Francesca is a quick study. VIDEO:

Francesca's first Trick or Treat"

She takes the Treat option.

Halloween hat trick, VIDEO: 27 seconds

Halloween Dragon VIDEO: 9 Seconds

Francesca is ready to scare the neighbors!
Not a dinosaur, yes, definitely a dragon.

Francesca samples some of her loot. Halloween rules!

It is a pity you cannot see what this is on her head. It is a handmade Trick or Treat bag from Grandma Ellen. Green with Frankenstein face. She wore it like this til we got to the first house. (Scott is working on some videos... we will see if any came out...)

Little dragon girl all ready to scare the neighborhood out of all its candy! (Costume was Molly's last year, but it's like brand new!)

Francesca had a great time with dad at the park while mom had a rare solo shopping trip at Trader Joes's. Then she and mommy were delayed by a bridge delay. Very cool how the road lifts 'up-ah' to let the big boat go by...

Francesca says, 'Bebe!' as she points. . .
She knows that's the chair for baby Blaize!

Francesca is ready to play in the park--the sun came out!

Francesca wants something! Happy Sunday!
ps she does NOT have a bladder infection, horray!

Francesca drinks some water in her gown...The FTs are making sure she does not have a bladder infection....ps she peed on the big potty/collection container in record time. all medical staff amazed.

Blast from the past--and I mean way back! Aunt Marilyn, my actual aunt, sent this hand knitted blue skirt with red butterflies and matching cap. This was made by either Grammy or GG for me, but passed on to Marilyn for Cousin Jenna to wear. Francesca models with aplomb as usual... (Thank you Aunt Marilyn!!!)

Baby doll Jasmine is kissing the cloth baby book baby . . . kind of completely adorable, even if the picture doesn't quite capture it. . .

Francesca swings with her ladybug. Happy Saturday!

Picture from Growing Seeds (Note from home...)

Francesca is getting SO verbal. She is saying two things right now, quite a lot. "Bebe," pronounced, "Bee-bee," which means baby. In reference to baby Blaize and also whenever she sees a picture of a baby and also in reference to other things that are unclear how they are related to a baby. And she is saying Owie. Occasionally when she does get an owie, or if I say ow (mostly minor belly related pains...) but mostly it seems to be a kind of mantra.... owie-owie-owie-owie-owie-owie.

And one more Bebe related note: 27 more days til Blaize is born! (Yes! I am counting!!!)

Up uh, Video: 20 seconds

From yesterday, fearless Francesca plays with Jules. She climbs up (uh), dives down, and waves goodbye.

Quick Draw, VIDEO: 37 seconds

The voice on the video is a nanny, Jules, she came to play for part of the day.

Autumn or Fall? VIDEO: 42 seconds

Daddy rakes the leaves. Francesca "helps" put them in the bucket.

If you have a Francesca, Monday mornings are SO much better....

Butterfly fairy eats pizza. VIDEO: 54 seconds

If we didn't mention it the butterfly/fairy costume came from Pawpa and Nana. The China doll outfit came from Grandma Ellen.

Waterproof Asian Butterfly Fairy VIDEO: 12 seconds

We all meet some Growing Seeds kids, parents, and teachers for dinner prior to the annual lantern walk. Kids dressed up in Halloween Costumes. Unfortunately, we didn't go on the walk. It was rainy and cold. Francesca wanted to go with the die hard friends and parents but her two, born in California, parents wimped out.

Where's the ball?

Francesca in her sweet little semi formal outfit from Grandma & Keili. She wants to play with her ball puzzle again.

Another angle of the angel, er, fairy...

Francesca in partial fairy costume, on the way to a Growing Seeds dinner and psooble lanturn walk if it isn't raining too hard.

Francesca gives a heads up!

Hanna, the teacher, told me that Francesca could be relied upon to be enthusiastic everyday!

It's casual Thursday and Francesca's just cruisin' along on the morning commute...

Princess Francesca Margot Arouet mounts her throne.

This regal dress Francesca is wearing in this photo is a gift from Don's very elegant and classy sister Nancy. We just got the old fashion photos back today. Thank you Nancy!

Francesca can make even Crocs look cute. VIDEO: 57 Seconds

I apologize in advance for the camera movement. Scott

Big girl goes down big girl slide All By Herself!!

Steering the big play structure ship,while radiating light!

Francesca slides on the small slide while waiting for mom to get off work.

Francesca opens the cupboard of pasta...

Maggie came by for a visit! Francesca was initially skeptical but quickly warmed up and proceeded to show Maggie ALL her toys...

Look at this humungous tower!

Francesca discovers you can stack the pegs (with no help from Mom!)...

At the science museum where the party was held....Francesca checks out the pegs.

Francesca went to Ariel's 3rd birthday party...mmm pizza... (birthday girl at head of table with her dad, mom's friend and coworker...)

Francesca demonstrates vertical lines.

Crayon on de-inked post consumer paper (8.5" x 12.5")

Yes, I shall.

Shall I do this puzzle again, or shall I not. . .

A little Sunday morning music.

A couple of mom and daughter pictures from San Francisco

Photo credit to Pawpa. . . Top picture from the Zoo, bottom picture from "Fairy Land."

More Growing Seeds reports. . .

From Growing Seeds Daily Page Report from yesterday:

"We spent almost an hour in the Garden Playground today. The weather was beautiful and the children all seem to love the outdoors. We have been practicing using the rope to walk back and forth to the playground. This will give them ready skills for preschool walks. Everyone finds a knot in the rope and we all go down the hall as a big train, chugging the whole way.

Nico And Eliott practiced their baby yoga. . . Flynn spent the whole time in the sandbox . . . Anaya and Francesca sang lots of songs and danced. Eliott and Nico joined them for our rendition of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

This free time outside allows the students to become self-reliant and confident with the choices they make."

Breaking News...

The text below is from the official "Daily Page" report from Growing Seeds from Francesca's classroom, "The Alder Room."

"This morning the Alder Room Children got to go on a long walk with Jessy and Hannah. There are only 5 students in class today, so we were able to take turns walking on our feet to the park. Over there, we noticed there were no tennis players, so we closed all the doors to the courts and let the children go, GO, GOOOO!! We all had a lot of fun running and jumping on the tennis courts. . . Francesca and Nico ran until they were out of breath, falling to their bottoms in fits of
laughter. . . Once we got back to the room, diapered and fed, all five went smoothly to sleep. No cries from anyone."

Francesca picked her outfit today, including the cute dress shoes from Gma Ellen (very similar to those from Nana!)

Baby Boy Back of the Headshot

Here's a stunning picture of the back of baby Blaize's head.
His planned birth date is 11/24/2010. He has more room than usual to move his legs around because he is breech. Mom reports that he has been practicing his karate kicks.

Francesca deftly sips water from her straw while waiting for her sushi to arrive.

Francesca points to the tiger on her animal toy. You may notice some adorable rain boots on her feet which match the sweet raincoat from Nana. (Boots from great kids resale shop!)

Francesca tries out some programmed jams on the keyboard.

Francesca gets into it.

Francesca tries out the new keyboard daddy got from Craigslist!

Francesca Margot in orange cotton shirt and sweet Mary Janes from Nana. . .

Francesca and Devon share an appreciation of Starbucks' organic apple pear puree -- among other things. . .

Some refreshments after the ride. . .

Adventures with Devon

Wheee!

Even climbing up the incline is fun!