A few tricks, lots of treats

Caroline and Charlotte went though our neighborhood on Halloween, dressed as Silvermist and Tinker Bell, respectively.  (Silvermist is one of Tink's friends in the recent movie.  If you have to ask, you're not a fan.)

Now, the first house we went to belongs to a woman that we know that is really fun and nice.  I should have known that the 'fun' part would be more prevalent than the 'nice' part on Halloween, because she opened the door in full witch regailia and make up.  So here we are, Silvermist and Tinker Bell, all cute and innocent - and I guide them to the Wicked Witch's house first.  Great job, super dad.

They recovered quickly and started to have a great time.  It started to get dark and even with lots of bigger kids running around they did really well, holding hands from house to house.

Then we got to a house where the owner had a full graveyard and fog machine in the front yard.  Should have been a warning sign, right?  All I could think about was how intensely this house is decorated for Christmas each year, and because of that I always assumed it was a nice old man and his wife inside.

Apparently the werewolf that opened the door growling, also ate the nice old man and woman inside that I'd made up in my head.  Way to go, Super Dad.  To this date, Caroline points at that house and says, "I don't want to go to that house."

But they recovered and we shot a cute picture in the graveyard before we went home to munch on candy and talk about Caroline the Fish.

Halloween and the end of Caroline the Fish

During Halloween, we pretend things are dead, or even reborn as Zombies. We seem to celebrate the dark corners of our imagination and it is all pretend.

But sometimes, things get real. A few weeks back, Caroline won a goldfish at the fair. Caroline named the fish “Caroline”.

Two weeks ago, The Mommy found Caroline the Fish somehow in the floor, a tragic end to what must have been a brief but triumphant exploration that scientists around the world would have studied. We quickly replaced Caroline the Fish with Caroline the Fish II before Caroline the human found out.

Tonight, Caroline the Fish II did not survive All Hallows Eve. I found her floating in the bowl before we went trick-or-treating and quickly stashed it away. After a good night getting some candy and being cute in a costume, I decided to help Caroline face the reality that Caroline the Fish was gone and figured it was time to talk about heaven. She did really well, considering she’s not yet three.

Dad: Caroline, I want to talk to you about something. Caroline the Fish has gone to heaven and she is not going to come back.

Caroline: (eating candy)

Dad: See, she died, and she is going to go live with Jesus in heaven.

Caroline: (looking up, still eating candy)

Dad: Do you understand? We can be sad about it, but Caroline the Fish gets to go live with Jesus in heaven.

Caroline: Caroline the Fish is at Kevin’s house and we will go and get her.

Dad: No honey, she is gone, she died. When things die they go to heaven and they can’t come back.

Caroline: (silence)

Dad: Do you want me to help say good bye to her and flush her down the toilet?

Caroline: (softly) Ok. (louder) We’re going to flush Caroline the Fish down the toilet to Jesus.

Dad: Yes, can you help me?

Caroline: Sure. And we will get a new fish.

Dad: Okay.

[now in bathroom with Caroline the Fish placed in the toilet]

Caroline: Can I flush?

Dad: Not yet, can you pray with me? Hold my hands and close your eyes.

(With us holding both hands and looking down) Dear God, thank you for Caroline the Fish, please take good care of her and thank you for letting us spend time with her. Amen.

Caroline: Can I flush?!?

Dad: Yes. Bye, Caroline the Fish

Caroline: Bye, Caroline the Fish-

[Caroline the Fish spins out of sight]

Backyard Engineering

Last weekend, Poppy bought Caroline's birthday present early, a new swing set.  After all, a swing set in November isn't as good as one in the summer.

This weekend, I began to put it together.

I was warned.  Read, really read the instructions.  Make sure you're using the right bolt.



Turned out to be good advice.  Among the 6 types of bolts and all told there were about 30 of them, they were all very similar in length, and just enough for each specialized place you had to use them.  The directions had 64 steps, and twice, I was instructed to repeat several steps. 

Working at it off and on all day, I'd say it took about 4 hours.  It wasn't hard labor, but more thinking than my typical chores require.  And it was hot.  But every second was worth it.

The Mommy brought Caroline outside as I was moving tools back into the shed.  She ran over to me yelling, "Daddy, daddy, thank you for building my swing set! It's perfect!" and threw herself at me, hugging my legs.

I'll never forget it, and I don't care that I cried a little.



A Meeting Born From a Meeting

Longtime FCC (Friends of Caroline's Corner) member Jackie (co-worker of mine) had to come to Atlanta for a meeting recently and we used it as a chance for a better meeting, the first-ever between her and Caroline. 

As a bonus, we all used Face Time on Jackie's iPhone to chat with FCC co-leader Meghan as well.  It was a good day and as you can see, Caroline was feeling the love.  Thanks to all of you who suppoort us and Caroline!

And the results are in....

This wagon is amazing. Not only did it have roughly 78 parts and screws, check out the list of amenities:

- cup holders
- seat belts
- drain plugs
- an umbrella
- converts to a bench
- and a cooler that attaches to the back.

My wagon was metal and had 4 wheels. Ten bucks says Caroline's kid's wagon will have surround sound.

Hopefully

If all goes according to plan, this will be a wagon in 2 hours.

Beach Time, part one

We have TONS of awesome pictures from being at the beach last week, but here's one of my favorites.  I'll be posting more over the next several days.  Caroline was scared of the waves for about two days, then we had to hold her back from trying to swim to France.  Oh, and the sandcastles and the beach toys like the water gun below?  A major hit.

New 'do

Dug this photo out of my phone of Caroline's first pony tail in her hair.  She was excited, if you could see her face...

A Day Out with Thomas

This past Saturday, we took Caroline, who is a BIG fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, as Thomas was making a visit and taking kids for a 20 minute ride.

First off though were some side attractions and Caroline got a temporary tattoo of Thomas, from a lady named Caroline actually.

 This photo below was taken shortly after Thomas arrived for the first time while we were there.  She was captivated.

 The Mommy, Caroline and Thomas the Tank Engine:

The museum had several other engines.  Here you see Caroline considering a career as chair of the US Deaprtment of Transportation.

On the train ride, Caroline was named a Jr. Engineer and is qualified to ride Thomas any time she chooses.  Regretfully for me and The Mommy, she wants to do this every day, which is not logistically possible.

We all belong in the zoo

On a warm day in late Febrary, we escaped our hibernation for a trip to the Atlanta Zoo, of which we now are 'members' so Caroline can go anytime she wants, or rather, any time we drive her there.

We went with her cousin too and of course, got cute photos along the way.  Here they are posing on a giraffe statue.  The real ones are behind them.

The hippos were not giving into their demands to "Come here, hippo!"  (And the hippos could not get that close anyway, otherwise all arms and legs would have been far away from that fence)

A lot of the day Caroline was very thoughtful, you coudl see her absorbing all the new info in her eyes.

The gorillas were really cool and we saw this mother giving her baby a ride

What a bunch of animals:





Collegiate Caroline

This weekend we all went to Chapel Hill to visit Melissa's friend from college and her daughter. This is the four of them at UNC's landmark water fountain. As a Wake Forest grad it pains me to have this photo before one of Caroline on the quad at Wake, but I would never deny the chance to expose her to higher educaion!

 

Rock Star

She's a 'sweet child of mine'...

Sunny Saturday

On Saturday morning/afternoon, before the hibachi experience in the prior post, we went to hang out with Caroline's cousin Charlotte at the park.  It was cold, but not windy at all -- so in the sun it felt rather warm.  Funny how in the fall we would have have stayed inside saying it is too cold, but now, a 40 degree day seems like a break.  Caroline was really enjoying the slides and climbing on the playground.  She's very determined to do things herself lately.

After the park we went to have pizza at Galla's.  It is apparently always crowded, and I get why.  Freakin' great food.  Go there.  Just apprently not on a Friday or Saturday night.

Hibachi time!

Caroline and her friend Ryan are about to experience the chaos, excitement, beauty and flavor of a hibachi grill. Caroline is apprehensive. Update to follow.

UPDATE:
Good or bad, we had a tame chef.  Maybe he didn't do some cool things on purpose because there were kids at the table (lighting a mass of oil on fire, spinning utensils, etc.) but he did make an onion volcano and was generally entertaining for the kids.  When you go to a hibachi grill at 5:30, you're probably not getting the A-team.

I was worried Caroline would get scared.  After all, I think Santa Claus would seem more welcoming than a guy with knives and a steaming hibachi grill -- and she was scared of Santa.  But once food started to appear on plates, she focused on eating and was prety chill.  As you should be on a Saturday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Caroline!  Hope you find whatever you seek in 2011!

(Caroline is cheering the 'Noles at the Chick-fil-a Bowl tonight!)

UPDATE:

Here are some pictures from before the game, as The Mommy clearly felt the cheerleading outfit wasn't enough...

Caroline, meet Santa. Santa, meet Caroline.

This past weekend, Caroline made her first official trip to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas.  It doesn't look like the conversation was a long one, but thankfully, Father Ween and The Mommy are able to fill in any gaps for the big guy's list this year.

It was a party!

The birthday celebration/weekend/festival has come and gone. Father Ween and The Mommy have almost recuperated, and Caroline is now acutely aware that things covered in bright paper are most always very exciting toys and probably believes they are always for her.  It was a great party.  Not only did the food and drink turn out to be the right amount, and it didn't rain, but we were excited to have so many family and friends celebrate with us.

I didn't get to take too many pictures during the party, but below check out Caroline's new playhouse in the backyard.

And as mentioned above, Caroline definitely 'gets' presents now.  The photo below is when she really started to get excited plus she had just unwrapped her new basketball goal for the backyard (for which Father Ween really needs to buy some sand to weigh down the base so we can use it.) 

We can't say enough how thankful we are for so many people that are a postive effect on Caroline (and sometimes support for us!)  With all our heart(s), thank you-

Waffles on the Mothership

This morning, Caroline's and my morning routine needed a little something new.  Breakfast is just what it is and milk and/or juice can only be so interesting.

Enter the funk.

I took my phone and  played a little Parliament ("Give Up The Funk") and you should know that this girl can dance. 

I couldn't get a video, because my phone wouldn't play the music and record at the same time, but I couldn't be more proud that my DNA for getting down will live on.

Candy swiper

Caroline and her cousin Charlotte hit up quite a few houses last night and got lots of candy. Costume photos will follow, but you have to be impressed with this haul!

UPDATED: Here's a picture of Caroline in her bumblebee costume.  She didn't like the hood/antenne, but got used to the rest...

Fall in Tennessee

This weekend Caroline, the Mommy and I went to visit my family in Chattanooga: Grumps, Grams, Stacey, Robbie, Addie and baby Emery.  On Saturday, we went to The Cookie Jar for lunch, which is part of an active farm in Dunlap, Tenn, in the quite beautiful Sequatchie Valley area.

Caroline was on the verge of getting sick (more on that later) but still so cute that she was able to be in some pictures.  Above is her and her cousin Addie. Also, on Friday night, Caroline went to her first high school football game, dressed as a cheerleader.  Below is a picture of her and Grams, and another with family friend Lydia, who offered to be Caroline's cheer-mentor.