Auntie Margie and UNCLE Andrew Get Engaged!

This is long overdue, but while we were in CA in October, MARGIE AND ANDREW GOT ENGAGED!  It was really exciting and we felt lucky and happy to be included.  I don't have nearly enough photos of it (well I have some more but I can't figure out how to get them off my phone, so these will have to do.)  Here is the bride to be with her new, enormous diamond!  Andrew proposed to her on a hike, shortly after she proposed to him with a ring pop.  Adorbs.

 Rozzie and Margie's BFF Sami enjoying the sights at Marshall's for a surprise oyster and family/friend celebration after the proposal.

 Happy family!

 Here's everybody soaking up the joy.  We can't wait for the wedding.  In particular, one of Mollie's first questions was whether she gets to be a flower girl.  She has been having pretend weddings a couple times a week where she is the bride and Rosalyn is the flower girl.  In addition, she corrects me every time I say we're going to see or call Andrew - "mama, it's UNCLE Andrew now."  Very cute and sweet.  We're looking forward to a year of celebrations!

CA trip, Halloween (Rozzie weeks 29-31)

We headed out to California to visit family and for cousin Jacob's bar mitzvah.  The girls were great on the plane (even with our 3.5 hour layover!)

 While in CA we got to see some friends that we don't get to see nearly enough - Riley and Mia. The girls enjoyed coloring and eating pizza.

 Jacob had a super awesome outdoor bar mitzvah in San Francisco.  Casual style, food trucks, and lots of family (plus the Giants game on in the background).

 Auntie Mimi got the girls the cute angel wings.  Mollie did some negotiating over which ones she preferred (I think she decided she liked them both and would let Rozzie borrow the pair she wasn't currently wearing).

 At the tail end of the trip, Rosalyn and I went to Los Angeles for a little work meeting I had to go to.  We stayed at the Standard in downtown LA because we're cool like that.  Here we are having a drink and a snack on the roof deck.

 Unicorn shaped plants.

 Dinner with Auntie Mimi at a super hip Los Angeles restaurant.  Rozzie made a huge avocado mess, much to the dismay of the non-breeders eating at the restaurant.

 Our flight home.  We were lucky and got a full row to ourselves!

 Halloween!  Queen Elsa wouldn't let me take her picture so this is pretty much the best I have.  But she looked very cute.

Rozzie in her "Elsa's pony" costume at her daycare parade.

 My little starfish.

 Mollie's money man

 Rozzie wasnt feeling great so we took her to the doctor.  Turns out she is fine, just a little virus.  But she did love the fish in the sick waiting room.

Rosh Hashannah, Rozzie 6 Months Old (weeks 27-28)

We've had a busy few weeks.  For Rosh Hashanah we went to the synagogue we recently joined.  We loved the family service and Mollie was happy to go to "Shirley Temple."  We left Rosalyn in daycare for the day and spent the day with Mollie.  After services we went to Ted's Bulletin where we ate homemade pop tarts and watched popeye on the big screen.

Aunt Sarah came to town for two trunk shows for her new children's sweater and blanket business.  We spent the day at Dawn Price Baby selling sweaters and blankets,

 The next day we had people over to our house to check out Aunt Sarah's goods.  You can view the whole line at sarahlauter.com.

 Rosalyn had her 6 month doctor's appointment on the 24th.  She weighs 19 lbs, 7 ounces and is 29 inches long.  She is above the 98% for height and about the 95% for weight.  Otherwise, she's a big, happy healthy girl.  In terms of developments, she can sit pretty well, unsupported.  She is eating lots of mashed foods and yogurt melts.  She so far hates the rice puffs I've tried to feed her.  And this week for the first time she picked up a yogurt melt and got it in her mouth on her own.

 Poppy came to visit for a really short trip.  It was good to see him, although much too short.

 Mollie is doing great at pre-school.  Here she is with one of her new best friends, Julia.

 Aunt Sarah got Mollie a Goldieblox toy where you make a spinning machine.  Here Mollie is turning her sister into a spinning machine.

 We went to the Renaissance festival and the pumpkin patch, but I failed at getting photos of both, except this one photo on the way to ren fest.

Tahoe; 5K for Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (Weeks 25 and 26)

Last weekend, Rozzie and I headed to Tahoe for my company's Board strategic planning retreat.  We were incredibly fortunate on the way to Los Angeles, we had the whole row to ourselves and the Roz slept for 3 hours of the 5 hour flight.  Amazing.   The connecting flight from LAX to Reno was less pleasant, but very short.  Overall, the trip there was easy enough.

 Between work meetings, we went over to Lake Tahoe.  There was a little playground, great for swinging the happy baby.

 And some beautiful views of the lake and some really gorgeous blue water (even though the levels are pretty low due to the drought in California).

 This whole trip was made possible by the simply amazing Anya Simone.  My cousin met us out in Tahoe and watched Rozzie during the day.  They were fast friends and had a great time playing while I went to my work meetings.

 Face plant.

 On our way back from Tahoe, we stopped in LA overnight to visit Mimi, Pushkin and the rest of the family.  Lots of family was in LA for Mimi's art show (side note, check out her Ah-mazing review in the LA Times!)  Rosalyn was particularly fond of Pushkin, Mimi's pup.

 After what felt like a whirlwind tour, we headed home.  The flight back from LA was rough compared to the flight there.  Rosalyn was tired but couldn't sleep, so I spent most of the flight doing squats with her in the baby carrier by the lav.  It was not the most enjoyable 4 hours.  Only to be topped by the MISERABLE drive from Dulles to our house.  She was screaming so loud, even the cab driver was singing to try to make her happy.  Poor guy.  But she was fine as soon as we got home and got her to bed.

 Earlier this year, I signed up for a 5K.  It was to benefit this amazing little guy named Asa, who was born blind.  He is so sweet and loving and any small way to help him makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside - warm and fuzzy enough to run a 5K, even.  So, we borrowed a jogging stroller, downloaded "couch to 5k" and got to work.

 Asa's Aces, our team, ended up being the highest fundraising team of the whole race.  Here's my mini team - Sam, Bartle, Danielle and Roz.  We had fun!  And the boys took turns pushing the jogging stroller so that worked out really well for me.

 Roz and me at the finish line

While we were gone, Mollie made this playdough flower garden.  I think she's incredibly talented and probably gets it from her Auntie Mimi (see above).

 Post-race snuggles with Nana.

 Later that day we went to the zoo - saw some pandas, got Mollie's face painted.  It was a great day.

 Rozzie has been riding around in her stroller with one leg sticking out like this all the time.  I think it looks like one of those turkey thighs served at a fair and I want to remember it FOREVER!  So here it is :)