MMmmmm....Cookies

On Wednesday, Megan made "some" cookies (approximately 1.21 million). When Hazel got home that evening, she calmly stated that she thought that she might like to try a taste. The pictures below show the results.

I LOVE COOKIES!!!!!

Here cookie, cookie, cookie...

We have no idea why she took her shirt off. We can only assume that it some how helps one sneak up on unsuspecting cookies. Oh, and for those who hadn't heard, Hazel is now a walker. It started about a week ago, and she is already considering turning pro.

Meeting Santa

A week ago Saturday, Glenn came into the nursery where Hazel and I were playing and told us that he had gotten a special message from Santa who said that he was going to be visiting the Indianapolis Children's Museum that night and that night only! I had to work the closing shift at the library, but Grammy Burton (who just happened to be in Indianapolis) offered to go with Glenn and Hazel. Here, at long last, is my rendition of the evening...

First, Hazel and Grammy walk around to get the lay of the land...

When Hazel gets tired, Grammy is more than happy to carry her.

Santa brings all sorts of Christmas Magic... He even made it snow inside the Children's Museum!

Hazel, Santa. Santa, Hazel.

Hazel would really rather not sit on Santa's lap...

"Hazel would like you to know that she wants a pony and a Nintendo Wii." (huh?)

They say children are like sponges. . .

. . . soaking up everything they possibly can. We now have evidence of this fascinating phenomenon.

The Set-Up:

I have been sick this past week with a nasty head-cold/sinus something or other. I have also been working very hard on finals. So what do you do when you run out of tissues and you are too busy to run to the store to get more? You use toilet paper of course.

Some fun new updates

The past week or so has been an exciting one in the McCain household.

The big news is that Grammy and Papaw Burton came to visit on Saturday and Hazel took her first unassisted steps.

She has gotten much better at balancing since then, but still isn't confident enough to take off walking on her own.

Then yesterday, I was worn out from working the closing shift at the library Sunday night until midnight, and Aunt Stephanie suggested that I introduce Hazel to Sesame Street and see if that would occupy her while I rested on the couch. What a great idea! This is a picture from this morning after breakfast.

A Halloween Recap

On Halloween Eve, Hazel reminded us that we still needed to carve a pumpkin. So, we covered the kitchen table in newspaper, handed Hazel a carving knife, and went to work.

This pumpkin is as big as me!

"Here Daddy, you can hold these seeds"

Pumpkin guts? This looks like a job for Hazel!

Well, it's no pumpkin pie, but it's still pretty tasty.

Here is our pumpkin! His name is Stan.

Last night was Halloween, which can only mean one thing: CANDY! The whole family went out and around the neighborhood (3 houses, 2 of which didn't answer their door), and collected some loot. After a few photos, we spent the rest of the night handing out candy to the beautiful princesses and ferocious beasties that stopped by our door.

Hazel explaining the evening to Stan the Pumpkin.

"And then you eat lots of candy!"

Momma, Hazel and her pumpkin basket are ready to rock!

And the little monkey is off!The monkey and the zookeeper (thanks Aunt Ann!) head to the first house on the route.

The monkey and her handler check out her loot!

Mmmm...some tasty Oreos!

After a long night of looking cute and handing out candy, Hazel put on her Halloween jammies and proceeded to not go to sleep for the next two hours. Yay candy!!!