Sweet and Naughty

Let's start with statistics:

We are deeply in love with Catalina: 100% of the time

Catalina is sweet and loving: 80% of the time

Catalina screams and hits everything around her: 20% of the time

Catalina is stubborn and doesn't stop until she gets her way: 50% of the time

Catalina knows how to manipulate mommy and daddy: 100% of the time.

Catalina is the most complete, clever, beautiful inside out girl: 100% of the time
Catalina is the EXACT girl we want as our daughter: 100% of the time

With this in mind, let's unfold the events of our past weekend.

     On Saturday we were headed to the apple festival at a farm close by. Last year's event was nice and relaxing and we were hoping for the same thing this year. We started the day nicely, with an amazing breakfast. The problems started when we asked Catalina to get dressed to go to the farm. Nothing pleased her. No, she doesn't want socks. No, she doesn't want shoes. The pants are too tight. The shirt is not soft enough. We changed socks, shoes, pants and tops at least 3 times each. At the end of our wits, we took her screaming in the car hoping she will calm down in time. First stop was at mommy's work place. Catalina LOVES visiting mommy at work, but since she was screaming she didn't get to visit with mommy. This lead to even more screaming. Luckily enough this tired her and calmed her down. Also, we told her that she will be punished and she will not be allowed to watch her favorite Barney video until Monday. This didn't seem to register to her and we just let it be. By the time mommy finished work, Catalina was in a better mood. We headed to the farm and we had a decent time, barely hearing our thoughts after so much screaming. We played with yellow and red and brown leaves. Catalina loved it. We ate apples dipped in caramel sauce and tried a corn maze.

Towards the end of our farm visit, Catalina realized that agreeing with mommy and daddy makes for more fun, so she actually took the jacket on (after many many tries...)

Exhausted by Catalina's demands and also a little sad that she was in such distress for most of the day, we decided that we'll spend Sunday inside and let her be naked if that was what she wanted. We did stood our grounds and she was not allowed to watch Barney Saturday morning.

And Sunday came with the surprise! Catalina woke up in the best mood ever. She ate breakfast without complaining, she played nicely with her toys. Encouraged by this, we asked her if she wants to go to the park play with fallen leaves. We also mentioned she needs to get socks, shoes, pants and a top if she wants it. We were almost in shock when she agreed to EVERYTHING. We went to the park, ran around, played in the sandbox, climbed trees. When I asked her if she want to eat smth she just took the banana without complaints. When it got colder she took the jacket immediately. 

        It was a wonderful Sunday. Beautiful weather, and a very happy family. We started headed home, the car was warm and very quite. In this peaceful atmosphere, Catalina started talking, apparently to nobody: "So, I kept my socks on, and I kept my shoes on, and I took the jacket. I ate a banana. Now I can have Barney again". 

Mommy and daddy were in shock. She did all that on purpose! She was nice just to win back her favorite character. And she is only 2 and a half.

       We do expect a very difficult and entertaining time when she'll be a teenager. I can honestly say (and I know I talk for Marius also) that we never, in our wildest and most beautiful dreams, did we ever thought we'll have so so much fun raising a little papadia, that our lives will get flooded with so much happiness, just by watching her grow day by day.

Nature outings

Fall came at full speed this year. One day we got the cooler wind that announces the end of the summer, the next day trees were all yellow and you needed a warm jacket. Nonetheless, fall is gorgeous in Philadelphia. There are plenty outdoor activities for kids and we planned on exposing Catalina to as many fall events as possible.
She loved it!
We drove more than an hour to visit this pumpkin patch, just because the reviews were awesome. And it was indeed!

Cute little pumpkin having a great time!

We actually have an identical picture from when she was 9 months old. She is so much taller!! :)

The corn box was a big hit, Catalina ate so much corn, we were afraid she will turn yellow herself :)

 Our little red ridding hood:)

I am proud to say that my little frail angel dragged that wagon for the full two hours we were at the farm. Only when the hills were too steep or the grass to tall was mommy allowed to help.

 The farm had a playground that Catalina loved also. She is not that interested in the bike she has at home, but she was very eager to try the one at the farm. She lost interest soon enough though, too much work to actually push the pedals!

Yes, our family was full of sunshine that day!

That note behind the bells reads: "ring the bell if you are having fun". Catalina wanted to make sure everybody knew she is enjoying herself and rang the bell several times.

This was by far the highlight of the day. Catalina kept on asking for a scarecrow for a while. She kept seeing them decorating the houses in the neighborhood and wanted one for herself. That and a pumpkin. When she finally got her hands on one, she never let go. She carried it in the wagon, and when she felt the pumpkin might squish it, she carried it in her arms.

 Hayride

Hay fight :)

This was a very successful weekend. Everybody had a nice relaxing time and nobody got sick :). So, the next weekend we headed for more outdoor fun at an apple orchard close by.

Catalina is a very talented apple picker. She went under the trees and kept showing us all the good, big apples she was reaching!

Of course, being pumpkin season we enjoyed some nice orange pictures again :)

With a trunk full of apples we took some time to admire the farm grounds. It was warm and peaceful and we enjoyed it very much. What more can we ask for?

We continue our blessed lives loving papadia