Farmers' market

Kiran carries the veggies at the farmers' market this morning.

Chopsticks

Kiran learns to eat with chopsticks.  Sort of.

Chalkboard Pumpkins

Kiran helped me spray some pumpkins with chalkboard paint, and then we drew on them with chalk.

Amara wasn't quite sure what to make of her pumpkin, but she enjoyed holding the stem.

Kiran loved the big orange chalk.

Kiran loves to show Amara how to do EVERYTHING.  But Amara kind of wants to do it on her own.

More drawing.

The final product.

CSA

Our visit to the farm that will grow all of our veggies in the coming year!

Biker chicks

Amara rides a hog!

Making "Spider"

There is nothing better than warm, spiced, apple cider (pronounced "spider" according to Kiran) on a crisp, autumn evening.  The girls got in their PJs and then helped me make some.

First step: Teach Amara-Bee how to use wooden spoons and spice jars as drums.

Second step: Learn about spices.  We read the name of each spice and then smelled it.

Third step: Carefully pour out some spice and put it in the pot.

Fourth step: Delight in cutting out the middle man, until Mama makes you go back to pouring carefully.

Fifth step: Sniff the mixture thoroughly.

Sixth step: Stir.

Final step: Enjoy from a big-girl cup with ginger cookies.

Twins

Two cute girls in pink and purple argyle.  They could be twins, if only the photos hadn't been taken almost two years apart (October 25, 2009 and October 16, 2011).

  

Amara Out To Play

Amara went out to play in the leaves this afternoon while Kiran napped.

I can't believe she stands already!

Happy to play with leaves.

The patented Amara-Bee two-finger bink.

Smiley.

Over the shoulder.  Such a little fashion model!

DTA

Downtown Annapolis this afternoon for bridges, boats, ice cream, and playground.  Restrained myself with the camera for the most part, but couldn't help but get shots of both girls getting pushed on the swings.

Dada @ Home

Everyone enjoyed having Dada home this weekend -- even the beagles.  We spent some time Sunday just hanging out in the backyard.

Kiran can now get in and out of the tire swing all by herself...

...And Amara can chill in the grass without her Bumbo seat.

Making a silly face with Dad's tea behind her (whch she kept knocking over...).

Wild Guin...

Barking...

Dada jumping off the swing.  [So glad I have two girls...].

Alpha with the beags.

Zoo!

A successful family outing to the National Zoo.

Kiran is wearing VERY fancy shoes, which she insisted was necessary in order to meet the monkeys (she first asked to wear a pair of my high heels).

Scoping out the gorillas.

Mama and her little monkeys in the ape house.

Amara gets up close and personal with a gorilla.

Dada and his little monkeys in the ape house.

Kiran points to an orangutang.

Showing her fancy shoes to the orangutang.  [He was impressed.]

Handful of monkeys.

Kiran with the leopard.  The monkeys were the hit of the day, but the leopard was a close second.

Amara's personal tour guide lectures her on the leopard.

Excited about fishing cats.

An elephant!!

Watching the elephant.

My two pachydermologists.  [Is that a word?]

Chillin' with the elephant.

More elephant.

Walking.

The flowers were more Amara's speed.

Looking sweet while big sissy takes a second spin through the ape house to say goodbye to the monkeys.

Best.  Moment.  Ever.  Kiran ran up to the frog statue, hugged it, and screamed, "Mama, take my picture!"