First Love

Three years ago, Isabelle fell in love with band-aids.

What began as a mild fascination with princess band-aids quickly blossomed into a full-blown obsession with adhesives of all shapes, sizes and prints--Tinkerbell, Hello Kitty, Dora, Barbie and Ariel.  Even the flesh-colored "adult" band-aids were treated like gold.

Band-aids weren't just to stop the bleeding, they were pain relief.  Band-aids brought happiness.  Band-aids were fun.

Walk through the house on any given day, and you will find band-aid wrappers strewn about... on the stairs, under the kitchen cabinets, beside the beds.

Earlier this week when I gave myself a deep cut while slicing a carrot, Isabelle flew in from the next room declaring, "I'm here! I'm here!  I will get the band-aid!"  Upstairs, downstairs in a flash.  She insisted on applying it.

Later that evening while we were reading in bed, she wanted to cover a hangnail on her middle finger.  Again, she insisted on applying the band-aid herself -- a Cinderella one that she wrapped effortlessly.

Once it was on, she stared at it.  "You know," she began.  "The problem is that when you put a band-aid on your finger, it doesn't really stay.  It slips up and falls off.  See? It's moving already!"

Pause.

"And that's why I don't like band-aids."

Band-aid magic lived.  Band-aid magic lost.

Frankenstorm

Bat girl today, Golden Rapunzel tomorrow!  And throw in a little Weather Girl.

With Frankenstorm brewing, our Weather Girl informs us, "Everyone in the world thinks it is going to rain on Halloween."  Probably right.

NOAA's Coastal Services Center chief says to expect "bodacious impacts"  - uh, really?  Bodacious?

Here's what more aptly adjective prepared experts are saying:  Hurricane Sandy could make Katrina look like a rain shower...Could be the worst storm in a century...$1 billion in damages... might flood NYC subways.  Full moon-powered high tides mean big waves turn into giant ones. It's a worst case scenario, they say.

Schools (and Principle Pictures offices) are closed for the day.  The fridge is stocked and the generator is ready-to-go.    

What do you think of the storm, Isabelle?  "I think I should dance in the rain!"  Yes.  Yes you should.

Sea Creatures

What started off as a fun exploration of the deep sea ended with Isabelle being terrified of massive jellyfish. A YouTube video we came across cut from video of the most poisonous jelly in the world to pictures of a woman nearly stung to death by one. Quite a red rash she had. A week later she is still asking where these jellies live. Today's question: "Do the big, bad jellies live in the West Pole?" To get her mind off the jellies, we're now focused on watching dolphins make and play with sea rings and discovering other unique sea creatures - like the stunning Spanish dancer sea slug! Even more than the dancing itself, Isabelle fell in love with this Tchaikovsky song Valse Sentimentale.

Family

Our family is me, and you and Mommy... and Daisy and our two dead fish.

Naked Stowe

Isabelle, Anika and Sabina are out of the hot tub and ready for fun in the yoga studio!

Isabelle turns 3 and 1/2

Today Isabelle turned 3 and 1/2! Beth was in NYC for meetings and visiting Rory, but Isabelle and I celebrated over the weekend with a trip to the bookstore, where we bought some paper dolls. Isabelle said "They are tremendous pretty! This is the best 1/2 birthday ever!"

We followed it up with a couple carousel rides at the Cape Cod Mall (one of Isabelle's favorite rides). While there, a store had a barbie doll cake, seen here





we decided to come home and make our own! It's not quite as ornate, but she had a great time decorating it, and we are not allowed to eat it!

Isabelle makes a pizza

We have taken up the old Brundage tradition of making homemade pizza! Although we cheat a little bit and buy the dough.