Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

Fairy and Prince 3 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Elisabeth has planned out her costumes for the next few years. Next year she will be Ozma of Oz, and I can be Glinda the Good if I want to be. Henry can be the Tin Woodman or the Scarecrow. Daddy can be the Gnome King. The unfamiliar characters are from the 3rd book in the Oz series, Ozma of Oz. The Gnome King is a short, fat, gray creature. Daddy will need quite the costume. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozma_of_Oz When she is seven I think she'll be a witch. We'll have to think about that. She's been playing with pretend guns at home lately. I need to watch who she hangs out with. I don't quite get it. On the other hand, she spends a lot of time talking about all the ballets that we (as a family) are going to be in, and how she is designing the costumes.

Fairy and Prince 1 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Henry was very happy to pose for this picture--how novel. He loved having his shiny clothes put on. Elisabeth was the one who decided what his costume would be. She saw these pjs from Vietnam and said he could be a prince. I forgot to have him wear the crown! I think he felt very fancy. One of the "village centers"--shopping center--was having trick or treating, so we joined some friends for Mexican food and the kids (mostly Elisabeth) got to walk around collecting lots of chocolate. John is buying some of it from her. Henry got a duck and was mesmorized by "Puffy the Pinecone," The Woodlands mascot (does your town have a mascot?!) But after I stood in line to have his picture taken, he would have none of it. At the restaurant Henry was the best behaved he's ever been because he got to see a constant stream of dressed up kids (and adults) walking by. We got home just as the trick-or-tre...

kiddo dance party , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . This is from the wedding, but I just had to make sure you saw it. In an effort to satisfy Elisabeth's desire to attend the later reception, we had a little dance party for the kids. They went wild. But it wasn't enough for Elisabeth. She still wanted to attend the reception. "Mommy, I want to go to ALL the parts of the wedding!"

say "I love my mom!" , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Note Elisabeth's fashion sense. I read in a magazine that this is okay. It is quite fashionable (oops, the sweater is 2 years old, but she does love it!) And I just didn't have time to negotiate an outfit change.

DSC_0124 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens .

DSC_0116 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . I'm trying not to think about what's in that dirt that the goats have been walking in.

DSC_0115 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Henry enjoyed the goats too, but was a bit thrown off by the horns. Here he is pointing them out. Later, however, a 4 month old kid started following him, and Henry began running toward me with a panicked look on his face.

DSC_0110 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . It's her favorite part of the zoo, and here, the 7 Acre Wood in Conroe. She could sit with them for hours. These little kid is 4 months old. They were really cute.

DSC_0102 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . Where'd the animals go?

DSC_0099 , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . I don't know why it has become such an important tradition to photograph kids "at the pumpkin patch." Around here a pumpkin patch is an open space with pumpkins plopped down, if you're lucky. For Elisabeth's first few years, a pumpkin patch was at a church. Most kids don't even realize that they actually do grow in fields. Anyway, so here' s our take on the annual ritual.

Mom brings her children 2 perfectly ripe bananas. Elisabeth: Mom, (whine) I don't like bananas. Mom: Yes you do. Elisabeth: Okay. I'll eat it. Don't you wish it always worked that way?

flowergirl and mommy , originally uploaded by j_lstevens . So excited before the wedding. (all the pictures are on flickr now, so click the words above to see them)

After being the best ring bearer and flower girl ever in the wedding of Abigail and Mark, Elisabeth and Timothy were married later in the hotel room. More pictures to come. The natives are getting restless as I type.

Elisabeth and her friend Douwe. (face painting has sure changed since I was their age. And my mom didn't even let me have anything on my face! ) Henry loving the bounce house or whatever you call it. He fell all over the place and just laughed and laughed and got his teething toddler drool everywhere. Birthday girl with her favorite presents--American girl doll (now named JulieAnna) and dog (named Alice --from Alice in Wonderland). Enjoying a cool pop up book read by Grandmere. Note JulieAnna well placed. This is our pile--our pine tree that had to be cut down. Ooh, little mischief maker. Henry can reach farther onto the table now. Fortunately lentils and coffee beans are easily swept up (why were they there? long story) And a few fashion tips from Henry: underwear fits nicely over the head. Shirts make good hats.