ballet recital

backstage

before

during

and after.

last weekend

we saw the art shanty projects

on medicine lake

so cool

penelope applied for citizenship

she envisioned her life in 

shantytown 

to be full of peace and love

and frozen basketball

like a little frozen fish

in a dress up house

it's a little like walking on the moon

being on the frozen lake.

lately

up and

down

and all around.

and this.

penelope wanted to write

a little note to lala,

her imaginary friend.

"dear lala, i hope your cat misses you in heaven."

a new year

2012 is going to be good

great even.

on new years eve day

we were at the walker 

penelope wanted to go

so she could sketch.

she took it pretty seriously.

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.