Run Fox Run

More photos of fun fall days at the park, in the pool, and at the barre are in the November 2009 album.  It’s sort of a visual answer to the seasonal question, What are you thankful for?

This year Princess Leda (who has no idea why people of a certain age find that humorous, OR the source of Jamie’s Dark Vader, OR the mysterious and silent “Boba Fett” three of the boys at kindergarten were supposed to be — soon, young padawan, you will learn) and Elmo (such is the insidious nature of marketing that Cleo, who does not watch Sesame Street, wanted to be no one else for Halloween) have enjoyed an autumn Hayride (see eponymous album) and several Halloween parties and parades (all documented in the Halloween album). Tonight we toured the neighborhood with our pals and came inside for dinner just as the rain picked up.

Five feels pretty good to Leda, who hosted her playgroup pals for a birthday Dance Party.  Since these kids have known each other since the beginning, it’s pretty amazing to see them riding bikes, twirling around, and sharing enthusiastic hugs.  Our surprise guest of honor, Grandma Jeanette, was a great help in party preparations and made the day even more fun.  After a week of celebrating family birthdays with phone calls to Colorado and Spain, and over-indulging on cake, cupcakes, and of course Duffins with Raybird, Pat & Erica, we were all a bit relieved to have some time to catch our breath before cousin Andrew turns four!  All the party pics are in the “Leda Turns Five” album.

All summer long we’ve been hyping kindergarten: new school, new teachers, new friends!  With two parents who are forever on the academic calendar, Leda was bound to pick up that back-to-school thrill of possibility.  Though it was bittersweet to enter a classroom that, for the first time in nearly 5 years, did not contain Lucas, Megumi, or Katie B., there were 19 new friends just waiting to be met, embraced, bossed around, and coerced into dancing the roles Leda assigned them in “The Nutcracker.”  Right?

Just in case, a few ballet steps were tried out to warm up for the inevitable dance-along at kindergarten.  “Make sure you take a picture of my feet, Mommy.”  Why’s that, Leda?  “First position!  Get it, first day, first position?!”  Be patient with your aged mother, Leda.  I have only just begun to disappoint you.  I’m sure no one else’s mom got even a little choked up watching you march right in to hang up your backpack at your cubby.  Congratulations Leda!

We recently returned from a week in Colorado.  Aunt Maya and Uncle Tommy were excellent hosts, and the five cousins played together non-stop.  When we took pictures, we didn’t even have to tell them to smile.  We had lots of fun at home and out at the pool, the zoo, the science museum, various parks, and at the theater.  We even managed to see the Butterfly Pavilion with the GREAT Grandparents Stroud!  Copious documentation is provided in the Colorado 2009 album.  Thanks Crawfords for a wonderful week.  While Maya claims that we are missed, something tells me she isn’t referring to Leda and Cleo’s pre-6-am wake-up each morning