SECAC, Halloween, Parks

We have done a lot since the last post. Last weekend the three of us drove up to Charleston, WV for the Southeastern College Art Conference where Chandler presented on a panel with a professor of hers. We saw Chandler's favorite professor from Tuscaloosa there as well - he was presenting on another panel at the same time as Chandler's. Leila and I hung out at the hotel for the panel because Leila was feeling more energetic than academic. We drove through Nashville, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, and Louisville. The conference was in downtown Charleston and we stayed at another hotel nearby. While we were there Leila learned to squeal in restaurants. Her parents learned to feed her cucumbers in restaurants. She finds them soothing and entertaining and often forgets to squeal while eating them. We didn't do a good job with our camera's rechargeable batteries so there's not much to show from the trip. We did go to the Clay Center's Halloween costume party day on Sunday. There were lots of kids having a good time learning about science and art.

This weekend started off with a Halloween party at the home of some friends. Leila dressed up like a bee. Chandler dressed up like a bee! I dressed as Gilligan. Leila had a great time skipping her bed time and meeting new people in exciting costumes. As long as no one else tried to hold her she was happy even if she didn't talk much.

Saturday we went to a park near our house and showed Leila some exciting swing sets. I didn't realize there were swings designed for 6 month old babies but Leila LOVED them. She didn't go for the big slides too much but she was happy to swing for a very long time, giggling and spluttering the whole way.



Yesterday the three of us took Frida to the Shelby Farms dog park for a fun time. Frida was in great spirits now that she's finally kicked an ear infection that bothered her all summer. She bounced and ran and jumped and sniffed with more excitement than I've seen out of her in months. There was a tent at the gate advertising an Off Leash Society that was soliciting members and donations for exciting park projects like dog showers, dog memorials, doggie bag stations, benches, and I'm sure there was more.

Now Leila and Chandler are enjoying an early evening nap while I cook dinner and catch up on my updates. We will have more pictures this week as we finally charged the camera batteries. This Thursday is an open studio for the UMemphis grad students. We are all excited about that, especially Leila. She loves to go out.

CMOM and other fun things

Lately Leila has given up a few hours of sleep every day and has decided that she likes to go do things around Memphis that her Mommy and Daddy have never done before. After an uneventful Friday, Leila was ready to roll this Saturday. She took us shopping in a vintage store and we looked at lots and lots of too big (for Leila) blue jeans and funny hats. There was a sign that says "No Pictures" next to the funny hats, or you know that we would be posting some here! When we left the vintage store we saw a poster that reminded us that our friend, Elizabeth Owen, has some artwork up at the P&H a few blocks away.

We haven't been to the P&H since way before Leila was born, but it's the place where a lot of Chandler's art friends go to drink beer and eat grilled cheese sandwiches. We were sneaky and went before they opened so that we wouldn't have to make Leila hang out in a smoky bar. She didn't mind, but that boy Elizabeth drew sure looks sad.

On Sunday, we decided to pick more Leila-friendly activities, so she suggested we visit the Children's Museum of Memphis. CMOM had SO MANY fun things to play with! Leila learned about the Mississippi River, Dentists, Recycling, Astronauts, the Human Body, and a lot of other things she had never thought about! She also got to slide on a slide for the first time--and the second, third, fourth . . .

Needless to say, the slide was a very popular activity with the Pritchett family. We got so excited about it that we forgot about pictures. Luckily we have pictures of a lot of other things, like this picture of Leila and Daddy grocery shopping. Leila decided to buy a big crab just in case Aunt Jenny decides to come visit soon.

Another fun week

We were very busy this week. Mom gave Leila music lessons with our pots and pans. Leila played with her pumpkin and with her parents in the front yard.

On Friday, Leila went to three art shows and enjoyed herself so much she started babbling in the car! This level of vocalization is new for Leila so we were all very excited! (video! )

On Sunday we loaded up the car and drove to the Pink Palace Crafts Fair near our house. It was very hot and Leila started out very pink and uncomfortable but once we put her hat on her she had a great time.

There were tons of exciting things to look at and try on and dance to and taste and pet! We saw paintings and sculptures and hats and mugs and food and a petting zoo and a band. Leila enjoyed herself tremendously, and then she went home to sleep.