Off to Hillsboro Village to See Robin Hood

Lately I have been trying to find ways to add some theater to the girls' lives without bankrupting us.  Today we went to see a production of Robin Hood at the Belcourt Theater in Hillsboro Village.  At $6 per ticket, we really couldn't go wrong.  This production was put on by the Olde Worlde Theatre Company and was perfect for children yet still very entertaining for parents as well.  The girls loved how you can buy popcorn at the Belcourt to munch on all through the show.  I always now bring my booster seat for Noelle so that she can easily see and but also so she is restricted from climbing on stage and hugging anyone who appears princess-like.  The girls seemed to really enjoy the show.  There was some audience participation which added interest and there was even a scene with black lights and glowing arrows flying through the air.
   After these shows, Natalie and Noelle now expect that they will be able to visit with some cast members.  Today they got to talk to Robin Hood, their favorite, and also to the bad guy, the Sheriff of Nottingham.  He is the guy with the funky wig in the photo.  Natalie wanted her picture with him but Noelle was still uncertain since minutes earlier, his character had tried to kill Robin Hood and steal away Maid Marian.
   Afterwards we played around at Fannie May Dees Park which is one of the best parks in Nashville.  They have this old vintage sea dragon which is great fun to climb on, in addition to several other playground structures.  Lots of families were out at the park enjoying the sunshine.  I was reminded about how much I enjoy Hillsboro Village and that area of town.  The restaurants and shops are unique and generally artsy (my favorite)  and with Vanderbilt right there, you get that nice college-town feeling.  I now have plans for future trips to explore this area further.  

  

Squirrel Day at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center

Today we decided to leave our comfort zone and drive to downtown Nashville in order to check out Shelby Bottoms Nature Center.  We have had such wonderful experiences at Warner Park that we thought we would see what another Metro Park had to offer.  We were not disappointed.
    Today was Squirrel Day at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center.  Ms. Denise Weyer filled the children's heads with fun squirrel facts and habits.  There were puppets, a squirrel food hunt, a craft time, and a chance to try some of the squirrel's favorites foods (fruits and nuts).  Both Natalie and Noelle were very interested in the program.  Natalie was very focused during the squirrel discussion period and Noelle was ecstatic about the food hunt; her little hands overfilling with acorns.  We had a wonderful morning and learned a thing or two as well.  I will look forward to our next visit to Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and I am sure the girls will too!

The Interview Part 2

For your viewing pleasure, I give you The Interview Part 2.  I gave this same interview to Natalie in March of last year.  I was interested in seeing how the answers differed and decided I might as well try Noelle out too for laughs.  Here are the results:

Natalie, Age 4 and 2 months

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?
When I give you hugs.

3. What makes mom sad?
When I run away from you when you're trying to give me hugs.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickling

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I think you were like in Dumbo the theater.  (I had told her about how I was in the play Dumbo as a child.)

6. How old is your mom?
33

7. How tall is your mom?
A little bit this tall (holds hands up).

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Cuddle with me.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Run and find me.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Maybe dancing.

11. What is your mom really good at?
You are really good at running.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
You are not very good at making birthday hats.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Your job is to stay home with me and Noelle.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
green beans

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
By doing things I've never seen you do before.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
If you were in the Hungry Caterpillar cartoon, you would be the Hungry Caterpillar.  (Obviously due to my immense appetite??)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We dance together sometimes when the fancy music is on.

18. How are you and your mom alike?
We both like ghosts.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You have bigger teeth.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you tell me a lot.


Noelle, age 2.5


1. What is something mom always says to you?
Monkey says all the time.  I like movies and Snow White.

2. What makes mom happy?
A princess on the dancing floor and Belle.

3. What makes mom sad?
(demonstrates head butting Momma in the face)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
(Noelle just giggles)

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Do monkey games.

6. How old is your mom?
Three and a half

7. How tall is your mom?
Bigger than Dada, and Natalie, and Noelle.  I'm 2!

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
monkey toys

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Play with the toys.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
For monkey play

11. What is your mom really good at?
monkey dirt

12. What is your mom not very good at?
monkey dirt

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Play with the toys.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
yogurt

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
monkey dirt

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
a movie

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Sleeping Beauty

18. How are you and your mom alike?
Like Snow White

19. How are you and your mom different?
Sleeping Beauty


20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I'm Snow White.


And there you have it.  I am sure you can find obvious themes in Noelle's interview having to do with all her favorites.  

A California Christmas

Well the holidays are now over.  Our family flew to California to visit my parents, my brother's family, and lots of friends.  Here are some photos from our wonderful trip.  Many thanks to Mom, Dad, Renee,  Gordon, Dot, and Pete for making us feel so welcome.  We also loved seeing all our other friends that we got the chance to visit this time.  Happy New Year to everyone!

Playing in the Snow at Lake Arrowhead

The Girls' First Trip to DisneyLand (Thanks to Mimi and Poppa!)

The Family Christmas Pictures

The Cautionary Tale of a Gingerbread Town

It was a day like all the others before it in Gingerbread Town. The gumdrops glistened in the sunshine, the candycanes sparkled, and the icing held firm and beautiful.

Everything was delectably perfect.. that was, until IT came.   At first, IT appeared friendly and although the townsfolk had never seen the likes of IT, they thought they may make a new friend.

Then the screaming began and the town burst into a firey panic as the townsfolk realized IT's true reason for visiting.

When it appeared that nothing could be worse, a new development sprang up and wreaked absolute havoc. 
 

The townsfolk cried and prayed in fear as the two monsters made comments such as "yum yum" and "Ooh, I like this candy."  This destruction made the tornado of 1993 seem like a day in the park in comparison. 

The two monsters let loose a hunger on the town that was never matched before.  They ate the roofs like they were mere cookies and sucked down the chimneys like candy.

When the monsters finally rushed off with tall milks in their giant hands, the damage was catastrophic.  The whole shaken town gathered together to re-organize and heal.  They decided their new tactic..  From hence forward, acceptable town building materials would include lima beans, brussels sprouts, and jalapeno peppers. 

Brunch With Santa and Great Friends

We felt so lucky to be invited to a brunch with Santa today with our dear friends, Jennifer, her cute kiddos, and her thoughtful parents. We all feasted and then got to meet and chat with Santa. The girls also had the opportunity to stuff and take home little stockings and grab a balloon creation on the way out. Jennifer is one of my oldest friends whom I actually grew up with in Southern California. Funny that we reconnected later in life in Nashville and that Natalie and Noelle are each only a few months apart from her two boys. After the brunch, we went to Jennifer's parents' beautiful home and the kids all decorated their own gingerbread house. What a perfect day!

Gingerbread House Decorating

Yesterday, we were given the great opportunity to participate in Cheekwood's gingerbread house decorating event.  Thanks to her very generous and thoughtful cousin Lindsey, Noelle received the event as a Christmas gift this year and it may just be Noelle's best Christmas gift too!  After we arrived, these beautifully boxed gingerbread houses were brought out and we quickly dove into decorating.  Natalie had so much fun deciding what candies go where on the roof and walls along with Momma.  Noelle and Dada were the landscapers around the house although Noelle may have eaten more candies than she actually placed!  Instead of eating the house after we were done (Natalie's first idea), the girls split the door and ate that.  Yum!  It was a very special treat for everyone and  I loved how it was all the fun parts of gingerbread houses with none of the work (getting those silly walls to stay up with the roof in place like I struggled with last year)!  Thanks again to the whole Weis family in New York for your sweet gift (pun intended!)  The house will now make for a beautiful decoration in our home this year. 

The Mini Nutcracker

Chris and I took the girls to the Mini Nutcracker tonight.  This is the regular production of The Nutcracker but people can bring their young children and not feel ostracized.  It was at Harpeth Hall School which is an elite private school in Nashville.  What an amazing time!  This will definitely have to become an annual tradition for us.  Natalie had seen the Nutcracker show in Los Angeles for the first time last year and has loved it ever since.  This was Noelle's first production.  Every time a new dancer came out, Noelle exclaimed "this is my favorite part too!"  At the end, she said "I want to see it again!"  Very cute.  We got mice cookies at intermission and afterwards, Natalie got her picture with Clara and with some mice.  Chris and I both were amazed at the quality of the dancing and the production.  They only charge $6 per adult and $4 per child.  What a tremendous opportunity to expose our girls to the arts! 

Family Radnor Lake Trip

Another beautiful day at Radnor Lake with the family. The girls walked around the whole lake. We saw some deer galloping in a large group over the trail and leaping over fallen trees.

                                           

Even More Monsters...

So I couldn't resist.. Here are some more Natalie-Monsters. She did all of these and way more on our plane flight last weekend.

                                           

Regarding this last one, Natalie said that the big cat looks nice but he is actually mean and that is why the little cat is sad.  That big cat does look a bit evil!