Fall Fun!

Peek-a-Boo!!  Happy Fall!  It has finally cooled down a bit here in Virginia - which for me - means a wardrobe change to all new adorable outfits!  I know, I know... get excited!

So last week was the Star Kid 8K/2K to raise money for the Pediatric Cardiology Unit at Fairfax Hospital.  The race was HUGE this year and over $90,000 was raised!  It was a beautiful morning and we had fun celebrating such a great cause.  A lot of my friends came out to support the cause.  This picture is after the race - that's why everyone is so smiley.  The race course was REALLY hilly, and everyone was happy to be done!  That's my friend Christina (she used to work with my mom), and my mom, and the STAR PRINCESS, and my friend Megan (she works with my dad) and her husband Scott.

 Here comes Mike!  (More frequently known as Tucker's dad).  See how there's no one around him?  That's because he was running at some ridiculously fast pace and everyone else is at least 20 minutes behind him!

 Here come Anna Lyn and Tucker! 

 Here come my mom and Christina!  At this point the 2K walking race and 8K running race have merged.  This toyed with my mom's emotions.  There she was huffing it up the hills and all of a sudden, out of no where, some 5 year old (who's likely undergone major heart surgery) comes flying past her at a sickening pace. 

 Here we are at the finish line!  My Auntie Em and Nana N. came to cheer - and I hung out with them while Mom ran.  I haven't quite mastered the walking thing enough to make it through the race, and Mom took one look at all the hills and fired me as her tag-along side kick.  So, Auntie Em, Nana and I cheered everyone on.  I was trying to express the sentiment "Good JOB runners!" but it appears that I had a tough time masking my true "Mom- you seriously STINK" look.

 Taylor's big sister went off to play in the bouncy castle, so I hitched a ride with her for a bit while we listened to the awards and stuck around to see if Christina would have all the luck again this year and win something cool in the raffle.  We didn't win - but Taylor and I had some fun!  We visited a lot of our doctors and other staff we knew at the hospital.

 My mom and I may not look so good - but this guy is a STAR!  (And you know it takes a lot for me to admit that someone in addition to me could rank so high!)  This is one of my surgeons!  He is so nice and so funny, and he always remembers us because he's a huge Yankees fan.  He was a little put out that every day in the hospital my dad would wear a Red Sox hat... but then he promised he wouldn't hold it against me.  (Seems only fair.)  When he found out that Mom is a Yankee fan too - he was just amazed by how our family holds it together.  It makes for great conversation at these October reunions... (esp. when the Yankees are in the playoffs and the Red Sox are... well...not.)

 So then on this beautiful weekend we decided to take a family trip to Cox Farm.  This is when it pays to have a mom who's a first grade teacher.  She hears about all the cool things to do and then takes me to do them.  The first graders may not have accurately described the monstrosity that is Cox Farm, though, because we were STUNNED by how HUGE it is - and how many people were there!

 There were lots of photo opportunities (and you know I was ready to ham it up for each and every one!)  I posed with the flowers...

 And with the hay and the pumpkins.

 Then I got to PLAY!  I love to slide!

 Whoo-hoo!  Sliding!

 Mom may have just had more fun than me on that one...

 Like at every good fair - there was plenty of not-so-healthy food to enjoy.  I indulged in my more recently discovered favorite "meal" of french fries... hold the grilled cheese.  Or don't hold it- give it to me - but I'm not going to eat it!  Just fries are fine by me, thanks!

 And as usual, I abandon my stroller and opt for different modes of transportation... so Mom is currently pushing and empty stroller and taking pictures.

 They had animals there!  I love pigs.  Well, really, I love to tell you what pigs say.  When I tell you what a piggy says - it comes out like I'm clearing my throat.  Such an attractive sound.  But it cracks my parents up every time.  They are SO easily amused.

 Dad and I tried out the big chairs.

 Even in a chair this size, I remain "SOOO BIG!"

 Here we are going through corn maze...

 NO!  This is just insane!  Putting my head in these strawberries makes me look rediculous.  I REFUSE.  LET ME OUT!  I will not be forced to look like a fool!!

As we left we picked out a pumpkin for this year.  There were so many to choose from, I had a tough time caring.  I was much more amused to just crawl around and check them all out.  It was a really fun day.  What a fantastic start to fall!!

And as a parting gift: here's a little video of my dad and me going for a (SHORT!) walk.  I'm really good at walking with someone holding both my hands or somewhere to rest both my hands.... so for physical therapy I'm working on one-handed support.  I'm a bit shaky.... but getting better!!  Stick it out for my big parting SMOOCH!

Taking matters into my own hands

And so I've decided that there's more of the world I need to see.  Sitting around my tush all day may do wonders for increasing the size of my belly... but not much for satisfying my almost 2 year old curiosity.

So, I decided to get up and get moving.  My friend "Big John-John" (formarly known as "Baby John" - but he recently renamed himself) leant me his shopping cart and I've put the thing to good use.  As good of use as I can when every few steps I seem to crash into a wall or more of my toys...  I'm currently campaigning for a bigger house.  My parents say I can have one when I get a job and start pulling my own weight around here.  Um, last I checked:  Princesses don't pull weight. 

Here are some video clips of me on the move for your viewing pleasure:




You'll note in that previous clip that I was all set to go and my dad kept asking me to "Tell him when I'm ready".  The sign for "ready" requires both hands (with crossed fingers) in the air.  Seriously, people!?  I obviously still rely on support from my shopping cart in order to pull off this assisted walking skill.  So WHY are you asking me to tell you something that requires I take BOTH hands OFF my support?!  What the heck will he want from me next???

And just in case that's not enough Abby for you (will it ever be??), here's another one:




You'll note that just like Dad, Mom also is asking for me to let go of my life support.  What's with these people?  But you gotta admit, that look on my face when I realize gravity is going to win the battle is pretty much priceless.