November 2011: There was early Christmas shopping, a hockey game, a trip to the Children's Museum, and a Thanksgiving with the Liu family in Yorktown.

November 2, 2011: On our way out to Toys R Us to get Aurora her big Christmas gift, she takes time to look through the catalog one more time. Aurora really enjoys looking through the toy and craft catalogs that arrive in the mail, often pointing out items that she thinks we should get.



November 9, 2011: We have fruit smoothies for dinner. Aurora makes sure she ends up with a smoothie 'stache.



November 11, 2011: The annual Cornell-Harvard hockey game in Cambridge. This year, Aurora stays for most of the game, but spends the first two periods with her hands clamped over her ears ("too loud!"). By the start of the third period, she begs Jon to take her to the "restaurant" to get something to eat and drink.



November 13, 2011: Aurora gets to use her Christmas gift for the first time! Here she is trying to blow it up.


Video: That's more like it!

Helping to secure it with stakes.


Video: Entering for the first time



Greer joins in too!


Video: Jump and turn

Jon tries it out too.


Lunch break! Make-your-own grilled pizzas.


After lunch, the girls help sweep up some leaves.



November 18, 2011: We spend Friday evening at the Children's Museum. Compared to a year ago, it is incredible how much more adept Aurora is at all the various activities. She still likes to have Baba to join her in the climbing structure, and Jon is happy to oblige.


Aurora is now an expert at "biking" and making the lights turn on.


Video: Aurora makes her own ride

Video: Golf ball track

Video: Gotta dance!

Building with popsicle sticks



November 19, 2011: Mama goes to the dentist and Aurora gets a haircut.



November 20, 2011: The weather is still unseasonably warm, so we host another toddler playdate. Same place, same activities (mostly). Along with bouncing, the girls also enjoy blowing bubbles, stomp rockets, and making s'mores in the fireplace.



November 24, 2011: Happy Thanksgiving! We drove down to New York the previous evening. Albert, Julie, Isaac, and Elena were already there. Amy and Daryl arrived later for the final big Liu gathering in the Yorktown house. The three cousins had a blast playing together.


They assembled a gingerbread house kit.


Aurora changes for dinner.


A truly collaborative Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone helped make at least one dish on the table.


Not sure if Aurora is attacking the drumstick, or if the drumstick is attacking her!


Seems like everyone in the family has an iPhone, iPad, or Kindle.



November 25, 2011: The day is mostly spent at home, with a trip to a playground in the late morning. Aurora and Elena duet on the piano.


Video: Piano duet

The cousins start out with everyone building his or her own thing...


...but soon realize they can build something even bigger when they work together.


Elena joins Aurora for a short trip to a playground. It's a little bit wet, but they still manage to have lots of fun together.


Video: Swingers



That evening, Wai Po and Wai Gong babysit Aurora while everyone else goes to see "My Fair Lady" at the local dinner theater. The show was great. Unfortunately, Aurora is very upset that she had to stay home instead of eating dinner at a restaurant, so Wai Po and Wai Gong take her to the local diner, which she enjoys immensely.



November 26, 2011: Albert, Julie, Isaac, and Elena take off early that morning. The rest of us enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then decide to go to the Bear Mountain Zoo.


Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see an Aurora looking at me.


Video: We won!



Aurora checks out the skaters at the rink. It was so warm that day, the ice was quite soft.

Aurora's first "snow" of the season!


We head home for lunch. In the afternoon, while Aurora naps at home, Amy, Daryl, Kathy and Jon head over to Turkey Mountain for a short hike. It is obviously not a difficult hike since Jon and Daryl did it with their Starbucks coffee.


Trying to find the summit of Turkey Mountain.


Daryl's finger lights up the dusky sky!



November 27, 2011: We drive home that morning. To try to avoid the bulk of the holiday traffic, we left before lunch, but not quite early enough to miss it all. Luckily, there is a rest stop on I-84 in Connecticut where local community groups give out free snacks and coffee to help keep drivers awake. Aurora enjoys her popcorn immensely.


After unloading the car, we take advantage of the good weather to do some yardwork. Even Aurora pitches in! (did we ever mention how helpful she can be and much we love her?)