Happy birthday, kid

After two parties (and one to come) my monkey is finally four. She's been on a whirlwind tour of the midwest, showered with gifts, cakes and a little bit of love. If we're not careful, she'll start to think that Thanksgiving vacation is all about her. (Which it is.)

So don't be an Alice, grab a piece of cake and celebrate.

Cha Cha Cha.

I think I'm in trouble

I'd been hoping she'd be the one on the court playing. But I think she's destined for the sidelines.

Going shotgun shopping today.

Grandpa and the three fairies

Yeah. That right there makes the trip worth it.
Maybe not the getting up at 4 am part ...

When Kaylee grows up

Future plans (for today) include:

Be an acrobat.*

Live in New York.

Drive a pink truck.

* Past entries include: soldier, surgeon, waitress, veterinarian, cashier and mom.

How do you spell trouble?

Guess who found Mom's lipstick?

So tired

Mommy, I'm so tired.

Why honey?

I guess I just don't sleep as good as you and daddy.

You think? Why?

My bed is uncomfortable. Like the Princess and the Pea.

Guess we're going bed shopping soon ...

Monkeys

Just another day in The Monkeyhouse.

All Souls' Procession

We forgot our good camera, so all you get is this phone pic snapped in crappy light.

Good thing the subject is so photogenic.

My family

She got the shape of my head right ...

Who knew?

Apparently my daughter is the missing bastard child of Axl Rose and Jackie O.

Look what we got

Who wants school pictures?

Happy Howl-O-Ween

We decided to try out the Tucson Zoo's Howl-O-Ween party this year. Members got in early, but unless you pre-ordered tickets the line was still several hundred people deep. Luckily one of us was smart enough to scout around and find a spot to buy tickets. That saved us about 20 minutes.

There weren't any animals out (except the tiger and elephant who apparently refused to go to sleep early) but there were plenty of pirates ...

... and wenches ...

... and unofficial recreations of Disney characters ...

... wicked queens and princesses ...

... and minions ...

... The Dune Sea Garrison of the 501st (please note that my loving wife managed to crop Princess Leia in her slave outfit from the picture) ...

... Hutts (I was very excited that Kaylee wanted her picture taken with Jabba – until I realized she thought he was a really ugly seal) ...

... and cows (I had to bribe her with a piece of candy, but watching her square dance with a dork in a cow costume was worth it).

All in all a great way to spend $12 and about an hour and a half with the cutest witch, ever.

Defenestration

Mommy, today I wanted to play with Liam, but he wouldn't play with me.

Well, sometimes people don't want to play the same things. What did you want to play?

Window.

Window? How do you play that?

Two people go up in a castle and one of them pushes the other one out of the window and they die.

Liam didn't want to be the died one.

Image: The Defenestration of Prague, 1618

I don't need to smile

This is what it looks like when you know you're cute.

It's officially October

There's a ghost on my front door and a witch in my living room.
Bring on the candy.

What do Mommies do?

Daddy. When I grow up, I'm going to be a mommy and a sister and have a baby.

OK, that sounds like a good plan.

Yes. That is what I'm going to when I grow up.

What about your other plans? Don't you want to be a brain surgeon? Or a soldier? Or a ballerina?

Daddy. Mommies can be whatever they want.

Oh, OK.

Yes. Mommies can be whatever they have in their drawers.

Oh, that's good to know. What does your mommy have in her drawers?

Ummmmm. Shirts. And bras.

Dem bones ...

Kaylee drew my skeleton at school today. And she was kind enough to give it hair.

Spooky Bones.

Mom! My bones glow!

Observations that are fun at 3 am.

I call it tree trimmings ...

... she calls it a dragon nest. I like her idea better.

The weary traveller

She's been a pain in the butt.

She didn't want to take a nap.

She didn't want to eat lunch.

She was hungry 20 minutes later.

But a quick power nap and M&Ms make it all better. Behold, the power of chocolate.