Halloween!

Halloween was a big hit this year.  For the first time, Bethany sort of "got it," and was excited to put on a costume and go trick or treating.  Our neighborhood in general is a little nuts at Halloween - we're sort of a destination for folks from all over - but our street is pretty calm.  We decided to just visit a few houses, since it was frigid and we didn't really want a bag full of candy.

Here are the girls eating the traditional macaroni and cheese/hot dog pre-trick or treating dinner. 

Bethany has had enough pictures, obviously.

Costumes were a major issue.  For most of October, Bethany vacillated between being a penguin and a witch.  We had settled on witch, but the week of Halloween, the temperature dropped like crazy.  We actually had to turn on the heat, which is unheard of in Georgia in October.  The witch costume was not very warm at all.  Fortunately, our friends had loaned us the super-warm lion suit last year for our dress-up box.  Bethany loves it, and it wasn't tricky to convince her that she would be warmer and happier as a lion than as a witch.  (And of COURSE lions have purple feet.  Duh.)

Granny found Clara's ladybug costume on clearance, and we just added a turtleneck and leggings.  They both were pretty happy to be dressed up.

We visited about 6 or 7 houses, and Bethany did a great job of saying, "trick or treat," and then, "thank you."  Several people insisted on giving her a handful of candy, which I could have skipped, but she was polite and appreciative, so that was a relief.  When we got home, I taxed her candy, as per Blascovich tradition, and Lindsey was horrified.  :)   Clara did not actively trick or treat, and we did manage to convince the few people who tried to give her candy that she wasn't ready for it yet. 

Clara turns one!

 

Clara turned one on October 15th.  It's pretty hard to believe.  She started walking at 10.5 months, and hasn't looked back.  She's a lot more adventurous than Bethany was at one, so our lives are a lot more exciting. :) Here she is on the actual birthday, tearing into her presents from my Aunt Paula & Uncle David in Indiana.

She was very good at tearing the paper.  This was not surprising, as destruction is one of her spiritual gifts.

We celebrated Miss Clara's first birthday with family and friends here at our house the Saturday after her birthday.  She had a blast, and really enjoyed seeing everyone.  Through some genetic craziness I hadn't fully considered beforehand, it turns out our friends have a LOT of 5-7 year old boys, so I ended up sending everyone outside to play.  :)

We ate pizza, and then the birthday girl blew out her candle in a dish of ice cream.  Clara doesn't really like cake (horrors!) (how is she my child?), so we had make-your-own ice cream sundaes instead.  These were, not surprisingly, a hit with the aforementioned 5-7 year old boys.

As usual, my camera died halfway through the party, so I'll add more pictures when I get them from a friend who jumped in and saved the day!

Clara at one:

*Favorite book:  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  She will actually pitch a fit if she doesn't get this before bed, and can sing the first two pages in her own special language.
*Favorite food:  pasta  (no surprises there)
*Favorite game:  trying to run as fast as Bethany

Unlike Bethany, Clara loves milk in a cup, and will actually ask for it.  She also loves to play outside, and will walk to the front door and point to it when she wants to go out.  When she wants to do something someone else is doing (especially if it involves climbing or eating), she points to herself quite emphatically and says "eee, eee!" 

She is happiest when Bethany is with her, and also loves when Daddy comes home after work.  She runs and jumps into his arms, which is pretty great to see.  She loves to meet people and wave at them, and will even occasionally let non-family members hold her.  She's definitely got opinions of her own, but overall she is very sweet and loving.