one mystery solved

so we think we figured out where "ah-keys" came from (nissa's word for sunglasses)- armenian achnots (sp?). grandma a probably used the word one day and nissa improvised and we all just followed along. who new!?

nissa's latest "thing" is to make friends at the park. she is quite outgoing and when she finds someone she'd like to talk to, she walks right up, looks them in the eye and says "hi!" it's adorable to watch. she'll follow the new friend around, maybe even lead the way and giggle the whole time. sometimes the giggle is kinda fake, but so appropriate! only problem is she wants to see her new friend when we go back to the park. i try to explain that maybe next time we'll meet a new girl (she'll ask park, girl?) and that it's not likely to see the same girl at the park again.

even this weekend, when we had the honor of attending the wedding reception of a dear friend (home wedding and reception, so perfect) nissa made quick friends of the 4 nieces and nephews running around. all 10 and under, i think, they event followed nissa around the yard, then asking her the colors of the flowers. so cute to watch.

nissa and i had some fun on our own at the local pumpkin patch at the park. adam had the car (the other in the shop), so we walked over and toughed out the frequent drizzles. we got a temporary tattoo, fed the animals at the petting zoo, waited a LONG time for a horse-drawn carriage ride and picked out a pumpkin. i think nissa's favorite part was the petting zoo, where she got to see all kinds of animals close up. it was tricky for me to keep the pushy goats and sheep at bay (they'd knock her down in an instant, at which the magic would be OVER) but nissa managed to have a good time. as we left, nissa offered an un-prompted "bye bye animals!" hot cocoa and soup for lunch, then naptime spent prepping slow-cooker pot roast and a rustic apple pie. classic fall.

eyes closed, but she's smiling and you can see a lot of animals


nissa sitting with her little pumpkin and the big pumpkin

then we come back for naptime and i have a daughter shouting "my turn!" while she's in bed, supposed to be taking a nap. your turn to do what, exactly? and who is taking their turn before you? there is a video monitor and i'm still not sure.