My Little Snow Angel

Anju was giddy with excitement to get outside and enjoy our new snow. Since it was a mild day (upper 20's), I let her play around in the front yard while I watched from the front steps. She had a ball making snow angels, even though she sank pretty far into the snow and couldn't move much. She found our kid-sized snow shovel and did some shoveling for me. Maybe next time she'll even shovel somewhere near the sidewalk! She'll have plenty of opportunity for practice, as we're currently getting more snow, supposedly 8" or so.

Gotcha Day 2010

November 20th marked 2 years that Anju has been home with us in the USA. November reminds us so much of India and of those first moments spent with her, both abroad and at home. The two worlds mesh so well for us this month: the beginning of winter weather makes the intricate and comforting spicy curries so much more enjoyable and the Thanksgiving holiday falling so close to her Gotcha day causes us to reflect much on all the blessings she has brought to our family.

Anju's first smile for us at the airport in Amsterdam on November 20th (local time).

It was worth the wait.

Anju enjoys Dutch Apple Pie (which in the Netherlands is just apple pie) and a sausage roll

while waiting for our next flight in Amsterdam.

She did a good job of balancing herself on the bench while eating-

at this time she could not even stand by herself.

Anju with her ice cream pizza this year.

Pumpkin Huntin'

Last year, because of travel and weather, we never made it for our annual pumpkin patch trip. So, Anju had never had her own pumpkin before. This year, we found a local farm, and brought the kids to pick pumpkins. It was during an incredibly windy and cold spell--can you tell?

Anju picked the smallest pumpkin she could find. The thing was tiny in comparison to the huge pumpkins the other kids picked out--but she was just giddy about her "baby" pumpkin.

Anju dug right in like the older kids, enjoying the goo between her fingers once she saw that Solveig thought it was fun.

Anju carefully drew a face and little legs on her pumpkin with marker, and I sawed the holes in for her following her pattern.

Our 3 pumpkins lit up

On the 31st, we started the day with our Reformation Day celebration at church. After our wonderful worship service featuring Luther hymns, the kids brushed up on their Reformation history in Sunday School with a movie about Luther's life and some activities.

Then, in the afternoon, they got their costumes on to get some candy. Solveig spent the evening with her friends, and the other 2 kids went with us a few blocks away to our community Halloween party, where carnival games and drawings take the place of door-to-door treat seeking.

Solveig the spy

Bunny and pirate

Anju playing carnival games for candy at the community party