Happy Halloween

I was so excited for Halloween to be on a Sunday this year.  The kids didn't have to rush home from school, hurry to eat, put on their costumes and rush to start trick or treating.  We were able to have a relaxing afternoon after carving our pumpkins and take our time getting ready. Ella was not feeling well after having a fever all week and a terrible cough so she decided not to trick or treat. This was not a suprise even if she was feeling her best.  Ella has never been a big fan of Halloween but she did pick out the cutest costume, a bunny, that I don't even have a picture of her wearing....maybe we can save it for next year.

Emma, aka: the witch

Taylor, aka: the batarina or bat ballerina. Who really knows what this is but please remember she is "almost" 10 and this was "cool mom"!

Ella's cat pumpkin which she did clean and carve herself.

Apples & Pumpkins

 This fall, we took our usual apple picking trip to McQueen's Apple Orchard. As always, the girls had great fun picking apples and climbing the trees.  I think climbing the trees has become more fun than apple picking the past few years. We also visited a new pumpkin farm in Napoleon this year, Leaders Family Farm.  It was an unusually warm 90 degree mid October day but the girls, along with their cousins, Hope, Calla and JT had great fun painting pumpkins, petting animals at the petting zoo and taking a hay ride through the forest.

Back To School!

O.K. so not only do the summers fly by but so do the years. Taylor started 4th grade this fall and Emma & Ella are in 1st grade.  We decided to separate Emma & Ella this year which has definitely worked out for the best.  They have not been bothered by it one bit and it has given them the opportunity to really mature and develop individually.  They still get to participate in many activities together and have lunch and recess together, as well. Emma is doing great and is excelling in reading and language. She is one of the few in her class that is given more challenging work. Ella....well, what can I say?!  She is Ella! She does a great job when focused on her work but would much rather be socializing with her friends. Taylor is doing great in 4th grade. The teachers in 4th grade definitely make the students more responsible and accountable for getting and doing their own assignments which will better prepare them for middle school where she will go next year.

The morning gang; Ashley, Taylor Emma and Ella

Emma with her 1st grade teacher; Mrs. Gracia

Taylor with her 4th grade teacher; Mrs. Worline

Ella with her 1st grade teacher; Mrs. E.
a.k.a. Ms. Bryce(now married) who Taylor had in kindergarten.

Grandma B's

The girls and I had soooo much fun in Illinois this year!  We stayed for 2 weeks which was nice in itself. We didn't have to rush around to visit everyone and try to fit everything we wanted to do in a week. We had many "mini" vacations within our visit, too.  We took an over night trip to The Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo, IA. It was great fun and now that the girls are older they were more willing to try different things. We spent a night with Aunt Becky swimming in her pool and a night with Aunt Jane just hanging out. Lots of time with Grandma B and everyone else enjoying good food, good company and lots of fun making memories :)