Thanksgiving Part 1

At Jemma's nursery school, Oak Glen, we had the most wonderful Thanksgiving potluck. Everybody brought a sumptuous dish (I swear, Nancy, our fearless leader, chooses kids based on the parents ability to cook!) and a long, low table was set for the children, and then the parents served the children. It was very moving. Before our big feast, Zachery came to play some songs and we all sang together and after the feast, the children played like mad! Jemma's teachers, Nancy, Latif and Charmaine, are the most wonderful caretakers - there's also Jaime, but she came a little later with the roasted corn nibblets! We are so blessed to be part of such an amazing school and community of parents and children - Jemma LOVES Oak Glen and so do we! Thank you, Nancy!

Garden Girl

The thing about Jemma is, she wants to try everything herself - and she's not satisfied until she figures it out - even if it means getting hurt or totally soaked! Notice, she didn't even stop to get out of her high heels to wield the power hose!

Alphadog

Ask Jemma what kind of dogs she has and she'll tell you a Labradoodle and a Bichon. But make no mistake as to who the top dog in our house is...

Home, Sweet Home

Our house was featured at the 5th annual Echo Park Historic Home Tour and we really enjoyed being a part of it. At first, we were a little freaked out that half of Los Angeles was going to crawl through our home, but it wasn't like that at all. There were a little over 400 people but their arrivals were staggered, and then they were gently ushered in by very knowledgeable docents. We really felt the pride of ownership with our sweet, little house.

Smoothie Move

Here are some photos from the summer when the four musketeers got together and played like mad and then stopped and made some delicious smoothies! Are these kids cute, or what? (Jemma would say, "Or what!")

Trick or Treat 2007!

Mary Had A Little Lamb and her friend the Kangaroo had a wonderful time trick or treating this year. Jemma began to grapple with the idea of things being scary for fun - like the big Frankenstein head in the bowl! So she would say things like, "I was scared but I'm not scared anymore because I'm a big girl." We never give Jemma candy but c'mon, it's Halloween! The girls enjoyed munching on their lollipops and Jemma particularly enjoyed her Twix bar. But more than anything when you ask her what her favorite part of Halloween was she says, "My freckles." Indeed.

Not a Carousel in the World...

Jemma's new obsession is the carousel in Griffith Park. She's been watching the DVD of "Free to be You and Me" (remember that?!) and it opens with a carousel. Also, Jemma finally got her first, professional haircut. Mommy and Jemma went to a fancy salon in Beverly Hills and Lily (who does Brad Pitt and other celebs) gave Jemma the royal treatment. The whole salon went nuts over Jemma - she was their biggest celebrity yet!

Cutie, Dad & Ollie

Look at these snuggle bunnies! Jemma has become so affectionate with Ollie lately and loves to share Daddy's lap with him. It's taken Ollie a long time but he's finally coming around to really loving Jemma. Awwwww...

Kumbaya!

Jemma loves playing the guitar and hanging out with with the hippies. Actually, she really likes to hang with Sophie, her mom, Freda, and Roxie the little chihuahua. Someone's singing my Lord, kumbaya...

Hang time!

Dancing Queen

Jemma began taking ballet and tap five weeks ago and she is loving it! We like that she is learning some French and that we can use the positions in our daily activities - releve out the door, or gran-plie to pick up your crayons! The recital will be on December 2 in the Mount Washington Elementary School, if anyone in the area wants to see cuteness abound. These photos are pretty terrible but hopefully they capture the concentration and adorableness of these girls. Jemma seems like a natural at dance with her long legs and her toe-tappin' feetsies.