Dog's Day

Last week we celebrated our dear dog's eighth birthday. The girls helped me bake a bone-shaped birthday cake topped with peanut butter, and they graciously volunteered to blow out the candle for Stella. Stella, upon receiving her first birthday cake at the ripe old age of 8, needed a bit of coaxing before she believed she was actually allowed to eat this gargantuan yet delicious floor find!

The girls broke off pieces to feed Stella, but when they came in to tell me Stella was finished, they both had peanut butter smeared on their faces. I guess Stella decided to share.

Stella love!

Toddlers and Tiaras

Yesterday we went to the India Expo with real vendors of Indian clothing straight from the Mother Country. Norah has come to the conclusion after three years in Guyana that the height of glamor is all things Indian. In some ways she is right: I took her to the expo to buy her a beautiful, brightly-colored sari. This is what we came away with.

Although we live in a place where you can't just go out and buy "dress-up clothes," I think we are doing just fine.

The Latest...

So here's the latest in the fabulous time the Girls have been having in their Guyana life. They're really enjoying their yard, their school, their friends. And so much more to look forward to in these last few months! Here is the debut of the official Super Norah cape.

Ta Da!

It makes her invincible, of course. This week there was a thunderstorm so she decided it was time for the cape. It saved us all from sure destruction.

Sports Day at Learning Tree Preschool! Kata takes off!

Norah hops her heart out in the Bunny Hop race.

We hosted another Friday afternoon playgroup at our house yesterday. The way this group of old friends plays sure has changed in the last three years!

Aaahhh...a breezy Friday afternoon in the shade.

Milestones

Our girls have each met a bit of a milestone (one slightly more monumental than the other, but equally thrilling) since our return to Guyana. On the monumental side, our baby started at Learning Tree International Preschool with her big sister. She walks in proudly every morning with her backpack just like Norah, holding Norah's hand and singing the school songs that she already of course knows by heart. Her teacher says she even tries to help them change her classmates' diapers. I can just hear her thinking, "I've been telling you ladies for MONTHS that I was ready for this school thing."

On the thrilling side, we may be moving (slightly) beyond the pink, pink, pinkety pink phase. Norah has found a new alterego: Super Norah. WATCH OUT.

For all of you Facebook users, I apologize if this seems like old news. But the princess thang had gotten out of control a couple of weeks back when we were reenacting The Three Billy Goats Gruff and, instead of a billy goat, it was a fairyprincessunicorn tripping over my bridge. Super Norah, to the rescue!

The BIG Vacation: Part Three

For the final portion of our vacation, we headed South. We were meant to spend some time visiting my grandmother in Alabama. Unfortunately, the girls were not able to see her again, but I made it just in time to say good bye to her before she passed. It was a hard time for all of us, but I am so grateful that our girls knew her. Norah often puts on her Alabama t-shirt and pretends to be Nana. She would have loved that! We were able to get in some rest and relaxation, too, and enjoy some more time in the US.

The upside of a family member passing is extra time with other family members. Sometimes, these family members bring out their old middle school dance costumes. Eleanor, technically, I only promised not to put these pictures on Facebook.

We spent Labor Day morning at Tucker Branch with our fishing guide extraordinaire, my cousin David. Here is Norah's first fish!

Kata is a fisherwoman too. And if you don't want to dig a cricket out of the holder, Kata's got you covered.

Eight fish! So proud!

Norah channels Santa Claus.

The girls had fun playing with my dear Chattanooga friend's baby.

In ATL, flying back to Guyana for possibly the last time!!!!

The BIG Vacation: Part Two

After a week in Florida, we spent nearly two weeks in the Midwest. The whole Henry clan was reunited in Chicago, and then we spent a lovely week in Bluffton with Baba and Zedal. The typical scene in Chicago: lots of time spent on the front steps with the sidewalk chalk.

The weather was amazing! That Guyana flag is getting the shivers in the 70 degree temps.

Aunt Lori and her gals.

Didn't snap this one quite quickly enough...almost!

When in doubt, just dance.

The girls loved getting ready for Aunt Bridget's birthday dinner (on another gorgeous Chicago afternoon!)

Silly faces contest

Hello, Kata!

Birthday Princess taking a swing.

A perfect evening!

Pre-bedtime snuggles with Uncle Louis.

Then, we drove down to Bluffton where we started the week with a trip to the State Park. Here is the move the Henrys affectionately call "The Buffalo."

Little Miss No Fear.

Aaahhhh, summer.

The next adventure was a tour of the Spangler candy factory. All I need to tell you about this was that there were all-you-can-eat free samples.

Dum-Dums and Circus Peanuts galore!

Candy factory tour fashion.

Back in Bluffton, we enjoyed more gorgeous, cool end-of-summer weather and lots of neighborhood bike rides (in full royal regalia, of course).

Traffic jam on Willowbrook Trail!

Cool grass and a princess dress = bliss.

Liming, Indiana style.

Zedal loves to give his girls powdered donuts. And the girls are happy with that arrangement.

At the Ft. Wayne Zoo-- feeding the giraffes was a big hit again, just like last year!

Tortoise climbing.

Kata in the doghouse. How appropriate.