International Children's Festival

I look forward to the Children's Festival every year. The event is held just outside the Cathedral of Learning and there is an array of activities and performances for kiddos (although I enjoy them just as much as Simone). Here's some of the action:

 Tripping out in the inflatable luminarium which was originally built in Nottingham. It's half the size of a football field and rises to 3 stories high. The structure is inspired by natural geometry and Islamic architecture.

  

 Simone was initially frightened when we entered the "castle" until her buddies, Alice & Harrison showed her the ropes.

 Just taking it all in. 

DJ Simone spinning some records with paint with the Roving Art Cart.

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 This kiddo had a great time. She's going for an international look:)

 Another highlight of the festival--the petting zoo. Some were baby animals, others miniature and pygmy... or perhaps they were all baby pygmy animals? All that matters was that they're cute. Simone did pretty well on her own feeding the animals until some sheep were surrounding her and chasing her around. Then she was simultaneously thrilled and laughing and also kind of freaking out. 

This year there was also a baby zebra, alpaca and a camel. Pittsburgh is occasionally bucolic. 

  Carousel rides. 

 Sim & Alice with their Katarina masks. 

Sim's origami butterfly. 

We were fortunate to have the theater to ourselves briefly for the Children's Film Festival. We had missed this part last year and made sure to catch it this time around. The animated shorts were a lot of fun. I'll post some of them soon.

The Call of the Open Road

The Ellsworth family just got some new wheels, thanks to aunt Jamie, uncle Loren and cousin Woody. The coupe's features include baby car seats, eating trays, a pull-out picnic table, and a picnic basket complete with food and drinks.

 Simone was ecstatic opening her gift. 

 "Diamond in the back, sunroof top

Diggin' the scene

With a gangsta' lean

Whoo-ooh-ooh" 

 The Ellsworths enjoying a leisurely picnic.

Installing the food trays.

Omelette

New family favorite.

Butterfly Release Party

Aunt Nayna got Simone a butterfly kit (along with butterfly tattoos and a butterfly story book) for her birthday. Needless to say, the present was a hit. Caterpillars (Sim called them "squirmadines") were mailed to our home and Simone has spent the last month watching them eat and eventually form their chrysalis. We had told Simone that after the caterpillars turn into butterflies, we would set them free. Simone wasn't exactly thrilled about letting her pals go, so we decided to have a butterfly farewell party to send them off and avoid an epic meltdown. Sim's friends came, some sporting butterfly wings. Some parting haikus were shared, some tears were shed, and some ice-cream sandwiches and popsicles eased the pain.

Pals checking out the butterflies.

Getting ready to set them free. Simone was sad to see her butterfly buddies to go.

Alice and Parker with the last butterfly. The last one out was very timid and not quite ready to take off.

This one must have been the most attached to Simone. 

Ines's first solid food, and more solid dance moves from Simone

Here's some action of Inés' first experience with solid foods. Sorry the video is so long--I still haven't figured out how to trim it.

Our babies undergo rigorous dance training. The method is a lot like puppeteering. The hard work pays off when they take their training to heart and take ownership of their movements.

Introducing....Thing Two

We haven't gotten around to introducing yinz to the newest addition. Alba Inés Shaw was born on October 24, 2012. She came nearly 10 days after her "due date." She makes a good addition to our crew.

Like her big sister, this one mainly goes by her middle name, Inés (pronounced ee -NEZ in English, ee-NESS in Spanish). Some of her nicknames are: Nezzy, Eenee, Cub Life, Neenee, Eenster Bunny, Easy E, and Nezmobops, and the Intern.

Thing One adores her new gig as big sister and loves to smoosh cheeks with her, help with her baths, bring her toys and show her new dance moves. She was also a devoted assistant birth partner during much of the at-home labor.

Inés would like to join us in thanking the grandmas for being so helpful before, during and after the big moment, and every great pal who helped us through the pregnancy, birth and new-baby-time. A special thanks to Marie for sharing her prescient dream about how the birth was going to happen - you nailed it, mostly.

These shots were all taken by none other than Mendy Waits, photography genius behind Black Room Photography.  See her website here.

Camp Simone

Simone celebrated the big 3 with some pals and woodland creatures - it was a camping party. We wore flannel and communed with nature. Many thanks to Campers Jon and Hyun for the photos and video.

We made these tents the night before. Pine molding, dowels, canvas and twine.

Every camper got a bandana - camp regulations. 

The buddy system.

 An un-scripted puppet show. 

Simone fearlessly led a hike around the block, clearing all obstacles in our path.

The most popular guest was the bear cake - he was devoured. At Camp Simone, we use every part of the bear.

Pin the tail on the bunny.

An anti-littering propaganda.

Bear cake, after the kids finished what was in their mess kits.

This first-time camper seems to have struggled with homesickness. 

Bandanas are really hot right now.

Happy birthday to Simone!