Storyland 2011

This past weekend was the annual Storyland trip with the "five families". The kids were really looking forward to it. It was the first year that Luke really remembered the rides and got excited talking about which ones were his favorites. Paige talked a lot too and claims to remember but I think she is "me too'ing" after Luke's recollections.
We've stayed in different houses each year, this year we finally found our forever vacation house! It was beautiful and old and very very large - a must with 10 kids, 10 adults. This place was built in the 1860s as a summer house to a wealthy family from Europe. I didn't get a picture of the house (will next year) but did get a great view from the back porch. Also had a great yard for the kids to run run run run!!!
Storyland was great, as always. The weather was perfect and the place was not crowded at all. This year we ventured up to Cinderella's castle so Paige could meet her live and in person. Paige got a little shy when we got there but has been talking about her ever since and tells everyone she sees "I met Cinderella!!"

Favorite ride of the kids was the "Panda Express" as Luke called it. Looks like Daddy liked it too-


Mapping out the second half of the day -
How many kids can you fit in a pumpkin -
Paige driving???
Recapping over a pizza dinner -
View from the house -

Conversation with a 2 year old....

Paige: Watch me dance Angie! I am a ballerina!!
Angie: Very nice Paige.
Paige: Mommy is going to send me to ballerina classes, Angie.
Angie: That is very fun Paige.
Paige: Will you come watch me?
Angie: Of course I will!
Paige: Will you bring Joe and Megan to see me too? (Joe is Angie’s husband andMegan is her daughter)
Angie: Megan lives in Florida, Paige.
Paige: In Florida with Mickey Mouse Angie?
Angie: Who is Megan?
Paige: Your friend?
Angie: She is my little girl!
Paige: No Angie, she is a big girl!

Just a wed morning...

I was merely trying to get a video of Paige running around like she was on speed when another certain someone enter stage left. This is just a typical Wed morning. It will be amazing if our kids turn out ok...KIDDING...

Random Happening -

The kids had a sleepover at Angie's house, the next night this was the scene as they were going to bed -

Paige, reading to her "baby bobby" as she put baby down for a nap. -

Luke had an Art Show for daddy last night. Ended up being worth it as both kids got $1 each from daddy for one of their "pieces" -

Just to show that some things haven't changed. Still dressing in crazy outfits -

Thumbs Up!! Daddy had the great idea of putting a band-aid on Luke's thumb to keep from sucking it. It has been working. Here is Paige giving the whole project a thumbs up! -

On our way to a friends birthday party -

RIP: Blue Peabody

Blue Peabody II
Born: 2/2010
Expired: 9/2011

Blue, what can we say. You had big fins to fill coming into our family. We, successfully, passed you off to the kids as Blue I. You did a great job playing the part. You outlived Blue I by a year and a half...not a difficult task seeing that Blue I lasted one month.

You were a good little Betta. When their were fights in the house over who was going to feed Marley, offering Blue up as an alt pet to feed always settled the score.

You were a lazy little fish. I pronounced you dead a few times, convinced that fish don't just lay on the rocks like that...but you did, like nothing I've seen.

You put up with fingers and toys being thrust in your bowl, not to mention living day in and day out with a giant orange plastic fish in your bowl.

We will miss you Blue Peabody II.

We call her....."The Cackler" -

Thought I'd catch it on video. The cackle...
-

Are you ready for some football....

SCHOOL!!

First day of school is here! Luke was VERY excited to start his new school - his BIG BOY school. He is going to St. Philomena in Portsmouth, RI.

He loved his first week. So much so that on Friday (he goes Tues and Thurs) he woke up and said, "Mommy, you forgot to pack my lunchbox for school" too cute. I think it will be a great place for him. We are very impressed by the school and everything they have to offer. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL, on the water. They start French and Spanish in Pre-K. Luke came home from school on Tuesday and taught Paige what Bonjour meant. Luke is most excited about the class bunny rabbit, Obi-wan. The kids get a chance to take him home for the weekend throughout the school year.

This is the cutest picture. He was so excited the night before school, making sure his lunch was all set -


First day of school (allowed to wear "home clothes") -


First day of uniform (little German boy) -


The carpool gang -

IRENE

Lots of talk about Hurricane Irene in our house. The kids of course know something is going on but don't really get it. Some of the talk includes: As we are in the backyard putting all the toys in the shed, Luke: "Is the storm stronger than my ATV? Is it stronger than the tree and the house? Where will the spiders and worms go when the storm comes?" Paige: "I better go inside, the storm will be scared of me" - certainly not the other way around! The best is that for some reason Luke keeps mixing up the word hurricane with the word diarrhea. He has done this 3 times today. "Mommy, is this going to be a huge diarrhea?"

Kids were not at all happy about having to stay in all day -



Marley and I took a walk during the storm -

Farmer's Market -

During the summer months we have a farmer's market within walking distance in downtown Padanaram.
The library comes and does a storytime for the kids which they love. But I think Marley loves it the most. He gets more attention when we walk around down there.
King for a day.