Ella,

Here you are next to your big girl bed.  Your luche libre mask hangs from the wall and your bed is adorned with your stuffed animals, "Sunna" and "Puff".  Your glasses are off which is rare for you.  You've grown self-conscious without them on.  You are beautiful with and without them and I wish I knew a way for you to absorb that information.  That girl that called you "freaky" when you took them off has overruled anything your Mom might be able to tell you.  I wish I could take the words away for you but the best I can do is help you figure out what to do with them.  I love you.

Mom  

Her handprint hung proudly at school.  Next to each hand, the teachers wrote what each child was thankful for.  We saw several "Gods", with "Mom and Dad" a close runner up.  Vivian is most thankful for "hugs and kisses" also known as the famous stall tactic that she employs each and every evening as she hangs from the stair banister.  Jerry and I can never turn her away no matter how many times this occurs.  I guess we're pretty thankful for the same thing. 

Piles of leaves waist high have now been dragged off by dump trucks.  Got one last jump in before the streets cleared.

Oak Park Halloween Parade

Dentists and parents across Oak Park silently cheered as the skies remained dark and drizzly almost the entire day.  For approximately ninety minutes the rain relented allowing us just enough time to stop by our favorite neighborhood houses and say hello before heading over to the Berg house for Elsa's annual birthday festivities.  The girls carefully chose ten pieces of candy.  The rest will be left for the Candy Fairy who plans to make a visit once everyone is asleep tonight.  These pictures were taken over the weekend at the Oak Park parade.  Once again we go the cardboard box route (p.s. in case you're wondering...did NOT hold up well in the rain).  Thinking next year we go with something a little more weather resistant.  About fifteen minutes into trick or treating last night, our Pink Robot ditched her body and was just walking around with her helmet.