in the middle of eating. It was close to nap time and the full belly made him sleepy. Of course after taking the photo I transferred him to the boppy for his nap.