Trick or Treat 2010

We had a very busy Halloween today.  We started out around mid afternoon visiting with family and friends for some early trick or treating fun.  We did a quick little run through our neighborhood and then headed over to the Shahs' for some more trick or treating on their street.  The last couple years we have been really lucky with warm weather for Halloween.  Not so much this year, we were treated with temperatures in the mid 40s and some brisk wind.  The girls were real troopers though, nothing was getting in the way of their candy getting.  A couple pics from the day below.

Our Princess - Snow White

 Hanging with the Superheroes

Grace and the Shah Princesses

Clean Teeth and Jack O' Lantern Carving

Earlier this week Grace had her first dentist appointment.  Grace was actually pretty excited about going to the dentist which apparently is pretty unusual.  She did great and the hygienist was able to clean her teeth.  I guess sometimes they don't actually clean kids' teeth on their first appointment because they are so freaked out.  Grace is even more excited about her next appointment since she got a doll after her cleaning.



On Saturday we decided it was time to carve our pumpkin.  Grace had a great time helping out daddy although she didn't really like getting her hands messy.   Such a girl.



Pledge of Allegiance

We just love when Grace comes home from school with a new song or something that she didn't pick up from us.  At her new school they apparently say the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning.  Grace's rendition isn't perfect but it is pretty cute.  Our favorite part is: One "Asian" under God.....enjoy.

Catching Up with Friends

This past Saturday we got together at Honey Pot Hill Farm with a couple of Jen's friends from college and their families.  We had lots of fun eating apples, feeding the farm animals and getting lost in the hedge maze.  Some pics of the day below

On Sunday we met up with a bunch of families from our China Travel group to celebrate the girls 3rd birthdays.  We got together at Southwick zoo again this year as it is always a hit.  Seeing these girls together is always a highlight of the season for us.  It is apparent that there is still a connection between all of them as they always pick up right where they left off the last time we got together.

Our New Toy

For the past 6 months or so Jen and I have been discussing picking up a DSLR camera.  Our current point and shoot is really bad causing us to get blurry shots or totally missing shots of our fast moving three year old.  With the holidays as well as lots of great photo opportunities coming up we decided not to wait any longer and went out and bought a Canon Rebel EOS XS.  We are still learning how to use it but this thing takes pictures 100 times better than our old point and shoot.  Some of our first practice shots below.

Three

On Wednesday we celebrated Grace's third birthday.  As Grace gets older she is really starting to get excited about parties, and presents and getting dressed up.  We celebrated her actual birthday with just the three of us.

Birthday Outfit

Three

Mom, I can fly!!!

On Saturday we had some friends and family over for a party.  Grace loved hanging out with her friends and cousins and celebrating her big day with them.

Birthday Girls

We had yet another bithday party to attend on Sunday for Grace's China travelmate Annika.  We were also joined by another travelmate, Mei Lu.  It is great seeing these girls playing together and how much they have grown over the past few years.

File This Under

Things I never thought I would find myself doing before I became a dad......

A Couple Firsts and Our Annual Trip to Smolack Farm

This was am action packed week for us.  On Thursday Grace had her first day of Preschool.  We are having a hard time believing she is already in preschool.  She was a little nervous on her first day but did great overall.

Grace also started dance class this week.  She will be takng tap and ballet.  Jen is already well on her way to becoming a  stage mom.

This past Saturday we took out annual trip to Smolack Farm for apple picking, pumpkins and a hayride.  Always a good time.

Oh Dear!!!

I can't decide, I guess I will take them all.

A boost from daddy

Enjoying the fruits of her labor

Hayride!!!

Weekend In Maryland

We spent the weekend in Maryland visiting with family and catching a Navy game.  Appropriate place to be on the anniversary of 9/11.  Some pics from the weekend below.

The Brigade

Littlest Cheerleader

The Goat!!!

Grace and cousin Nathan

Back to Work

Summer vacation is over....Jen and I are back to work on Monday.  Grace has a couple weeks before she starts her new preschool so she will be spending the time between our parents.  We tried to make the most of the rainy week last week and actually had some really beautiful days at the end of the week.  Summary of our week in pics below.

Rainy Day Activities

Helping Daddy with his candles

Trying out braids

Who doesn't love a trolley ride?

Go fly a kite

4 little monkeys in a hammock

Vacation

This will be Jen's last week of summer vacation before going back to work.  I took the week off as well so we could enjoy the last unofficial week of summer.  Unfortunately it looks like the weather is not going to cooperate.  It has not rained here practically all summer and this week there is rain in the forecast for the next three days. 

We started the week yesterday by attending the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival.  We had a fun time watching the dragon boat races and checking out the exhibits.

Today we braved the rain and went to a Lowell Spinners game.  Unfortunately it rained for most of the game and we only made it through the 5th inning.  Grace was quite a trooper though.  She was pretty happy as long as she had Cracker Jacks or cotton candy to stuff in her mouth.

A Couple Weeks In Pictures

Just a quick summary of our last couple weeks in pictures....

Fun with friends

More friends in Maine

I love the beach!!!

Mmmmm, smores

Rockport with Mommy

Rockport with Daddy