The Blakefield's Annual Christmas Quiz

Yep, it's time again to test your knowledge of our family.


1. Huddle decided to do this quiz on the blog because:
a) she's feeling lazy.
b) she's wants to do her part to help the environment by not using paper (although she did send out Christmas cards...hmmm).
c) she hopes to get more traffic on our blog.
d) all of the above.


2. Gene worked on a video game that is now out in stores. It is called:
a) Pretty Kitty and Her Fancy Outfits.
b) Zephyr: Rise of the Elementals.
c) Tornado Outbreak.
d) Tornado Alley.


3. Esther's favorite things are:
a) baby dolls, dresses, and unicorns.
b) dinosaurs, robots, and trains.
c) spiders, bees, and snakes.
d) vegetables, loud noises, and brushing her teeth.


4. This year, we:
a) sold all our possessions and traveled like gypsies.
b) bought a house.
c) got a puppy.
d) refinanced our condo.


5. Esther loves preschool.
True or False


6. Huddle is reading a book called:
a) "Raising Your Spirited Child"
b) "Raising Your Shy, Quiet Child"
c) "Plumbing for Dummies"
d) "Way to Go! You're Financially Secure!"
e) none of the above


7. Gene still longs for:
a) a puppy.
b) a VW GTI (he still mourns his previous one).
c) any new hi-tech gadget he can get.
d) none of the above, he is completely content.
e) a, b, & c


8. Huddle longs for:
a) seven more children.
b) financial security.
c) a house.
d) a Twitter account.
e) b & c.


9. This Dec. 18th will mark:
a) our 20th anniversary.
b) four years since Huddle stopped chewing gum.
c) three years with Esther.


10. We hope our family and friends have a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic new year.
True or False

Now for some pictures:
We went searching for a Christmas tree on a beautiful, crisp, sunny day, where Esther and I got to take a little train ride.

Ah, the perfect tree.

Yummy, candy canes!

Esther, the egg.

Another birthday for a preschool buddy, this time the kids got to go on pony rides.

I didn't think Esther would be very keen on riding, but apparently we have a cowgirl on our hands. She rode three separate times, and would have gone more if she had the chance.

Yes, the pony is wearing a princess outfit.

This picture makes it look like she's holding a dagger, but with an innocent expression.

answers:

1. d)

2. c) but it's kinda a trick questions since the game was called b) & c) at one time

3. b)

4. d)

5. True

6. a)

7. e)

8. e)

9. c)

10. True

More Witness Protection Photos

My desire to blog has diminished...but don't worry, faithful readers, I'm still committed to keeping it up (every few weeks or so).
Over the last couple of weeks, we went on a preschool outing to the Zoomazium at Woodland Park Zoo, attended a birthday party, and enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving.
The Zoomazium is pretty cool. They have a great play structure for the kids to get out some energy, lots of cool things to look at and a great program with live animals. When we were there, they brought out an armadillo and the kids were allowed to pet it.

I think this was the first time I've ever seen a real armadillo. They have hair under their shells that looks like an old man's beard.

Esther decided bouncy house birthdays are fun!

Of course, our little darling loved the birthday cake with the truck on top. So much so she managed to remove it from said cake at one point. (Sigh.)

Blue frosting sticks around for a while. Not to gross anyone out, but we had a nice bathroom surprise a few days later. (OK probably too much info.)

Above all the action.

Modeling her pea coat and umbrella. The only way she would let me put this coat on her was if she could bring her umbrella with her. To say she is picky about what she'll wear is an understatement. Anything with robots adorning it is acceptable to E. Pretty much anything else is iffy.

She loves her trains. If anyone needed to be told, our daughter is a tom boy. Dinosaurs, robots and trains all the way!

Relaxing in her usual way after helping Daddy start a fire.

Two videos for Nana

Ok, so I know Halloween is over, but here Esther's version of "carving" a pumpkin.

And the finished project... with a little help from mom. Her dad hates carving pumpkins(something to do with the slimy guts. )

Esther new favorite pastime: playing games on the computer.

Trick-or-treating. In a crowd, the safest place to be is on her Daddy's shoulders (& I wish I could join her.)

Checking out the ducks.

Waiting for the "train" and eating her candy cache.

Loving the puddles.

Making a "waterfall."

October happenings...

It's been a while. Sorry, Nana Marilyn, no video this time. Maybe next time?
Preschool has been a huge learning experience for Esther and I. I've always known E was very spirited but it has been confirmed through her interactions in preschool. It's not a bad thing, just challenging. During circle time, E just can not sit still, which is fine as long as she's not disrupting the class. We have found that if Esther has a quiet toy to look at she can be fairly calm. Because she notices everything, she can play with the toy and listen to the teacher at the same time. I guess she'll make a great multi-tasker. Teacher Kathy and the other parents are very supportive and are open to figuring out what works with her. I have come to realize that Esther needs her space and can feel overwhelmed with too much noise and activity. Sometimes the best way to help her is take her out of the crowd and let her regroup. (Sounds a lot like me.) My goal this coming year is to learn the most effective way to parent Esther, sometimes this feels like a daunting task but well worth it.
Gene's been home from work this month, so he's got to come along when I drop her off and pick her up from school, and joined us on the Pumpkin Patch outing. Esther loves having her Daddy around.

Digging for worms.

Petting a hen.

Sharing the tire with a friend.

She was trying to figure out where the eggs were, luckily they were hidden.

Searching for the perfect pumpkin. Each kid got to take one home. Although they were all pretty small, Esther managed to find the smallest one, and that's the one she wanted.

The pumpkin patch had lots of perfect puddles for jumpin' in.

The aftermath.

Rubber boots don't help much in times of exuberant jumping. E's boots were full of muddy water.

The Halloween costume parade. Checking out all the cool outfits.

Esther's turn to show off her costume and of course she moved so fast, she was a blur. I think out of 21 kids, 1 knew who she was supposed to be. Apparently not many parents let there kids watch Yo Gabba Gabba.

Here's a great example of Esther during circle time.

Wow, it's 8 o'clock...

and Esther's already asleep. This usually means she will wake up at 12ish and want to play. Hopefully she will sleep all night.
Preview of E's Halloween costume. Plex, the robot from Yo Gabba Gabba.

She wants to wear it everyday, hopefully it will hold up until Halloween.

"Look, Mom, the robots are talking to each other."

Colorful bath art.

My sweet darling plunked my cellphone into my glass of water which meant I had to go buy a new one. This was the sign awaiting us. I got insurance on my phone this time just in case Esther decides the new one needs a bath.

Two weeks of school under our belts...

and Esther seems to love it. I wasn't sure if she would want me to leave the first day of the regular schedule, but when I checked with her about me leaving, she kissed me and got right into playing. I walked to my car feeling a little sad...hoping that she would have wanted me to stay just a tiny bit. But I've quickly gotten used to my free two and a half hours twice a week. Wow, I can actually go thrift shopping again!! It's much easier without my sidekick and I don't have to spend any time in the toy section. I have to admit I'm enjoying myself. And she takes long naps after preschool because she so worn out (hooray!).
On Thursdays, I am there at the school with 6 other parents. I've really been enjoying this time as well. The kids are hilarious and it's been nice getting to know the other parents. Teacher Kathy is awesome and so great with all the kids. Come to find out she has two adopted daughters from China that are just starting college.
After school treat from McDonald's. Happy Meal box as hat.

E decided she wanted to wear her Yoda costume from a few years back. I wanted to get a picture of her holding her drawing she did at school and for some reason she put on a sad face. (Maybe she's fed up with me taking pictures?)

She wanted to check out her ears in the mirror and gave the sad face again.

I asked her to do a happy face.

...then a mad face.

Last weekend the preschool had an ice cream social. And they had "smarshsmellows" for on top! (I know the picture doesn't go with what I just typed but I like the picture...so there.)

Esther's favorite thing was getting to use the apple slicer/corer/peeler again...and again...and again. Teacher Kathy was very patient with her and let her have lots of turns. All the apples E (and the other kids) cut were put in the apple cider press. Yum!

So glad the preschool has lots of extra clothes, cuz Esther got drenched with water at one point. Ask Gene.

Again with the Yoda hat. This is a new favorite item (along with the train tracks I found on one of my thrift shop expeditions).

First day of preschool!!

Esther fell asleep last night at 9:15 pm (which is huge!) mainly due to the fact that E is transitioning out of naps (weep). But I had to wake her up this morning at 8 am to get ready for preschool and she wasn't happy with me. Luckily Daddy was there to save the day and used his expert distraction techniques to get her up and dressed. The rest of the morning went very smoothly and Mommy's adjusting just fine. Here's her first day of preschool outfit. She picked her shirt...I wanted her to wear a pink one but she would have none of it.
For snack today, Esther got to use an apple peeler that cut the apple into a spiral. She thought that was pretty cool, and got to turn the crank all by herself.

How cool is getting to haul around dirt in a wheel barrow? E thought it was very exciting.

I love the fact that the preschool has an old merry-go-round (that can send kids flying off the edges). I loved those when I was a kid. Of course, it never got going very fast.

Making mud on top of the "mountain".

The other night, before bed, Esther wanted to wear her pink pajamas. But she doesn't have any pink ones, so we didn't know what she was talking about. She was very insistent and finally she showed us this outfit in her closet. These Chinese PJ's were given to E by a friend of her Nana M's when we first got back from China and now they fit! I love that she wanted to wear them. On a side note, I have been showing Esther some of the things we bought in China and now when Esther plays she'll hands us things and says, "Here you go, I got this for you in China."

I asked her to smile for the camera and this is what I got.

Photo by E.