Thursday, December 6, 2012

Video Catch-up

Lots of pictures to sort through, but in the meantime, VIDEOS!

Harper gives Baby Goldfish a bath.


Harper plays with Aunt Lisa's bowling monsters.  They are NICE GUYS.  NOT SCARY.


Daddy was away last week, so Luke made some videos for him.  Including this one.


Luke has invented his own version of Yahtzee.  There were three and you're out, but four and you're back in rules?  And the chance for a "new game."  It reminded Mama of the Bugs Bunny where he is counting out the sausages - "one for you, one for me; two for you, one-two for me..."


And Harper mastered the scooter!


And another video for traveling Daddy - shaka laka boom!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Sandy - Before, During, and After

First of all, we made it through Sandy safe, sound, and feeling very lucky that our worst was not having power for 2 1/2 days.  Power came back last night and life is slowly going back to normal up here.  Our thoughts are with everyone in Hoboken - our old neighborhood flooded, the hospital where Harper was born was evacuated, and friends are still without power.



With Sandy's arrival looming over us, we knew we had to make the most of Saturday and Sunday.  We spent Saturday morning at the Central Park Zoo.  Harper could not wait to see the sea lions and "the penguins pooping."  (don't ask, it's Mama's fault)
And Aunt Lisa joined us!  And her nephew, Jacob!  [here they are, seeking pooping penguins]

Harper & Jacob: future prom dates!  
A sort of decent picture of the Caseys
Awwww

Saturday afternoon was spent at a Halloween party at the home of one of Luke's best friends at school.  They do it up!  That's Harper-as-Elmo in the "wittle carrrr" and Daddy, having a great time.

Mama was Hurricane Sandy (we had less than 24 hours notice for this party - a friend's quick thinking saved the day with this costume idea).  After the party  Luke told Mama "there were lots of good costumes at the party, but YOU were the only scary one.  That's good."

Luke and Gavin, so happy together

Harper enjoyed the vampire teeth whistle on the way to swim class the next day

And then.  And then the storm was upon us.  No school or work on Monday and Harper refused to do anything until she had her morning coffee.

We enjoyed electricity all day Monday, up until 11:30pm.  The kids had fun in their "tent," "clubhouse," and/or "dungeon," depending on when you asked.  We all enjoyed a post-nap tea party (the good kind of tea party, that is).  Stuffed animals were invited!

Harper, covered in cookie & hot chocolate, yelling "TEA PARTY!"

We also enjoyed lots of this. "I so cozy!"

The little mummies woke up to no electricity on Tuesday and were given flashlights

And when the rain & wind died down, we all went outside for a walk around the neighborhood

And jumped in puddles

Fun was had with Daddy's Halloween prop




As bedtime got closer, Luke got a little worried about the dark.  Here Harper is trying to cheer him up - look at him trying not to smile. "Don't be scared, Wukey, safe and sound."

But finally!  Power was back on - just in time for trick or treating.  We scoped out one of the few trick or treat friendly neighborhoods with power and headed over.  Harper was VERY excited, as Luke had been building up trick or treating for weeks.  She spent a lot of the ride over yelling "YAYYYY YAYYYY, TICK OR TREATIN'!"
 They were both so excited.

 Luke is making "a scary face" here
 And Harper is, too, here, but she kept bending over while growling for some reason


Batman!


Inventorying the loot.  Luke had 30 pieces.  He ate one.  He will be checking when he gets home from school today.

Savoring his one piece last night before bubbles & bed.

Harper's first Tootsie Roll...

...ended like this




Thursday, October 25, 2012

Team Lisa Races Again!

Team Lisa blazed a trail at the Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure last month - the team's 7th year, and Luke and Mommy's fifth!  The race might have been last month, but it's not too late to donate!  Donations are accepted until October 31st, and this year more than ever, every single dollar counts!  Donations are down considerably in 2012, and vital grants are in jeopardy of going unfunded in 2013 - leaving women in need without services, care, or support, as well as jeopardizing research funds.  If you haven't given yet, please consider sending some money Team Lisa's way.

It's easy!  Just visit www.komennyc.org/goto/paigeandluke2012 and click on the DONATE NOW button on the right hand side of the page.  Your donation is tax deductible and will help women in need receive services and support they may not otherwise get.  Please help Team Lisa!

 Team Lisa: 2012 Edition

Luke and Mommy got an early start with an 8:00 train into Grand Central.  Luke was so excited to ride the train into the city, just like Mommy & Daddy do!  
  
No, really, he was excited.  I promise.  He also brought his pirate compass, just to be safe.

For the first year ever, Luke didn't ride in the stroller - he was scooting for the Cure!  Mommy was impressed with how well he did staying close and listening to instructions in the big crowd of racers.  (For the most part, anyway)

He was the master of all he surveyed.  And hoo boy, ladies love Luke in a frog backpack - one lady even took his picture while he was on the move!

 He was so excited to finish "Aunt Lisa's Race"!

He scooted like a champ, and did a great job holding it together on a very long day in the city that included the round trip train ride, taxis, the 5k race, amazing brunch at Ocean Grill, and a trip across Central Park to check out the steps of the Met (as featured in a library favorite, You Can't Take A Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum).

Celebratory ice cream for Luke!  He had his mind on a Sponge Bob pop from the get-go, and boy did he earn it!

A great picture of Luke and Auntie Lisa...not so great of Mommy.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

It's Autumn, Harper

Both kids have been learning about "Autumn" in school with all sorts of fun activities - leaf collecting, apple snacks, leaf rubbings, apple crumble, etc.  Luke, as is his wont, is now An Authority and loves to lecture us on fall facts.  We've also been having fun playing outside in the magical weeks when it's not too hot and perfect for running around and riding bikes.

PA Local 9 Represent!
You know it!
(the Local 9 gets A LOT of promotion from these 2 around here)

One blip was the crime scene that broke out on our driveway...
CSI: Ossining

Harper was wary of the monkey jams Aunt Tanya bought her at first, but once she realized the top was "like a coat!" she was sold.  She even tried to wear them to school the other day

Picture day ensemble!  Dress courtesy of Uncle Lenny.

GO U BEARS!  (She slept in this hat the night before and spent all of bathtime & bedtime preptime telling Daddy "I wear my hat TO-MORROW!")

Harper takes all new favored-nation items to bed with her.  On this night, her jingly-belly Pooh from Aunt Slater made the cut, along with Luke's Toy Story book (or, per Harper, "YeeHaw Cowboy"), Snow, ABCs, and "A Mother for Choco" - a book she finds at once vaguely unsettling and compelling)

The kids both need to bring little pumpkins to school this week.  Harper, of course, had to take hers to bed.  "Harper's little punkin.  NOT LUKEY'S."

"Mama, do you know one of the fun things about autumn?  
You can make a big pile of leaves and jump into them!"  
Daddy wisely convinced Luke to move the leaves to the grass vs. the driveway. A project was undertaken!  Safety vests were donned!  (the best $6 we ever gave Ikea)


Harper tried on her new winter boots, courtesy of the Genna Sime collection.  They're big on her, but she so doesn't care.
And she pitched in to help!
Why yes, she is taking a break on the travel high chair.  In the driveway.
We're klassy.



Making "leaf angels"
Harper was finally given a turn

While they were playing he was saying "IT'S AUTUMN, HARPER!"
They had so much fun together - and fell asleep toot sweet that night

That evening they continued their peaceful co-existence with a "game" of dominos 


They lined them up 
"HARPER MAKING A LINE!"

We lined them up "like soldiers"
And sundry other ways

Happy fall everyone!  Stay tuned for Halloween pictures and the cutest Batman and Elmo you'll ever see!