Everyone loves a parade, including Evie!

Our little bee donned her wings and antenna for the annual Del Ray Halloween parade. While waiting for Daddy to arrive, Evie buzzed around the backyard, smelling flowers and dancing in delight.

Mommy, look at me sniffing the flowers!
After walking to the halfway point of the parade, the family made a pit stop at the Dairy Godmother for some pumpkin frozen custard. Evie prefers the lavender sorbet though. We sat on the curb and watched all the families in their costumes walk by.
Evie pauses for a photo shoot...
Our little actress, hamming it up -

Requisite October Pumpkin pictures...

It was off to the pumpkin patch this weekend in our search for the perfect pumpkins. Evie tests one candidate by knocking on the outside. Hmmm... keep looking Daddy!

Ach du lieber! Could this be the one?!?
Evie is all smiles sitting among the gourds.
Wait a second, she realizes, I need to find a pumpkin for me too!
I found one! she cries as she runs through the tunnel.

Later, on the ride home, Evie would try to take a bite out of her pumpkin to see what it tastes like. Hmmmmm... needs salt.

Evie rejoices the successful discovery of two perfect pumpkins.

The October birthdays continue

It was a weekend of celebration for Ba and Karl as they celebrated their birthdays surrounded by family and an enthusiastic Evie, who loved playing "Happy Birthday" on the piano (accompanied by Opa's baritone). Karl flew in from Florida to surprise Ba, and Evie had a fun time playing with her "Uncle Ka" whether it was showing him her trains or playing hide n' seek. Above, the family enjoys the weather after a brunch at the Tabard Inn.
That night, Evie raises the roof in excitement that it was present time! Or maybe she is just trying to encourage Opa to figure out how to use the timer on the camera.
Evie's gift to Ba was a cooking kit so they can make muffins together. Evie dons her chef hat and apron and would later twirl her whisk in anticipation.
Evie helps Uncle Karl blow out his candles in his ice cream cake.

On Sunday morning, the family gathered at Four Sisters, a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church. How appropriate, as there were four sisters to celebrate: Auntie Mailan, Van, Nga and Ba of course. Co Ba, Co Hoan, and Co Hoa also could join us for the lunch, along with Uncle Minh, Tung, Dinh, and Diem, and cousin Kevin too. Whew - what a gathering! Evie is already digging into the cake with both fingers...

Ba and her two sons - Evie is all smiles in her preppy little dress.

"Blow out the candles, Daddy"

Daddy celebrated his birthday all weekend long and it was a great time. Evie had practiced singing happy birthday all day on Friday so she would be ready for the big day. She also helped open all of Daddy's presents.


Evie showed off her dancing moves to the tune of "You Make my Dreams Come True", the song that was in the card Mommy gave Daddy.
Evie is now an expert at blowing out the candles (Daddy is actually 37 but Mommy figured he would want to stay 36 for another couple of years).

End of September Wrap-up

Well, it was an exciting month overall! One trip to Colorado, meeting her best friend Thomas the Train, and oh, did we forget to mention that in all the excitement Evie also started preschool?!? Here she is on her first day looking a little worried, but as soon as she settled into class with teachers Miss Lindsey and Miss Milu, she was good to go. She didn't even notice when Mom and Ba left.
Ba gets to drop her off and pick her up everyday. She gets the first look of all the fun things that Evie makes, like her chicken with feathers, cow, and even a pizza made with real dough that she topped with sausages, cheese, and "snake".
Evie discovers colored chalk and sand - a fun combination.

Then, to end the month, Evie, Daddy, Ba and Opa participated in her third annual Dash for Dad in Alexandria. Evie made a run for the finish line.
Hooray! Celebration time.
Evie admires her "Dash for Dad Finisher" ribbon.
Finally, that afternoon Mommy and Daddy took Evie to see the Nationals play the Atlanta Braves. It was a great day for the ballpark - and the Nationals ended up winning. Hooray!
Evie was very attached to her ticket - she must be excited about something on the field that Daddy is missing in this picture.