making plans

we're going to the big city next week. Hopefully, it's all been thrown off a bit by a death in the church. Anyhow, we're making plans. Hoping to get to a fun-sounding and looking hay maze. Possibly do some portraits of the kids. Haircuts! Isaac's hair is out of control and Norah's bangs are way too long and *I* can't get her to sit for me. Looking for Isaac's winter gear, including a snowsuit, ice skates and a helmet. Fun! And poor dad will be stuck at a clergy retreat, missing out on the fun.

Coming events...

In a case of the shoemakers child not having shoes, we are now making plans to baptize Ruby. Her future Godparents are planning to come and join us for the event.

October 22. It will be 'here'. 11 am service.

Now to figure out what to dress her in...there is no way we can squeeze her into the family baptizm gown.

Sunny Fall days

Ruby discovers getting into the car on her own.












Bad boys, bad boys, what'cha gonna do?

Ruby's on patrol















Run, run! get that ball!








Dig in the sand - the patio is creeping along. Eventually it will be done, right?

a birthday in pictures

Books! She wouldn't look at the camera because she was 'reading'.



















Princess castle! Oh, how fun. Not even fully assmebled yet, but already being played with.
Note the hand belonging to little sister, trying to get in on the action.









Cake! The co-op messed up our order, but she was still happy, even though it wasn't the pink cake we had picked. She is covered in pizza sauce. Pizza, cake, ice cream AND presents? What more could a 2 year old want?





After church on Sunday, more princess castle play. This time, little sister CAN join her.

Happy 2nd birthday, wonderful little girl!

Packages and cards have arrived from near and far. This morning included a run to the Sears depot and the post office. Isaac has completed his first ever gift wrapping job. A cake is being prepared for pickup in the morning. Last minute groceries for a little girl's favourite meal will be done. Nanny arrives this afternoon. Tomorrow, a little girl turns 2 AND starts swimming lessons. It's a big day ahead.

fall is here

We have had our first frost. Brrr. Heat is on, mornings require much coffee and homemade apple cinnamon oatmeal.



Who says Katie has the monopoly on big baby hair in this family?













Why yes Ruby, that is a lot of canola oil you are playing in. 2 liters worth to be exact. That was a fine mess.











But the days are still mild. Norah after church on Sunday.

sad but true

thank you nataliedee.com

We have put together a Christmas wish list for the kids. (click the link to access) Their current sizes are on there too.

There is a variety of stuff on there, including a couple of big items, but hey, it's a wish list, right? ;)

Books are always enjoyed too. However, not big fans of lots of character items, especially Spongebob or Bratz (ick).

planning ahead

Isaac is signed up for skating lessons starting next month. Now we need to get him skates and a helmet. Skating and hockey are huge here, so it's going to be good to be connected there. Isaac and Norah both start swimming lessons on the 23rd. He will be in Salamanders, and Norah will be a Duck. She'll love that. Hers is parent participation, so that won't be as fun for us :)

Last night, I was at an information session for what could be a really exciting development in town - French immersion. They are trying to start up an immersion program in town, with an eye to beginning next September with Kindergarten and maybe Grade 1 as well. We are thrilled that this could happen, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. We've been really struggling with our school options here in town. Isaac already has a lot of the academic skills down for K and beyond. Homeschooling is a possibility, and there is a support for it here...but we aren't feeling fully committed to doing it right now, which would be an issue. Yet, we aren't that thrilled about what we are seeing and hearing about the local schools either, literacy issues, social issues and so on. Immersion would not only open up more doors for our kids, and give Isaac the academic challenge he would need, but would be putting him into a program with other kids whose parents care about their education. All round, sounds like a win/win. Now if only we can get the numbers to support it....we're praying it happens!

2 events from today

Today, Norah allowed me to put a ponytail in her hair. After her nap, she asked me to re-do it. "pretty pohnnie-tail" Very good progression. That was good.

This evening, while I was enjoying a phone conversation with a friend, Ruby managed to dump 2 liters of canola oil on the kitchen floor. She was happily splashing in it, and tried to escape me picking her up, but she wiped out in the mess. That was not so good. (but it was really funny...if very, very messy to clean up)

words

Ruby is starting to really, really copy words. She is mastering some signs too. Today we were 'chatting' over breakfast.
"say mum"
"mum mum mum"
"say Isaac"
"iii-yak"
"say daddy"
"bum"
"let's try again, say daddy"
"bum"

Poor Rob. He's feeling a bit ego-bruised today. Especially since I laughed so hard coffee almost came out of my nose.

clothes!

Oh my. We're going through all the kids clothes for the fall and winter. I can't believe how much clothing the girls have! Seriously, they could easily go at least 2 weeks without needing to do laundry. Then I realise they both have upcoming birthdays. Books! they need books! Even when we take all the shorts out of the dresser, the drawers are still loaded up with clothes. Crazy, but makes us feel really blessed. Now to go through Isaac's clothes with him today....

already?

The daytime temperatures get up to the high 20's, but the overnights drop down to just above freezing. Isaac is back to preschool on Tuesday. The calendar is filling up with places to be, things to do. September breezed in when we weren't looking, and now we are in the middle of the last long weekend of the summer. bummer.

Parishoners bring by produce from their gardens at a fast pace, faster than we can find homes for it. Our kitchen emits smells of rhubarb cake, homemade tomato sauce and carrot ginger soup. We have containers filling up the freezer, and lots more to do. We have cucumbers and potatoes to last for weeks. It is such a blessing, especially when we can find room for it all!

The nights are definitely colder, apparently it was 1.1 the other night. A statistic we have on good authority from our friend who works at the weather station. The farmers almanac predicts a cold, long winter. Right now, though, it is 28 and hot in our house. Hopefully winter creeps in, instead of slamming into us one day.

We are getting prepared for winter's eventual arrival. Kristin is on a mad reorganizing streak, between batches of cake/soup/sauce. A new toy, a label printer, is making the job much more fun. The winter wear is upstairs and tried on. Everyone has boots to fit, but Isaac will need a snowsuit and Norah new hat and mitts. But we're getting ready. Crisp mornings and scraping windows will be a reality before we know it. Even though summer tempts us with these warm evenings right now.