Alice is 19 Months Old.

When I told Ken that I needed to take a picture of Alice today because she's 19th months old he asked me when I stop taking pictures every month.  I reminded him that it was two, at about the same time he said two.  That's five more months.  Alice will be a two year old in five months!

I told Alice that we were going to go outside and I wanted her to sit in a chair and I would take her picture.  We went outside and she went straight to the chair and climbed in.  I still get a kick out of the fact that she understands everything - well almost everything.  Her clearest word these days is no and it's pretty cute.  She'll be making all sorts of sounds and gestures and we'll ask her a question and out comes this perfect little no.  I love my ALICE!!

Beeton Fall Fair and Uncle Jon

Weekends are not to be trifled with.  They are currently my entire reason for being.  Dramatic perhaps, but I love, love, love my weekends.

Our first order of business today was the Beeton Fall Fair!  However, on the way there we (okay mostly me) got distracted by a train.  This is a photograph I've wanted to take for a while - a train crossing the little train trestle bridge that is just south of 7th line.  I might have ignored a no trespassing sign to take the picture.  The set of tracks going underneath the trestle belongs to the South Simcoe Railway.

Distraction over we made our way to the fair.  We looked at lots of animals, watched part of a dog show, had pony rides, a ride on a carousel, and generally had a good time - oh and there was cotton candy!

After the fair it was home for naps.  I phoned Uncle Jon and the parents and they decided to come up to visit.  It was a quick in and out for the parents (as I am currently getting sick), but it is worth mentioning that this is the first time that Dad has been inside our house since his surgery.  YAY DAD!

We had a fun night.  We met up with Andrew in Bradford and Jon was able to quench his Canadian craving for Swiss Chalet.  It was the best dinner at a restaurant ever because there were FOUR adults and two crazy children.

Sunday we went to Sacrament Meeting in Richmond Hill which is always fun and then went back to Mom and Dad's to hang out and play.

At some point - when Kate's old enough to get it, we won't swim on the Sabbath, but since Uncle Jon is only in town to play for such a short time we made an exception.  The girls had fun swimming with their Uncle and Daddy.

Uncle Jon, come visit us again soon, and next time bring your cute wife and kids, PLEASE!!

Alice's first doll

There are a few dolls in the house.  Alice calls them baby.  She loves babies.  Yesterday in Walmart I handed her a doll.  It's the perfect size for her.  She immediately held it against her chest and continued looking at the toys.  She didn't put it down.  I had already decided before giving her the doll to hold that I was going to buy it for her.  She carried it around all day yesterday.  She played with the doll this morning and she went to sleep with it tonight. 

Black Creek Pioneer Village

The last time I remember going was with my sister, my parents and Isaac, in 2003.  Ken had never been before, and needless to say we'd never taken the girls.  The day started off with rain and clouds and plans to do something with Laura, Joaquin and William, but we weren't sure what.  Ken and Laura came up with Pioneer Village and we hoped the weather would cooperate.  We met up with them in the early afternoon and we had a lovely time.  The weather cooperated, the kids had fun, the adults had fun.  I'm excited to go back when there's an event.  I love history and historical places and spending time with family!

Kate's First Day of Preschool

Ken dropped Kate off this morning, and she was excited.  In his words "As soon as I opened the door (to the community centre where the pre-school is located) she bolted and ran straight into the room, past her teachers and straight for the other kids.  I had to call her back to hang up her back-pack.  Alice was protesting loudly that she wanted to go too.  I called Kate and she came and placed her back-pack on a hook and ran straight back into the room yelling goodbye on her way."

When I asked Kate about school she said it was fun.  She isn't one for a lot of detail.  She revealed little tidbits of information through-out the evening tonight.  She brought home several paintings - and her hand prints, which I will keep.  I'm really happy that we signed her up for class and I'm so grateful that our ever amazing caregiver Antoinette will drop her off and pick her up - who could ask for a more perfect situation.

Here is cute Kate standing by her name.

And here she is in the doorway of the main classroom.

(Photos courtesy of Antoinette.  Someone who will remain unnamed forgot the camera on his daughter's first day of pre-school!)

I'm so happy for my little girl!  Way to go Kate!

Kate

I've practised letters with her a little and so has Ken.  I was still very surprised to see her write her name in sidewalk chalk on the front porch.  I can't believe how much she is growing up every day.  I still can't believe I could actually make out K A T E.  My little girl wrote her name and tomorrow she goes to her first day of pre-school.  Life is good.

An end and a beginning.

Summer is over.  Well, technically the season isn't over for a few more weeks, but my summer holidays are over.  I've been doing fairly well recently at breathing and not freaking out.  The girls will be well cared for.  I do like my job.  Everything will be okay.  But right this moment, staring at the clock, knowing in less than twelve hours I'll be in my classroom a million miles away from summer and my ladies, I want to scream and cry and run away. 

We had a lovely day today.  We continued our tradition of going to the ROM on labour day weekend. (AND most exciting of all, the ROM has lowered their prices!) We saw the special dinosaur exhibit.  Alice LOVED it.  Alice was roaring all over the place.  I wouldn't be surprised if her voice sounded funny tomorrow.  Both the girls had a wonderful day.  Ken and I had a wonderful day too. 

 Kate and the dinosaur we didn't buy her.  Her face was so sad.  I really almost caved.

Now I just have to breathe.  And once I'm done breathing I need to work - there's so much to do!