HampdenFest!

Eric set up and helped out around the Wham Parent Co-op booth at this year's Hampdenfest. We don't plan on sending Hannah to Hampden elementary (assuming we are able to continue to afford Montessori), but we would still love to see the local school thrive! I volunteered last year but when the sign up sheet came around this year I was in the throes of first trimester ickville and was afraid to commit so Eric committed for us.

He headed down early and helped them set up their tent, then came back right as we were getting ready to leave and collected some things he thought he could contribute such as a djembe drum for the sing-a-along and a plastic kiddie pool for a fishing game they had set up to raise money.

While schlepping these items back down to The Avenue, Hannah decided that she wanted a shoulder ride. I had to snag a pic of daddio, master carrier of multiple things.

If you look closely you will also note that Hannah is wearing socks on her hand. I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but socks on the hands has been a pretty big end-of-summer obsession of hers. Hannah's fashion philosophy seems to be "the more the merrier." She piles on as many layers as possible, no matter how hot the weather is.

After the sing-along at the Wham booth we wandered around The Avenue checking out the various booths and came across an old acquaintance of mine painting faces. I am a sucker for having my face painted so when I got excited about it, Hannah decided to see what all my fuss was about.  Her first face painting! She was a little leery and more than a bit confused, and I don't think she ever did get why I get so excited about it, but she was a good sport anyway. She chose an abstract swirly design on the side of her face in pink.

Addie met us at Hampdenfest later that morning and then came home with us in the afternoon. I'm loving having a kid old enough to have mostly independent playdates! That was Hannah's first drop-off playdate, but I'm hoping we'll have plenty more. I think it's a win win for everyone. The mom with the kids at the house gets a break from hands-on playing, the mom without the kids gets a break from that particular kid, and the kids get to play together, which they love!

It stormed pretty hard later that day so Eric ran back down to help Mary Cate tear down her booth and then help Wham get torn down as well. Hannah and I were beat so we laid on the couch and vegged out in front of the boob tube while listening to the storm through the window. September is shaping up to be a busy month!