The girls have always loved music. When they were babies we played them baby Mozart and baby Einsteen. When they were a little bigger we played Laurie Berkner and Rick Charette. Now we have satellitle radio in our car, so on the way to school in the mornings we play Radio Disney. When we just flew home I loaded up the iPod with some of their favorites, Selena Gomez, Hannah Montanna, Ally and Aj and Taylor Swift. :)

Favorite Friday Photo

The girls with Cousin Molly at Aunt Dawnie's house
November 24th, 2009

Thanksgiving In Maine

Always one of the girls' favorites! They love the plastic frogs, lizards, and butterflies at Nanny and Grandpa's house. They hide them and then take turns picking somebody to find them. Some of them are really tough ones.

Thanksgiving dinner was snuggle time for Uncle Mark and Pink Bunny Candy Sweet

Amelia the Walrus with pickle teeth. Maybe too much to drink?

The whole family hanging out and playing games after the stuffing, figuratively and literally,

End of a Long Day - Amelia sharing whipped cream and pie with dad followed by the crash

(And yes, it was whipped cream with a touch of pie.)

Funny/Fresh/Embarassing Things From Our Trip

In no particular order

After leaving Nanny's house one night, Abigail complained about being hungry. I told her she should have eaten pie when everyone else did. She said "I don't like pie. I've never liked pie. It's like you don't even know me."

Amelia was attached to Will the whole time we were traveling back home, wanting to sit by him on the plane and hold his hand in the airports. I teased her about not being with me at all. She said "Mom, it's because Dad can juggle and you can't."

One night of particularly non cooperative behavior at bedtime, I broke out the threats and told Abigail if she didn't quiet down, I wouldn't take her to Toys R Us to look for a toy she'd seen on TV. She said "That's fine. I'm sure they've sold out of it anyway."

Listening to Christmas music in the car, the song Santa Baby came on. Amelia, in shock, said "what, Santa is a baby!?!"

While riding the subway in Boston, Abigail noticed a word etched into one of the seats. Very loudly she said, "Look someone wrote f**k. Why did someone write f**k?" (She has no clue what that word is, and I didn't make a big deal of it at all. Will and I did get a nervous laugh out it though.)

Favorite Photo Friday

The girls with Aunt Megan at Aunt Tammy's house
November 25, 2009

Finding The Time

I haven't really been able to sit down and write or even take pictures as much as I'd like lately.

If I could find the time though, I'd....


Write about Abigail being able to pick first and second grade reader books from the library, while the other kids pick from the kindergarten section. And them being a wee bit mean to her about it. :(

Write about how well Amelia is reading and sounding out and also writing words all on her own! And also how her teachers are always impressed at the patterns she makes.

Write about Abigail's meltdown over a pair of shoes and told me "I couldn't live with her in her bakery when she gets big". That was a good one. ;)

Write about Will being in charge of getting a new playground planned, ordered and put together for the girls school. He negotiated an awesome deal with a playground company, and saved the school a ton of money!

But I haven't had the time, so this bullet point list is the best I can do.

Excuses Excuses

"Did you know if I have to clean anymore I'm going to get 100 percent sick?" -Amelia

Blackmail

I couldn't resist posting this shot of Amelia. She looks a bit like her mommy in this picture. ;)

ps. I love those cute little buns.

Fishing

The girls entered a little kids fishing tournament in town today. It was an hour long event and there were plenty of fish being caught. We got there a little late though (the dog walked away while we were loading the car and it took a while to find him) and we only got one fish. Abigail was the one to reel it in. Amelia tried hard to catch one and almost did at the last minute of the tournament. The fish chose her friends hook instead though.

I'm not THAT Old!

"Mom, did they even have cars when you were a kid." -Abigail

FYI

Abigail has her very own blog! http://www.abigailelizabethk.blogspot.com/ I had nothing to do with it. It was all her own idea to start one. We were on our way to school after a very rough morning at home, something silly about shoes..... she asked me if she could have a blog and I said yes. I was hoping she'd type an explanation of her behavior. :)

She picked the name and the colors (of course it was going to be pink). She types everything on her own, occasionally asking for help with spelling. The only thing I help her with is uploading pictures, but she picks which ones she wants. She knows how to publish a post and even how to go back and change something if she wants to!

I suspect the novelty of doing a blog may wear off, but for right now it's pretty adorable.

Amelia also requested to make a blog www.ameliagracek.blogspot.com but she's not quite as into it as her sister.

Abigail's First Report Card

Sweet Dream

Gabe, a little boy in Amelia's class, told me he had a dream about Amelia last night. In the dream he gave her a kiss and a puppet. :)

I'll Take It Off My Resume

While tucking Abigail into bed, after she had a bit of "fresh" behavior, I had a little talk with her, telling her it was my job to teach her how to behave. She said, "Being a mom isn't a job. A hedge fund manager, that's a job. A construction worker, that's a job. A pet helper, that's a job. Oh and a baker, that's a job. A mom is NOT a job."

Halloween

A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

WILLIAM IS IN THE KITCHEN RIGHT NOW MAKING CUPCAKES WITH THE GIRLS. FROM SCRATCH!!!!!!! and i am reading a book on the couch. :)

Fall Festival

Somehow I got my self in charge of the Pre-K booth for the girl's 1st annual Fall Festival at school. Anyone who knows me, should also know that I'm not a "take the lead, be in charge kinda girl." I managed to come up with a game and decorate it with the help of Amelia's class in time for Friday night though. It turned out cute, and everyone had fun playing it. Abigail and Amelia had armbands to run free and play whatever they wanted, but mostly they stayed with me and worked the booth, hooking the candy onto the fishing line.

Favorte Friday Photos - School Pictures

Homework

Abigail had her first real homework to do tonight. Her class just started doing learning groups, according to their abilities, for part of the day. Abigail is the only one in her reading group. Her teacher is challenging her and encouraging her to try harder things. The homework worksheet is from a first grade book.

Big Shot

Amelia stayed a full day at school today for the first time and loved it! The thing she talked about most was how nap time went, how she didn't fall asleep and how Mrs. Kersanac taught her a new way to wrap up in her blanket. She also loved being able to wait with her sister in car rider line at the end of the day.