Nora Evelyn

Nora and I went to the store to get supplies for static palatography and bought a Ritter Sport Marzipan bar. In line she explained to everyone, individually, that chocolate is her favorite thing to eat and that her daddy would be sharing the chocolate with her.

In the car on the way home she said, “Daddy, can we eat some of the chocolate in the car?”
Me: “oh no, sorry, Nora, we’re going to eat dinner right when we get home.”
Nora: *pause* “So can we have some chocolate NOW?”
Me: “no, sorry, love, we’d spoil our dinner if we ate chocolate now.
We’ll eat dinner when we get home and then you can have some chocolate
after, okay? I promise.”
*long pause*
Nora: “but… but, Daddy,” she asks in her i’m-figuring-something-out voice, “Daddy, if we eat dinner first it will spoil our chocolate.”

I have rarely been more proud.

Nora got her third professional haircut today (and only her fourth haircut ever) at a place that specializes in haircuts for kids. The place had computers next to each station to show the kids videos, brightly colored everything, toys for sale, a cool fishie apron to keep hairs off clothes, etc. We think they did a great job on the cut, but the glitter is a bit much and we’re all just about ill from the cotton candy hairspray(?!) they added to her head at the end.

We’re not quite sure why, but Nora insisted at least a month ago that this year she wanted to be Little Red Riding hood for Halloween this year. So her Granny made her this awesome red riding hood, we got her some ruby slippers (because they’re sparkly, that’s why), and a basket. What do you think?

As an aside, do you know how many cases there have ever been in the U.S. of strangers poisoning candy and giving it out to kids on Halloween? How many cases of razor blades in Halloween candy or in apples or whatever? None. Zilch. Zero. Nada. So let’s get out there, watch for cars (because that really _is_ a danger), and have some fun!

There are a lot of characters to meet at Disney World:

Here’s what Nora looks like on a roller coaster. This particular coaster was Splash Mountain in Disney’s aptly-named Adventureland. This is, I believe, Jen’s favorite ride and, while Nora loved it, she preferred the teacups and the carousel in Fantasyland.

Nora had an active day yesterday. She walked (or was carried) for miles and miles and did some other things too.

Nora posed for a picture in front of the replica Eiffel Tower in simulated France at Epcot for my adviser, “Aunt” Pam.

During a rare break in the running, jumping, singing, spinning, dancing action here we see Nora reclining on a bench near the Muppet theater. She wasn’t really sleeping, though, as you can clearly see.

One of the things Nora and I did while waiting out the record rainfall was head down to the pool for a swim. The water was nice and warm, we had the place pretty much to ourselves, and what does it matter that the sky is opening up above you when the whole point is that you’re playing in the water anyway? (of course there was no lightning. sheesh.)