A Green TuTu For Frances

Frances' third birthday is this coming Saturday. On Tuesday morning she received her first gift -it was from her BFF in Oregon and was she ever excited to receive a package in the mail. Maybe we should have known better than to open it BEFORE we left for the grocery store - because Frances insisted on wearing her brand new green TuTu! She was so concerned about crushing it, she would not wear it in the car seat but traveled in her underwear. At the store the usually shy Frances (there is something about being in costume) pirouetted for everyone who complimented her. It was really a lot of fun.

And oh yes - she would have nothing to do with the headband...but it looks great on me!!

The LeGallo's go Boston...er the greater Boston area

And here we are looking for an apartment while at Frank's mom's house. All is well and I am thankful for the slooooow dial up connection. Warning: Do not consume potato chips with dial up Internet service.
I got very sad and teary an hour before landing in the Boston airport and also this past Friday. I miss Oregon. I miss my friends and family!
But no worries- I will be replacing you all with Steak and cheese subs. I will have one for each of you- in fact I am almost there. Seriously- how can Oregon have missed this meaty goodness?Then I will be rejoining the old WW. (Groucho- I will have a cannoli for your family.)
So if you want updates...Frances photos....Massachusetts photos....
then you must leave a comment! I need communication folks. I am allllllllllllllllll alone.

Go Night-Night Papa

Frances has discovered a new game - she wants papa to pretend to go to sleep (in her bed) so she can startle him awake with a loud noise. Her Noisemaker? A metal Curious George teapot filled with coins! She can be very specific in her instructions. She wants papa to lay down, on my back. with my toes pointing up! I hardly fit in her bed so she has agreed to let me sleep on my side - unable to find the words she lies down herself - "like this papa!". Then she makes sure I am comfortable with blanket and pillow and everything is quiet. I can hear her studiously filling the teapot with coins and then - CLANG CLANG CLANG!!. And then papa sits up startled awake - over and over and over again. That's my girl!

Bubblicious

long overdue update!

Frances is growing and learning. At 2.5 she is both fun and exhausting. She is really talking now, in full sentences, making jokes and I can't keep track of the new things she says. She will rub my face and look in my eyes and tell me, "I love you mama". She called frank a 'ketchup face' at dinner time. Someone suggested pizza for lunch and then Frank or I said, "me too", Frances then said "me too" and a second later yelled, "me three!" and cracked her self up!
She has been going to gym class with Frank every week and is doing really well. She still loves Curious George, but barbie movies are fast becoming a new favorite. She changes her dress multiple times throughout and sings and dances along with the characters. Her voice raises, arms go up, head back and eyelids closed as she belts out the lines. Hilarious.
We have been very busy with a two week visit from my Sister and her two kids. Frances loved having big kids to play with. Towards the end half of us were miserable with colds, so we did not have as much fun as we had hoped. Though we still made it to the beach!

Below: Me and my crazy sister Heather making a Frances sandwich.
Below: Frances, Destiny, and Patrick

Below: Destiny and Frances ready to shop!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to everyone. We did not send out cards this year...so I will wish you all the best right here!
Christmas this year was so quiet and different. We were snowed in and could not make it out for our big family dinner on Christmas Eve. So the three of us snuggled in and enjoyed a quiet Christmas. Frances really got into the presents this year. I love the look on her face when she opens a gift. It took all morning to open presents because she wanted to play with each one before moving on to the next. It was a lot of fun. Our living room looks like a ransacked toy store.

Thanks Aunt Patty for the dollhouse! In another year or so she might be able to access the third floor without a footstool. She loves it...and if you look at the closeup above you can see that Curious George is enjoying his mansion. We might purchase some dolls...but I don't think George will be moving out anytime soon as he is at the top of the toy pecking order. Hmm I wonder if 'The man with the yellow hat' comes in an 8-11inch doll?

Looking Pretty with her stolen flower in her hair. I had to move my flowering bulbs a little bit higher...

Very pleased with her fancy dress from Nana. She cried when she had to take it off but perked up when I suggested that her princess PJ's might be more comfortable. Thanks Nana! It is a beautiful dress.

Rocking her 'bear' boots and new pink hat and mittens also from Nana! These Mittens were worn to bed at least once.

Crazy excited to receive another package in the mail...so excited that she could not bother herself with clothes after her bath.

SNOW!

We have been snowed in and Frank and Frances have been playing out in the snow. She was very excited to show me a snow ball that she made and refused to leave it outside...so there it sits in the freezer!