Jordan tackles the slide

"Hmmm, I know I have to do something with this long part...."

"Much easier when Mummy just puts me at the top..."

"...sooo.... um... Mummy... what do I do now?"

"Now she shows me how to go up the stairs... she may regret that!!"

The Storm Cuddlers

Thunder Bay had an amazing thunder storm last night... the fact we live in "Thunder" Bay was not lost on Abby Grace! Jon and I have always loved thunder storms and always stop whatever we're doing to cuddle and watch them together. Early in last night's storm the was really thunder loud, the power went off for a few minutes, and the kids all woke up. We all went to our bedroom in the addition, cuddled under the covers, and watched the storm over the lake. We counted between peals of thunder and flashes of lightning, hiding under the covers when the storm shook the windows. Daddy and Abby periodically checked the river of water streaming down the street while the boys and I cuddled under the cozy covers.... special times.

I love Fridays!

Mondays are for errands, Abby's in school Tuesdays and Thursdays, I work Tuesday, Wednesday afternoon & Thursday, Wednesday morning is gymnastics for both Abby & Jude. Friday is my relaxing, don't-get-dressed-until-noon-or-even-after day with the kids. Today we played outside under the beautiful blue sky on an unseasonably warm afternoon. I love Fridays!

The boys...

They make each other giggle, they chat away to each other from their bedrooms on either side of the house, they climb all over each other, they play cars and with the barn together... I hope they always enjoy each other this much and even more.

Open house at Abby's school

Abby was so proud to show us her classroom, where she has recess, the library, the different centres, her cubby, etc.

Abby with her teacher, Mrs. Rosnow. Abby really likes her!

Serious bathtime fun

Jordan doesn't just splash, he makes waves!

Abby's First Day of School!

Abby started JK today...she was awake at 6:30 am, sooooo excited that she got to go to school today.

Waiting for the bus... we all went down with her to the bus stop (the boys in the stroller).

Such a big girl...
I had butterflies in my tummy...er... stomach... I was nervous for her... excited for her... This blurry, slightly slanty picture was the product of my shaky hands as I watched my little girl get on the big school bus where she knew no one. I watched as two little boys moved over to accomodate her in their seat (we then realized that we didn't really tell her how to choose a place to sit on the bus). I watched her big (slightly nervous but more excited) smile and wave. We smiled and waved back. We watched the school bus go off down the hill, then I cried, just a little. My little girl was out in the world and out of the protection of our little family. As much as we've been preparing for this moment, it was still an emotional moment. This starts an new chapter in the life of our little family. It's an adjustment...

Back home... a visibly tired but still excited little girl emerged from the school bus. She did the hokey-pokey, learned that "criss-cross applesauce" means to sit cross-legged, played on the dinosaur playground equipment and climbed up the rock wall. She met two little girls named Jordan and two little girls named Kaitlin (she's the only Abby though!). She coloured a rainbow with cotton-ball clouds "God's promise. God's love". She traced dinosaurs. She did not eat her carrots or her applesauce. She had a great day!

We survived the first day of school...

Yesterday

Abby and Jude sitting at the little desk we bought at a late-summer garage sale... it's an old, partially stripped wooden student desk with a drawer under the seat.

Abby has very healthy eyes... we took her to have her eyes tested yesterday. She sat and allowed the optometrist to shine bright lights in her eyes. She did everything she was asked. I was really proud of her. The appointment was short (I think we were actually in the McDonald's drive thru line longer waiting for our ice cream!) Abby is showing her eyeball sticker (where does one put an eyeball sticker?) and pencil.

Hymer's Fair

Our new Labour Day weekend tradition is to attend the Hymer's country fair. We went last year and the kids loved it! We caught the end of Reptile Rob's show (which was quite enough...)The kids both had their first cotton candy... it was a big hit! Jude was a little hesitant to eat the cotton candy at first...it looks very similar to insulation, which we've trained him NOT to eat.
Painting "carvings". Abby painted a kitty (of course!) and Jude painted a truck.
They both did such a great job! I was especially impressed with Jude. He made sure that every spot was painted and used lots of different colours. Abby loved the ribbons they got when we came onto the fair grounds and still asks to wear it some days. It says "all children are special at an agricultural fair".

9 months old

Jordan turned 9 months old at the end of August. He's pulling himself up... he's cruising around furniture... he's BUSY and learning so much each day. Yesterday he pulled himself up to a little end table where his water bottle was sitting. When I walked in, he was standing up against the table, drinking from his water bottle, that was lying on the table.

Our house...

Jon's current addition project is siding the house...the whole house...

He first had to take off all the old, cream coloured siding (no love lost there...) We discovered various exterior coverings under the siding. On the back of the house, Jon had to break old shakes off. It took a lot of work (mostly in the form of beating on the house until they broke and fell away).
Next came the insulation/tyvek stage...
Jon's started the siding. Although the colour's lighter than we thought it would be, it'll look great!

Soooo ready for school

Abby is ready for school... we've had the schoolbus orientation, we've met her teacher Mrs. Rosnow, she's played in her classroom, we've labelled clothes & shoes, picked out a perfect backpack and matching lunchbox and bought her indoor shoes. A little paperwork to finish for Mummy and we're set for her first day, Tuesday September 16. My little girl is starting school. She's ready... I'm getting there :)
Abby and I both thought that we would have the opportunity to ride on the bus together for her very first ride (at the First Riders Program... the event around which we planned our summer vacation!) The kids and parents all watched a Winnie the Pooh safety video, listened to the OPP officer talk about safety, and then we went out for the bus ride. It was at this point that parents were strongly encouraged to allow the kids to ride on their own... big gulp...Abby had never been on a bus by herself. She had always been in her carseat/booster with the exception of a single city bus ride. Abby gave me a little hug and then marched up the steps and into the bus. In the 10 or so minutes that they were out on their ride, I checked my invisible watch dozens of times and tried to be okay with the fact that it was taking FOREVER! When the bus finally pulled around, Abby got off proudly. During their ride, they got off the bus, learned to cross the street safely, and then got back on. I was soooo proud of her!!
They had another bus parked on the lawn where parents and kids could check out the bus. Parents were encouraged to sit in the driver's seat to see what the drivers see as well as the dangerous areas or blind spots.
Such a big girl!!