Halloween 2013

Abigail's favourite movie is 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and she couldn't wait to get to Halloween so that she could be Sally for a day. I have never seen her as excited as the night Jake took her to the costume store and she came home with it. In true Jake form, to give her his support, daddy dressed up as Jack. She was thrilled with this idea and all the kids in the school parade were waving at him and shouting 'hi, Jack!' She was beaming that Jack was her daddy, and she could be her idol, Sally.

Bryony got to be the third-time Madonna family Strawberry Shortcake and couldn't have been any cuter. She was most excited over the freckles.

school parade

our neighbor, Rich, as a pirate

Maggiore family friends

Almost-Three-Bryony

A quick post with photos of only Bryony - because she is at a full-of-fun stage, and gives me enough stories to start a whole other Blog if I had the time.

paint with water will go right through the page if you drown it enough

splash pad fun with her sister

loves to colour in her own legs with marker pens

because I did ALL of these with Abigail ...

I try to make it to every classroom party - love you Boogie-boo!

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

This book is "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout, not "Elizabeth Strout" by Olive Kitteridge.

 

 

Four and a half out of five stars - I loved it. And I keep thinking it would be a great film - hopefully somebody in Hollywood agrees with me ....

Last-Minute California Weekend

Thanks to a work friend, Brian, and his family, we got an unexpected, last-minute 'extra' summer weekend at the beach over Labour Day. We stayed at Brian's parent's house near Seal Beach, and the girls had fun because Brian and Victoria have two girls themselves, both a little younger than Abigail and Bryony.

Abigail - First Grade

Another New Nephew

Here he is! Another little boy for my sister, little cousin for my girls, little nephew for me, and little brother for Baby Nathan. Welcome to the family Baby-No-Name! (for the record, I am pushing your mother on this one as best I can). I cannot wait to meet you, hold you, and love on you, lil' guy.

And not to be left out - a couple of Baby Nathan, now Big Brother Nathan:

Abigail Starts First Grade

Just a few days after our trip to California, Abigail went back to school. Jake had to do the first morning by himself because I have been working a boatload of hours going in early and staying late (more to come on that later). So, he wasn't really able to get photos from her first day but I snapped a few one afternoon that week - with Bryony in them too. Don't I have the cutest kids in the state? :)

And, here's my bragging opportunity: 36/36 on her first spelling test!

Love my lil' Smarty Pants ...