The Zoo

I will be sad when the girls no longer want to go to the zoo.  Perhaps one of them will be like me and never tire of it?  Who knows!  For now, I will enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. 

Fiona is 17 Months Old

My FIONA!  Words, words and more words.  They are of course still just beginning words - sounds really, but words.  The words that amuse me the most - yes, that, this.  I am most amused by the fact that she says yes - sounds like "ah-ssss", but is clearly yes that she means.  I really can't believe that she says yes, and she doesn't say no.  How is it possible that she doesn't say no?  Considering how much she hears it from everyone, it is amusing to me!  Another funny thing that she started this month, is pulling me around by my pant leg.  She most often takes me to the fridge and demands food.  She doesn't actually eat any more than a bite which is probably why she is continuously asking for food.

And to make her month day even more special, it was also garbage day!  How can you ask for more!

Halloween!

I think Halloween is fun!  It is fun to play dress-up.  It is fun to see other people play dress-up.  It is fun to give out candy.  It is fun to get candy.  It is fun!  I love that we had Halloween fun for a week.  I suppose longer if you consider the outside lights that Ken puts up for decoration.

Here's the girls playing with the lights - after they were put up.  The pictures are from October 6th.

Next up was the Frightfully Fun Family Event in Tottenham - Oct 25th.  We had planned to go to Orangeville for the same sort of thing and the end of the Farmer's Market, but with our friends doing the roof, we decided not to go anywhere.  The girls and I had fun and of course everyone thought my little Minions were adorable. (Kate's hat was a present from her Nana last Christmas, and my friend Melissa made the other two on short notice!  I love them!)

Fiona was so excited to be part of the fun.  She held on to that pumpkin bucket even after she fell asleep.  It was such a beautiful day I let her sleep outside in the stroller.

Next up, pumpkin carving - Oct 27th.  We learned the hard way that carving them four days early, was too early.  Also, if you're going to carve them four days early, you must put them outside.  The girls and Ken did have fun though, and the pumpkins looked cute in our house.  I'm sad I never did take a pic of Ken's though.  I found one of what it looked like on pinterest, and I included it.  Thankfully I was able to dispose of the pumpkins before anything was too ruined!  Next year, we'll do it the night before, like we have in the past!

Parting Shots!  I clipped the parting shot from the Alliston Herald not long after we first moved here.  I've always wanted to have a picture printed in the paper - the parting shot.  I thought my little minions would be the perfect Halloween week parting shot.  I sent in the picture on Tuesday night, and wouldn't you know, Friday morning when we looked at the paper, they printed it!

Halloween should always be on a Friday.  It was perfect.  First, Kate and Alice both had school - so fun for them to experience it all with their class.  Second, it's FRIDAY!  So, Kate and Alice were both ready to go, on time!  I took pictures and everything.  Ken took the girls, I got Fiona ready and then Fiona and I went over to Kate's school for the parade and assembly.  I'm sad I never took a picture of Fiona in the monkey costume she wore most of the day.  (I suppose that's just an excuse to dress her up again!)  Alice was a ladybug, and Kate was a funky fairy.  Kate's class sang two cute Halloween songs, after the parade, in the Character Assembly.  Both the girls had a great Halloween school day.

 

The last three years it has rained.  I can't say that I ever remember it raining on Halloween when I was a kid.  I'm not sure if this is because it never did, or because I chose not to remember the rain.  Either way, I'm tired of the rain.  I really hope next is rain free.  I suppose I should be thankful that it didn't snow!  For the outdoor fun the girls wore their big heavy suits with their coats and layers underneath.  We didn't bother with an umbrella as it was drizzling more than raining.  The girls collected a modest amount of candy and they were so happy.  Another thing I like about Halloween is saying hello to neighbours that you don't otherwise talk to.  Halloween really is a fun holiday! 

The Angels on the Roof

Last winter was bad, really, really bad. The ice storm on Christmas Eve left several inches of ice on our roof all winter.  When that ice finally melted we were left with a leak and some damage.  I had called someone, gotten a rough estimate, that was never turned into a legitimate estimate, and the money set aside was spent on living.  I have recalled Elder Bednar's words from his talk titled "The Windows of Heaven".  He said this: As we live the law of tithing, we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not always what we expect and easily can be overlooked.  

Today's blessing didn't feel subtle and it certainly wasn't insignificant.  The outside patch job is done and I am so thankful to Aaron Nicholls and Peter Misinchuk for coming today, and working all day.  There are so many good people in this world, and I am blessed to know so many good people.  I kept thanking Aaron for giving up a day with his family to help us out, and he kept saying it was no big deal.  It was a big deal for us.  My heart just swells with gratitude.

Round the Bend Farm

Alice's turn... and mine too for that matter!  I was working full time when Kate was in pre-school.  Ken and I alternated all of the parental obligations.  He did one duty day, I did two - one while on maternity leave.  He did both field trips.  It's funny to look back at those pictures.  Alice is now Kate, and Fiona is now Alice and well... Kate will always only be Kate, where am I going with this?  Oh how they grow!

Wizard of Oz - 2012

 

Wizard of Oz - 2014

It was drizzly, a little cold, and it full out rained at one point.  But then the skies cleared and we were able to finish up the trip.  The girls had so much fun.  I'd never been to Round the Bend Farm before.  It's a cute little farm.  A few animals, a fun wagon ride, a great hay-bale play area, the awesome Halloween figures, a tree house, fields to pick veggies (supervised by a farm worker of course), and three pumpkins (and a gourd) to take home!

The girls favourite part was the hay, or straw - I don't know what it is.  I think it's straw, but hay bale just sounds better.  Either way, they loved running around!  Fiona was particularly amusing to watch.  She just giggled, and giggled, and threw herself down in it.

And then she did this.  This is one of her Dad's favourite things to do...

June 2011

I am so happy to be home full time with my girls right now.  There are days/moments that are hard, but there are many more moments that just make me so, so happy!  I'm living the dream!  And touring farms to boot!