Dots of Life

back to october

october was a very busy month.  lots of birthdays, a return to hockey, thanksgiving... here are a few memories of one of my favourite months of the year!

thanksgiving weekend was so wonderful... the weather was amazing and we were able to spend lots of time outside. my mom hosted her side of the family... we spent the enitre afternoon outside... in the canoe, on the tractor, riding bikes and eating :)

we hosted the macdonalds at our house this year.  we started the day off with a family skate at the stirling arena, then headed back our house for a turkey feast!

we also celebrated a very special little ladies 4th birthday... georgia peach was 4 on october 19th and she celebrated with her besties and lots of family. 

the kids (and mam-ma) had lots of fun bobbing for apples...

but leave it to anna pearl to show them how to get r done...

the great october weather continued for halloween festivities... it was a great night!  we hosted a village haunt... the guys/dads hung out at our house to hand out candy and eat chili... while the moms and kids ventured out for some trick or treating.

my crew went out as little red riding hood, sandra dee (from grease) and some hockey dude from the movie slapshot?  nanny jen treated the kids to some supersized treat bags complete with homemade popcorn balls and candy apples!

the aubertins, lightfoots, broughs, bridges, trevertons, tapps and craigs helped to make the night a spooktacular one...

this year was the first year that ben was aloud to go around the village with his friends... no adult supervision.  but, he surprised us by coming home early to hang out with the rest of us :)

another couple of things to mention about october... anna pearl was invited to a soccer skills session with the belleville u13 girls team.  she is super excited to be spending friday nights with her good friend erika for the next 8 weeks!  she was also asked to play for a belleville/kingston team, but with all the travel that we already do for hockey throughout the winter, we thought that this would be a good compromise. 

and after a bumpy start to the school year, adi made a classroom switch and couldn't be happier.  this is a picture and a letter that adi created for her new teacher...

and as she says in her letter... she "loves the class so much". 

pumpkin' pickin'

the kids couldn't wait to get their pumpkins this year as we were excited to set up our autumn porch display.  instead of heading to the pumpkin patch we took a drive out to one of daddy's friends in centre hastings.  it was a cool and drizzly afternoon but that didn't dampen our spirits.

the kerby's had a haywagon full of pumpkins.  all shapes and sizes. 

adi had a hard time choosing one, so she got 3 instead...

anna pearl picked a classic round pumpkin...

ben decided on a tall pumpkin... perfect for a jack-o-lantern...

this was my pick... the bigger the better!

tilly was quite happy to come along with us and kept a close eye on us from inside the warm, dry van...

i loved this sign... another reminder of why i love living in the country!  the honour system... but we made sure to leave them a tip!

september summary

looking back to september, i have to say that we were very busy.  i wanted to make sure that i documented some fun and important events so i thought i would recap with a quick september summary...

we hosted anna pearls year end soccer party at our house.  we had a fantastic potluck and ended the evening with a bonfire.  the girls are really starting to mesh as a team and they had such a fun night!

sunday school started back up and cc and adi couldn't wait to don their sunday best...

it was spirit day at school... adi is on the blue team and anna pearl made sure that she rocked as much blue as possible.  I think she could pass for a doodlebop!

hockey started again for little miss adi... and after only a few days of assessments, she was the only tyke girl moved up with the novice team.. whoot whoot!

we also celebrated 2 very special birthdays.  riley turned 11!  yes 11!

and harper turned 2!

2 is such a fun age.  she was really in to opening her presents...

i love that her favourite gift seemed to be her big girl underwear... she couldn't wait to get them on...

some other pics from the day...

love this one of aunt sam and anna pearl...

 

campbells orchard 2011

it was only early september, but the girls and i decided it was close enough to fall that it was time to head to campbells orchard for some yummy autumn apples.  there was hardly anybody else at the orchard... kinda weird as it is always packed when we go on a weekend.  we didn't mind one bit though...

the girls were eager to pick some apples... and oh, did we pick apples!

 
 

 
 
 
 

after our bags were filled to the brim with mac's we headed off to enjoy all of the other fun things that the orchard has to offer...

 like the tractor ride.  we were the only ones on the ride so the farmer gave us an extra long ride... this never gets old!

 

 

 

 

and the bunnies...

 

and the sign...

 

we finished off our trip with a caramel apple for each of us... no pictures though... my hands were too full!

back to school... 2011 style!

after enjoying a beautiful summer, filled with lots of beach time and vacationing... the kids and i were ready for "back to school".  i love the easiness of summer... no strict timelines or routines, but adi had a really rough summer with her diabetes and for this reason... i was welcoming back the school routine with open arms.

on the other hand... i was very melancholy about this school year.  this is bens grade 8 year!  this is bens last year at foxboro school!  my little boy is growing up!  i really am having a hard time with this... it is like the end of an era is fast approaching so i am really going to savour every day of his grade 8 year.  wasn't it just yesterday that we stood in line with ben at the bus stop to put him on the bus for the first time?  i can still remember his little mushroom haircut and golden blonde hair and big smiles. 

 

ben too, is feeling a little apprehensive... like me, he is wishing there was a "foxboro highschool"... life is just so much more simple out here!  but on the plus side... ben is looking forward to his senior year... lots of fun things planned; ski trips, school dances, school sports and a quebec trip. 

my handsome grade 8...

 

 

 

anna pearl is definitely excited to get back to school. she loves everything about school... the routine, the school work, the social time.  she is looking forward to playing lots of school sports and is really looking forward to having mrs. mcgrath for a teacher.

my beautiful grade 5...

 

 

adison is a little more apprehensive about back to school.  it is no secret that she would rather spend all day, everyday at home with me or daddy.  this year will be a transition year for her as her beloved EA mrs. mitchell has been transferred to another school and therefore, this will be adi's first year without her.  mrs. mitchell has been a godsend to our family.  her loving care and attention to adison and her diabetic needs have allowed adi to do very well at school.  she trusted mrs. mitchell and always knew she was in good hands.  we haven't met her new EA yet, but we are assured that she will be in good hands.  on the flip side, this may be a great chance for adi to become a little more independent with her diabetes management.  fingers crossed... this will be a great year for her.

my super sweet grade 2...

 

 

my boss was kind enough to let me come in late again on the first day... allowing me to get the kids ready for school and have a nice relaxed morning.  as always nanny jen came down to see the kids on the bus and daddy stayed home for the morning to see them off as well.  nanny sharon surprised us and came out for the first time... the kids were thrilled!

 

our traditional first day of school family photo...

 

bittersweet as abracadabra is not here, but our crazy matilda mae is!

 
 

some bunny's been sleeping in our back yard

 
one afternoon when adi and i set about watering the raspberry bushes, something caught my eye in the garden...

 

upon closer inspection we discoverd 5 little bunnies nestled into the raspberry bushes in our back garden...

adi rushed in to get her sissy and bruddy!  3 very excited kids + 5 very tiny and scared little bunnies = a couple of quick pictures.  we don't want to scare our newest neighbours away... especially when they are so stinkin' adorable!

3 chicks, a lemonade stand and a cause

adi and her friend mya decided to organize a lemonade stand to raise money for the jdrf walk.  but they didn't want just a plain old lemonade stand... they wanted a lemonade and chocolate chip cookie stand.  so they asked me to pick them up some bristol board and made a date for some poster making.

 
 

once the signs were made, they even prepared a cookie baking itinerary for daddy...

• wednesday, make cookies
• thursday, make cookies
• friday, make cookies

and bake cookies he did, but the problem was that by saturday, they were all gone.  so sunday morning, daddy got up bright and early to bake 3 dozen cookies for his girl and her gals.  daddy also tried to surprise them with an official homemade lemonade stand, but his drill ran out of power half way through the project.  but no worries, maya, chloe and adi were ready to go at noon on sunday... just as planned...

• the signs were up
• balloons were tied
• chairs were organized
• the cash float was ready
• cups, lemonade and cookies were ready to go

and so they waited for their first customer of the day for a glass of cold lemonade and a warm, fresh out of the oven cookie for $1.

 

the girls were beyond excited and they made it very clear that it was their lemonade stand and that they did not need any help.  so, matt and i did our best to give them some independence... but we kept a watchful eye from the front porch.  it was funny listening to them talk as they waited for almost 10 minutes for their first customer... "oh my gosh, i can't believe people are not stopping... how rude"  or watching them as they frantically waved at passersby and ushered them into the stand.  and finally at 12:10 pm melissa, savannah and anna pearl stopped by for 3 lemonades and 3 cookies to go. 

 
 

within minutes there was a little line forming in front of their stand.  neighbourhood kids on bicycles, freinds and strangers driving by and even a special friend or 2 that heard about it on facebook and made their way over to the little lemonade stand in foxboro.

even nanny jen took a short break from her gardening to support the girls in their business/fundraising endeavor...

 
 

and as the money rolled in they couldn't wait to count it... and then count it again and shout with excitement how much they had made.  sometimes the customers were barely away from the stand as they exclaimed their earnings...

 

but by 2 o'clock the cookies were gone, the lemonade containers were dry and 3 very dedicated and hardworking young ladies had raised $115 in support of team macdonald for the juvenile diabetes research foundation. 

way to go girls!  you stuck with it and you worked hard.  and you even had some requests for another one next year.  i guess we have a little bit of time yet to plan!

back to school 2010

this year is a biggie... this year ALL of my babies will be attending school ALL day, EVERY day!  boo, boo, boo! 

i have a very excited ADISON, who is super excited to be in grade 1 and to be able to go down the big hill...

 

going down the big hill (off the primary playground) is a huge rite of passage for a kid at foxboro school.  she will also be in the same class as some of her bff's; tori and chloe.  she is a happy girl to be heading off to be a grade 1'er!

i have a very excited ANNA PEARL who is also super excited to be in grade 4!  when you are in grade 4, you can join the sports teams... anna plans to go out for everything. 

 
first up is track and field.  she is already practising!

and then there is BEN.  ben is not happy at all, to be going back to school.  he would be totally happy to have a permanent summer vacation.  i tried to boost his enthusiasm by reminding him that not only will he be going into grade 7, he will also be a senior!  it didn't work!  but letting him know that if he played his cards right, he only had 6 years left before he graduated highschool... making him him over halfway done!  this, made him happy!  he will be in a 7/8 split this year and will be on a rotary schedule.  i think this will be good for him... and hopefully hold his interest a little more.

he was also happy to be able to pick out some "kickin' it old school" high tops and a trendy "elements" tshirt for his back to school wardrobe.  every time i look at those shoes, run dmc starts playing in my head!

nanny jen came early in the morning to take part in all of the back to school mayhem... as she always does.  this is our 9th "first day of school" and she hasn't missed one.  this means so much to the kids and i.  thank you so much, for making them #1.

 

and even though, this was the first year, that i have had to work on the first day of school, my amazing boss let me come in late so that i could be there for the kids.  this meant so much to our family.  i am so lucky and the kids were truly happy to have daddy and i home to see them off to school.  and to get our annual family picture on the front porch...

 

the morning flew by, as it always does, and before we knew it, the kids were lining up for the school bus...

 
 
 but not before posing for some shots for mommy...

i thought i would also share some pics from "the night before the first day of school" preparations.  the girls were so full of excitement, they could hardly fall asleep.  but, thank goodness for anna pearl... little miss organizer.  in preparations for a busy morning, she laid out both her and adi's clothes in her bedroom and had the backpacks packed and ready to go in the kitchen.  i let the kids pick out their outfits this year... both anna and adi got their skirts, at claires, in the mall for under $10 and topped them with $6 old navy tshirts.  it seems i have some well organized thrifty shoppers!  i likey!

 

i a

 

milkshake girl

anna and ben were both asked to work at the 4h milkshake booth at the 2010 hastings county plowing match.  ben was feeling a bit under the weather so he couldn't make it.  and anna pearl was nervous to go without her big brother.  but i encouraged her to go and i am glad i did.

when we arrived at the milkshake booth (trailer) there was a line-up of about 15 people.  anna was so nervous, she almost cried... so i just ushered her into the trailer, introduced her to her supervisor and made a quick dash back to the van, so that i didn't cave and bring her home with me.  she worked a 2 hour shift, so i left a little early to go and pick her up.  i thought about her the entire time... hoping that she had settled in and that she was enjoying herself.  and this is what i saw when i arrived...

the lineup was still going...

and then on further inspection... there she was... my milkshake girl...

working it, like i knew she could...

doing a little of this, and a little of that...

she was having so much fun, she didn't want to leave... "mommy, do i have too????"... 
 

but they let her make a free milkshake as payment for all of her hard work...(extra chocolate sauce, light on the milk)...

and she couldn't have been more proud of herself... n'or could i!

special delivery

the kids and i love to bake... and since we have been harvesting zucchini from the garden... we just had to make some zucchini bananna muffins!

and since i am on a freakin diet, we just had to get these muffins out of the house...

so we made a list of some special people whom we would like to share them with and we packaged them up...

and set about to deliver them to some unsuspecting people... 

this was so much fun for the kids and i.  the phone calls and emails of thanks that we received were wonderful and we were especially surprised to receive a lovely bouquet of flowers in return.  we can't wait to do it again soon!