Helena is obsessed now with jumping. Not sure how long this jumping phase will last but Barnes and Noble story time seemed like as good a place as any to do it
Helena Daycare fun
Just another day of what Helena does most days- can you spot her here ?

Ha ha
Helena was imitating Nelson from the Simpsons for some time but didn’t perform quite as well here. This video is now a few weeks old as mom and dad forgot to post it
Helping out around the house
Helena continues to do her part after making a total mess throwing everything everywhere
Drawing at my friend’s house
Helena went to her friend Hazel and Genevieve’s house down the road in Grant Park. Everybody had a good time and older sister Genevieve declared Helena one of The now “three” sisters
Super (bowl) jumping
Reading to myself
Superbowl Sunday
Helena got a heavy dose of screen time Sunday and while she didn’t make it the whole game, she found some ways to entertain herself while mom and dad enjoyed the hang out. Go Pats!


Around Grant Park
Helena enjoys her Grant Park neighborhood including weekend trips to the zoo and farmer’s market. She thought it was pretty funny hiding under farmer Will’s tablecloth in front of his booth




Helena and Abel pt. 2
A little late from last weekend but still worth a post






Helena visits Abel
Clipping Strawberries w/Grandma & Grandpa
Just one of many of Helena’s indoor activities with the cold weather for the family’s NYC weekend visit
En route
Helena heads to NYC to see her grandparents and visit the uncles and co 

Playing with the boys
Helena has some bigger and older friends now that she is in her new class. It can be a bit intimidating with their advanced language and fine motor skills but she’s trying to “hang” in there right with them. Sunday a few of the families did a brunch and hangout for the kids


Farm visit
Helena visited her first farm last weekend near Athens GA. It was a little cold but she loved all the dogs on the farm and can now moo like a cow

Cats!
Helena is fascinated by cats as she only lives with a dog and is trying to understand the difference between them. The cats she might might not like Helena quite as much as she likes them. Here is she during a new playdate friend chasing one:
Strolling no Stroller
Helena is less and less into her stroller these days instead preferring to stroll, at least for a few blocks.


boo
One of Helena’s new favorite games

New Class
Helena has moved up a class at daycare. She went from being the youngest to now being the oldest pupil. Voilà her new class

Trampoline Sunday
Helenas’ obsession of the moment: https://youtu.be/HbZCbD-0ZwY
Helping out around the house
Night night
Sweetwater Creak Hike
Helena and daycare/new neighbor pal Flora took off with Sherlock and parents to Sweetwater Creek this past Saturday. Flora walked for almost 40 minutes and Helena helped look for Sherlock when he ran away for a bit chasing a deer deep into the woods. It was a beautiful Atlanta winter day.
Piano time
Playing with papa


ABC’s
Helena has taken to singing in the backseat of the car and is working on her ABC’s. This is a pre-cursor to her singing career:
Goodbye Florida!
It was fun while it last but back to the cold weather (although ATL is actually not that cold, around 60, so Helena isn’t too unhappy).

Sugar Sand park in Boca


The Girls Strawberry Patch Year 2
Interesting to see how Helena has grown since one year ago when the family last visited
The other big difference now is that Helena can actually interact with the animals and the smile on her face shows how she loved it (especially feeding the goats).





Pool time
Uncle Adam’s Family
Uncle Adam and family are also visiting family and getting to spend quality time with Helena





Learning through play
Helena was originally obsessed with this game when she first arrived to Florida
Florida Xmas


Florida bound
…also escalators are scary
A weekend stroll in the Frazier Forest
A little urban hiking is just what the doctor ordered. Who needs playgrounds when you have fallen logs






Holiday shot

Growing up at the zoo
Helena rides the choo choo train at the zoo and the merry-go-round most weekends as she’s earned enough points (visits) from her membership for free rides! It is a unique bonus of living next to a major metropolitan zoo. She’s also a big fan of all types of animals!

Grandpa and Grandma Kessel visit
Grandma and Grandpa were on their way to their new (likely) annual pilgrimage to Florida and they stopped in Atlanta for a few days. Dad did not do a good job of taking photos to capture the visit.

Java cats cafe

A lady on her throne
Potty training continues with many ups and downs but some progress

Hippo Hop Sunday
Chanukah 2018
Shape Game
Helena struggling some but progressing
Helena loves artichokes
Just like her parents
Run-Off Election
What’d you do today?
Goodbye Lucas
1st Jump
This video doesn’t do it justice but Helena is now jumping. Not a whole lot, but she can do it, especially on her parents bed (her favorite). This was taken from the new coffee and tumbling Sunday morning at our newly discovered in-town gymnastics studio.
New orange chair
Helena likes her new little chair 
Goodbye grandpa
Grandma and grandpa Solomon left last night. Helena was sad to see them go
Winter is here
The weather has finally gotten chilly here in ATL. Lower 40’s still beats Vermont but Helena isn’t phased 

Money money money
Wallet exploration


Thanksgiving Meal @ U.E.P.
This year the family spent Thanksgiving in a few different places. First there was Urban Explorer’s day care Thanksgiving (pictured here). Then dad went off to Vermont (see below) to join the Kessel’s while mom stayed behind to work and grandma and grandpa helped care for Helena.




Barnes & Noble visit

“I like to get on the table”
It’s a pretty regular occurence in the household. Helena knows she is not supposed to go up there but can’t resist.
Reading with Sherlock


To Clean or Not to Clean

Beautiful Fall Atl Day @Perkerson Park
and a little bit of frolf for dad

Here comes the airplane!
Dentist and New friends
Helena went to the dentist for her first time today. She didn’t exactly love it but she got through it. The dentist say’s her teeth are a year in a half. in advance and will likely be the first kindergartner to lose her teeth. Most of the time she was crying so the photo opp was missed. She’s also started playing with momma and papa’s friends’ kids!

Rider in pyjamas
Helena loves her bike helmet
Dancing on my own
Helena loves to get jiggy wid it
Lion’s and Tiger’s and Bear’s (oh my)!
With the zoo now being a regular weekly visit, Helena is growing up with a unique opportunity to see and learn about animals. It is a 8 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride to the zoo and the family has gone enough times that Helena gets unlimited free train and carousel rides in the zoo which is pretty fun. On this weekends’ visit we had some unusually active lions.


Skatepark girl
And visit from Boston and soon-to-be-married friend Michelle




Whiskey Girl



First friend
Helena met Sam at the park yesterday. Normally Helena has been a little shy or uninterested around other kids but she loved being chased by Sam. She also helped mom and did pick up those digits for some potential new mom and dad friends
Chomp & Stomp 2018: huh?

Post Halloween sugar rush
Helena only had 2-3 candies but that’s more than she’s ever really had. She did not want to go to bed:
Halloween 2018
Helena had her first “trick or treat” experience and has quite the sweet tooth. She also hung out with her meerkat friends for a bit too.



The “no” sequel
Fall Walk w/Sherlock
It’s time for jean jackets
Weekend fun
The weather has finally cooled, chilled even, in Atlanta. Last week was porch fest in Oakhurst, a trip to the zoo and first time train ride (Helena loved it), and the normal Sunday Grant Park farmer’s market visit





Do you want to no
Contemplative at the playground

Fishies!
Wuuuu, woooo
Grocery store check out
I did it myself!

Momma’s 5k
On Saturday mom fought cancer while Helena touched it




ATL Weather changing
As the weather finally cools here, let’s take a look back at the last week or two when GA saw 90’s 60’s, rain, sun, and many points in between
Quick visit to NYC/Grandma & Grandpa
Helena visited her grandparents while mom and dad went to a friend’s wedding in Hudson. It was a nice quick moment for them to reconnect and enjoy a break from the summer humidity in Atlanta.


More from Grant Park flux weekend
wagon ride with friend
flux performance and neighborhood bike shop 
Shake & Stop
Speed Racer


Standing tall with Dad


Always playing & climbing


Sandbox play
Daycare is taking the kids outside as the weather gets nicer and nicer in Georgia

Mom and Daughter Time



Apple Picking in North GA



Flux Grant Park
An art exhibit in the park brought to you by Helena

“Sherlock Up”
Grandpa swings Helena
This was taken a few days ago before grandma and grandpa left
Back in ATL w/Helena
Mom and dad returned from their Utah trip to find Helena well taken care of and happy after a week with grandma and grandpa. They enjoyed their first family dinner back together again.

Helena speaks her own language
Helena excited to be picked up from daycare by her grandfather
At the Park – A girl with her dog



I like my backyard

Zoo day With Grandpa

Wanna play baseball?

Day care update
Helena has a lot of fun at Urban Explorers most days while mom and dad work


Grant Park Playground


Grandma and grandpa report that all is well back in Atlanta and Helena is having a great time with them
Serious corn photo
Helena loves corn, not sure why she looks so serious in this photo 
Preparing for Dancing with the Stars
Grandpa Solomon and grandma Rosa are now lo king after Helena while mom and dad visit the Utah national parks. Her grandparents are helping her prepare her audition for dancing with the stars
Gariachi!
Helena has learned to blow on her food when it’s hot
Lou the Emu
The Lake Claire Land Trust in momma and papa’s old neighborhood has an Emu named Lou. Helena paid a visit to Lou. They were fast friends



Rosh Hashanah
The family all celebrated together the Jewish new year at the Freedman’s


Weekend Wedding
Since Helena got a new seat for the bike she has been enjoying more local bike rides around the park. She also joined her parents at a colleague’s wedding on Sunday in her prettiest yellow dress



Monkeying Around


St Simons
Helena started off a little hesitant and dipped her feet in the ocean water. The temperature was perfect. After a few minutes she loved it.

Cumberland Island
After a long car ride, an hour ferry boat ride from st Mary’s, and a bike set up- Helena and co set off for their camp site. The journey was arduous but beautiful
armadillos and wild horses dot the island
plum orchard, former vacation home of the Carnegie family
Cumberland Island pt1
The family traveled to the Georgia coast for the Labor Day weekend for an adventure. Friday night was Helena’s first experience at Hostel in the Forest (more on this in next post) in Brunswick, GA. Helena did great both on the car and boat rides and enjoyed the new sights



Around the House
Seven minute work out
And
Gardening (picking tomatoes)
Spinning
https://youtu.be/7K5nnWyDCJQtk
Grant Park Summer Shade Festival
Helena enjoyed the kid zone quite a bit!
Meerkat reunion
Helena sometimes doesn’t seem to like sitting on a couch with her neighborhood groupies but she otherwise normally has a great time !

Sun baby

High walk with Dad

Let’s go for a bike ride
Helena went on her third Or fourth ever bike ride this past Sunday with mom. They visited the neighborhood splash pad.


Cape milk stash



I’ll feed myself thank you very much !
Climbing!

Helena’s favorite past time
Home Sweet Home
New York Swinger
Maya has finally picked Helena up from NY. One last fun video from her time there
Making new friends
Boston heritage
Being passed down
ABC
Always Be Climbing
Showing off for Grandma
Cucumber

Grandpa
Just practicing since mom’s flight was cancelled and she now has to wait another week to go get Helena and finally bring her back to Atlanta

NY bagels

Balloon
NY Playground


Sky View Center



Arbooz!
Watermelon is now Helena’s favorite food. She still likes yogurt but she can’t get enough arbooz!
Maladetz (excellent)
Helena is picking up speed
NYFD

Mom and Dad brief visit
Last Sunday Mom and Dad visited Helena and grandparents on their way back from Iceland. Ir was nice but also sad since it was a short visit



Eating
Helena now has almost all of her baby teeth. Here she is literally enjoying the fruits of her labor with her grandparents.


Она любит своих бабушек и дедушек
(She loves her grandparents)



Bear in a Cage

Picking up the pace
Helena is almost running now. Joining the track runners at Queens College
Playing in Kassena Park
While making new NYC summer friends!



Soccer
After watching a fair amount of the World Cup and seeing Mother Russia lose in the quarter finals, Helena decided to get going on her soccer skills to help the 2032 team
Helena went to her friend Hazel and Genevieve’s house down the road in Grant Park. Everybody had a good time and older sister Genevieve declared Helena one of The now “three” sisters
Helena loves her bike helmet

armadillos and wild horses dot the island
plum orchard, former vacation home of the Carnegie family