this winter

the new smile is just killing me.

so sweet, so quirky and so grown-up

and the long hair too.

we got a christmas tree

and we made our annual visit to the santa claus

at macy's downtown minneapolis

penelope asked for a fishing pole and a key chain.

perfect.

the weekend

on saturday I turned 40

we celebrated with dinner

and a family visit to the mia

and penelope wore her party pants.

halloween, the tooth fairy and a chilly october

this is penelope in her 

princess, rockstar, bride, pumpkin

costume- totally her 

and with lily as a bunny princess

on halloween night

october felt long-

with afternoons spent at ballet

 at the walker

hanging out with friends

and then in november 

the wobbly tooth finally fell out-

just like that.

the weekend

another warm fall day

and another farmers market

it seems strange to have leaves

on the ground when it is so warm out

this is at the

minneapolis institute of art

up close

and then

a far away hair flip

there were aztec dancers too

and of course

an art project.

the weekend

sunday at the pumpkin patch

feeding chickens

looking for a pumpkin

and finding the perfect one.

the weekend

we don't like fall.

it's only because 

we love summer so much.

vanilla malts help

and pony rides

and hayrides

and little playhouses

and apples help too.

feels like fall

it has been chilly this week

on monday there was the first day of school

penelope wore her gold metallic pants-

of course.

when her teacher from last year 

saw her, she said, 

"i see some things haven't changed"

and there was a first day photo 

on the front porch

with lily and paloma

and a first ballet class at

mn dance theatre

the weekend

on saturday

we were at the 

fulton farmers market

in minneapolis

- there was a little sidewalk

chalk quilt project

some really great coffee

and even better croissants

later that day

 we went to the walker

our friend matt was there

with this cool chair

more craft making

at the tool shed.

open field is the best.

then there were these birds-

on sunday we went to 

the open house

at penelope's new dance school

there was a sidewalk 

performance that followed

it was good.

we checked out the stars

at first ave too.

we ended the day here

at the childrens theater

with friends.