Halloween and Jack the Ripper

The world premiere of Grand Rapids Ballet's "Jack the Ripper" required costumes for the party. We were much obliged.
What a motley crew were we, John, Benjamin, Joey and me.
The men embraced their new identity and took John, the french highway man away.
YeYe was sure to play in the fun at the party, just too funny not to post...


Nick and Laura were amazing in the show (Nick was the inspector and Laura was one of the women brutally murdered in the ballet).
Now Halloween started off with pumpkin carving.



And introducing this year's............flower princess (needed to keep saying that she was a flower "princess" so she would put the outfit on). Needed a warm costume for MI trick-or-treating.
Tess, Nokomis, Althea, Alex and Isabelle joined us for the great trick-or-treating.




This house was too scary for Maya but she didn't scream like most of the little kids around (don't blame them).
We headed home to partake in the candy feast.

NYC, Chicago, Lake MI (oh my).

Wow, what a week. I spent last weekend in NYC with John (by myself). What a different experience in the city without a toddler. I was able to see John perform at Feinsteins (very fun) and we saw a jazz quartet the next night, and my friend Ljova perform the very next night.
We walked up to MoMA one morning and took in the great art (along with the rest of NYC - it was crazy busy).
When I returned to MI, I took Maya out to explore the wonderful leaves before they are all gone. Aquinas was a perfect setting to run!

John came home a little early this week thanks to the performer who contracted H1N1 (not good for him but great for us). We were sure to head to Lake MI to see Aunt Jeannine.
Maya is always in heaven with Aunt Jeannine and then throw in Lake MI and you are set for life. She insists on taking her shoes off and putting her feet in the lake. Despite our cries that it might be too cold, Maya was dead beat on trying it out. "It's not cold Mom!" Yeah right!


A little after beach concert and we headed back home.
I took a day trip with Mom, Julie, Chris Dugan and Benjamin to see David's first performance with Hubbard Street Dance Co. at the Art Institute of Chicago's new modern wing.


It was a fabulous performance and packed with people. My friend KC met us for the performance and joined us for dinner afterwards (always great to see her).

We celebrated Julie's 60th birthday at the Italian Village restaurant downtown. A fun day!

Friends in town and NeeNee's Birthday

College friends Beth and Kathleen came into town for the weekend along with Beth's adorable son, Griffin. He turns 3 in a few days and he was a delight!
John also came home for the weekend to spend time with the family, a wonderful full house.
He brought me home a late birthday, early Christmas, Kwanzaa, anniversary gift - a nikon d3000 DSLR camera. I couldn't wait to take pics of the adorable kids painting away.
Maya and Griffin played really well together. Here is Maya reminding Griffin that it was a "ballet barre" not a gate.
Ohhh, Griffin caught on and shook his tushy right along Maya ballerina.
The highlight of the trip was the day at Robinette's for apple picking.
We started in the corn maze (a bit confusing for Maya and Griffin who searched high and low for the apples we had been talking about for days).
The tow heads checking out the corn.
And then, finally, apples as far as you could see...





Maya with her godmother, Beth.
After all that apple picking, we stopped for a treat of candy corn, doughnuts and the necessary apple cider.
Last, but not least, the hay ride.

We returned for a little rest before the night's BBQ for Aunt Jeannine's birthday.
Maya couldn't be happier to see her very sweet aunt.