Dana Daily

While I used a picture from our trip to Sedona for our Christmas cards this year, my sister and I decided to have pictures of the kids taken for my parents this year. The last time we did this Sarah, William, and Emmy were 4, 2, and 2, I think. It was a train wreck. This time was no better. The older kids followed directions, William mostly cooperated, but Seth and definitely Anthony made it challenging. My sister and I decided that we'll wait to to this again until the older kids are well into their teens. This picture was the best of the bunch, as far as group pictures go.

Sal was a band show at Ohio University today, and I didn't want to be cooped up in the house with Seth for a second day in a row. We headed to Zoo Boo at Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium . I wasn't sure I'd be able to top last year's Mickey Mouse costume , but I found a reasonably priced Christmas Elf outfit at Toys R Us. I'm pretty sure they're actually pajamas, but they are comfortable, warm, and cute. So many boy costumes aren't cute, and I know in the very near future Seth will have his opinions about what or who he needs to be for Halloween. I'm taking advantage of being able to do what I want. It was a beautiful day, and we made our way to Seth's favorite exhibits, the flamingos, lions, elephants, giraffe, and kitty (cheetah). He's not into penguins or fish so much so we skipped the aquarium. We came away with four bite size pieces of candy and juice bottle, but at 2.5, that's all you need. Gymkhana also has a Halloween display, that i...

It was a beautiful day for a trip to the pumpkin patch. With temperatures in the high 70s, it barely felt like Fall, but you'll get no complaints from me. As we've done the last couple of years, we chose to visit  Shenot Farm . We browsed the patch and each of the kids chose a pumpkin. Sarah had been talking all day about finding a perfectly round one, and she did! We got back to the general store at the farm just as it was starting to sprinkle. Between the birthday party yesterday, and the pumpkin patch today, I am worn out. Man, this 40 thing. . .

My little pumpkin is growing up. She seems like a nine year old though so I won't say it snuck up on me, nor will I wonder where the years have gone. We invited Grandma and Pop-Pop, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Ron, Auntie Em and Uncle Joe, and Anthony and William. This may have been the best party I've ever pulled off, and I planned it all in about 24 hours. Emmy had wanted a rainbow ice cream cake from Dairy Queen, and so I ran with that theme.  At the last possible moment, we ran to Target and they had a blue tablecloth with rainbows all over it. Perfection.  I found a recipe for a layered rainbow jello dessert, and not only did it look amazing, it was delicious. I followed the directions and it came together flawlessly. I made a layered fruit salad, and we did a veggie tray as well. I tried to incorporate as many different colors into the food as I could. My mom had made the BBQ ham, and my sister brought a pumpkin spice cake, both delicious and enjoyed by all...

I'm not the best at recording every book we read to Seth, and many get read multiple times, but here's an updated list: 1. All Day Long with Jesus, by Matt Anderson 2. On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman 3. A Big Guy Took My Ball, by Mo Willems 4. Me and My Mom, by Alison Ritchie 5. Spot Goes to the Beach, by Eric Hill 6. One More Swim, by Caroline Pitcher and Jenny Jones 7. How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague 8. Oh, the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss 9. Hic-Hic-Hiccup, by Warner Brothers Looney Tunes 10. Sid the Squid, Underwater Adventures, by N/A 11. Elmo Loves You, by Sarah Albee 12. Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods that Make My Day, by Jamie Lee Curtis 13. Baby Animals, Gyo Fujikawa 14. Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown 15. George and Martha Best of Friends, by James Marshall 16. George and Martha, by James Marshall 17. Peter's Chair, by Ezra Jack Keats 18. Tell Me Again about the Night I was ...

Today I went to a baby shower for a friend I met through St. Ursula's. She is pregnant with twin boys and has two older children, daughters, who are 8 and 4. It was wonderful to get together with all of these moms and former teachers from St. Ursula. Our families may be scattered at schools all over the North Hills, but we have ties that bind.

Hydref means "Autumn" in Welsh, and the nearby Depreciation Lands Museum  hosted a fall (Hydref) festival today. We took Seth as an alternative to Franklin's Applefest. It was just the right size for a two year old. There were goats, a chicken, and a bunny for him to see. The little girl in the picture to the left, spoke to him as we were walking past and he stopped. She showed him how to grind corn into meal, although I'm sure he wondered just what the heck he was doing. The highlight for me was the 225 year old Conestoga wagon on display outside the general store. It was so easy to picture wagons such as this making the trek cross country along the Oregon Trail. If I was excited to see the wagon ruts in Wyoming before, I am even moreso now. The interpreter in the General Store made it a point to say that driving a wagon to Allegheny City, Pittsburgh's current North Side neighborhood took a full day so a trip to civilization and back was a two day adve...

Just last week we received the photo book / journal I had ordered detailing our summer trip out West. We were re-living all the fun we had and things we saw, and then the mass shooting at Mandalay Bay happened. I felt so many emotions, but mostly sadness that evil is everywhere. Like us, everyone at that concert was just enjoying their time in Las Vegas. The concert was probably just one item on an itinerary of various sites to see or experiences to enjoy. I cannot believe this is the world in which my children are growing up.

As promised, I'm back to blogging. Look at me, two days in a row. Today we went to Fort Pitt for RADical days, meaning it was free admission. This is a place I've been wanting to take Sal, and I thought it might be interesting to the girls as well. I think it grabbed Emmy's attention, maybe not Sarah's so much, although she did admit to liking the arts and crafts projects. They learned about wampum and made bracelets and necklaces with leather and plastic beads, white for peace and purple to symbolize power. These were two common colors among Native Americans. The kids decorated paper flags, and Emmy is shown with hers in front of Heinz Field at The Point. We also practiced engraving (on the far right), an art form typically seen on powder horns from early America. After touring the museum, we hung out at Point State Park on this gorgeous sunny Sunday. I'd forgotten how special this area is to the city of Pittsburgh.