Halloween ~ Part 1

The girls were home today courtesy of Hurricane Sandy. We started our day with roasting the pumpkins seeds.







And then moved on to Halloween Max and Ruby (and other little kid shows).

We had a tea party at Grandma and Grandpa's, and then we moved on to Tricks and Treats.

It was a fun day (and night) with more pictures coming tomorrow. But this momma is tired just from soaking in all of their excitement. Tomorrow I'll be at the fourth grade and Kindergarten parties, phew... is it almost over yet? :)

Time Home and Festivities

I wonder what all of these days off will do to my "I don't want to be without you and be at school all day" kinder.  I'm thinking it might not be so good. 


(Jumping to catch some leaves)

There have been sister sleepovers every night. That blue blow up mattress seems like a permanent fixture on Anna's floor this week. It makes "no school" extra special.



Anna went to a friends house to play for an hour yesterday and Abigail was so so sad. Boy did she sob.



It was only an hour so we filled it with a little leaf project fun. She made the whole thing up. Clever little girl!

But Daddy was quickly home and we scooped Anna up to get grossed out on 'pumpkin guts'. Cool!





And we worked inside the garage since it was raining outside.







And enjoyed this pumpkin tradition again.







Happy Halloween!

No School Day #3

I just got the call.  There is no school again tomorrow for the girls.  We have power at our house but much of our neighborhood does not (including the school).  I'm sad.  Last year they missed Halloween at school and at night because of the massive storm and no power for nine days.  Believe me I'm thrilled to have power but it's so exciting to wear your owl costume to school when you are five (and when you are nine).  I just sent an email to Abigail's sweet Kinder teacher asking her to please still consider having their little kinder parade and party in the classroom when they get back to school (maybe Thursday). 

How awful for those people in NJ, NY, and on the shoreline of CT.  The devestation is terrible.  Praying for all of those children and families tonight. 

Candy Apples ~ Hurricane Fun

Anna's been asking to make candy apples all season and today was the perfect day! Abigail was napping and I knew that feeling sick she wouldn't have any interest anyway so we dove in this time just Anna and us.

Serious stuff



Love that face in the background



Smiles all around



Sticky sugary fun!





An apple photo shoot!



You KNOW that when she tried one she hated it... and Abigail wouldn't go near one of those but it sure was fun making them!

A Visit To The Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we were busy getting ready for Hurricane Sandy. We're not sure what to expect. School is closed all around the state for Monday and Tuesday and the Governor said this is the worst storm we've seen in our lifetime. (do you remember our storm just last year? To the day... one year ago... we lost power for 9 days)

But I've got homemade cookies cooling on a rack, an apple pie coming out of the oven, a big batch of soup simmering, so I think we're all set! :)

We went to the pumpkin patch today. Scott and I thought it might be a good idea since we'll be inside for the next few days.



The pumpkins at the stand were better than the ones in the 'patch'.



But the hayride was fun.



And there's nothing like wandering around the pumpkin patch searching for just the right one to make a perfect jack-o-lantern.



Abigail needed lots of tlc on the outing and when we got home I took her temp only to find out that she has a fever. Lucky for us we have a few days off to recover and get our little one better.







On Saturday the girls got their hair cut.  This was Abigail's first "real cut" She was super excited waiting for her turn.



She was in good hands.  Lana has cut my hair since I was in Eighth Grade.  She did my hair for my Senior Prom, Wedding, and all of the days in between. 



She has a 'way' with kids and made my girls feel oh so special.  Abigail feeling sleeping...



She asked Abigail how she wanted her hair to look when she was done cutting it. And Abigail described three braids with great deatail, and Lana did just what she asked for.



And then Anna asked Abigail to collect her hair and Abiagil took her job seriously. She walked around holding a cup to catch every single hair. She was so happy with her new job!





Looking forward to a few surprise Hurricane days at home with my girls.

China Reunion

A few weeks ago the girls and I (Scott had class) went to New Hampshire for Anna's Reunion.  I'm just getting around to looking through the pictures and getting them posted.



In 2004 we all traveled to China together because we had all been given 'referrals' to adopt our babies from the same orphanage.  We spent two weeks together in China traveling, sightseeing, and most importantly meeting our daughters for the fist time.  We laughed together and certainly cried together.  These women literally held me up when I thought I would die because I was told that our Anna was given to another family from Denmark.  When I was aching for a hug from my Mom and Dad a world away, they hugged me.  They even found a phone and found a way to call my family. 



These families, these girls are precious to me and I love them. 



I adore these girls. 



I adore their parents and families. 

I feel a forever family bond with them and am sad that this years reunion is over. 

Simple Days

This was Anna when she was a Kindergartner. And I want to go back to these days.


(love this dress... I tried it on my Kinder Abigail... I think it'll fit her in fourth grade)

I remember reading on Sarah's blog about life mothering teens. And I've heard for years the little phrase, "little people, little problems. big people, big problems." I'm not so sure that that is true.

Maybe I just don't remember the challenges of this particular day. All I SEEM to remember is that we didn't have as much on the calender, and that my motherhood was more about helping take little socks off. Now it's homework. It's viola. It's making good and wise choices for them that will help them stay young as long as they can. And that takes more effort than it did this October day long ago.



But these pictures are my reminder that simple days are the best days of all. And that even in the midst of a fall season with a fourth grader and kindergartner I can MAKE their days (in simple little pockets of time) simple days too.

Just this morning. I noticed how little Abigail's toes were as she let me put her socks on for school. Now that's a little and I soaked it in.

I noticed Anna's pink backpack with a butterfly on it. A backpack only a young girl would want and I soaked it in.

I listened to their sneaky, whispering little plans in the back seat as I drove to school. Sisters that giggle and whisper... that's little and I soaked it in.

This weekend I'm going to look for the little in them and celebrate it, soak it in, cherish it and enjoy the simple days.



"Tis the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all" Laura Ingalls Wilder

Catching Up

Wow!  I'm so behind I barely know where to start.  I've been 'in the classroom' a lot with these cute little "kinders" as their teacher calls them.  Just a few pictures from a little Pilgrim Photo Shoot I did. 


(my pilgrim girl... so not photogenic)

They steal my hearts!  I'm such a 'regular' now in their classroom that they don't call me "Abigail's Mom" anymore; they've moved on to "Mrs. Baker".


(so little... just starting to wear a size 4... her teacher had to staple the costume to keep it on her)

There are days that I don't want to leave after my helping time is done.  Kinders just say the cutest things and they love the extra 'tlc'. 



There is one darling little girl that tears up and cries a bit every time I walk in the room because it reminds her that she misses her Mom.  Lots of tlc to her when I'm there! 





I love Kindergarten!