Tagging a Tree

In CA we always got our Christmas tree on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Here in Vermont, it's been a bit of a challenge. No one seems to sell trees on Friday and only a few are selling them over the weekend. So this year we went out and tagged a fresh tree. They will cut it on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we can pick it up any time that weekend. Yippee! No more searching around for a place to buy a tree.





The tree farm was surrounded by amazing fall foliage. I just love of the autumnal color. This is by-far the prettiest autumn we've had since we moved here.












I know you can't see their faces, but it's my favorite photo of the day.

Apple Picking

It's that time of year again. Apple picking is a big deal in Vermont. Signe has had an apple picking field trip for the last three years. And she's worn that same jacket each year. I was putting it on Anni and Signe said that's mine. She insisted that it still fit (just barely), so I let her wear it. Though we talked about it later and she is ok with handing it down because she has lots of other jackets to wear.

This year I got to chaperone because our neighbor could watch Anni. (If Anni had her way, she'd go play at Dane's house every day; she loves it there.) Here's my group of kids: Genavie, Natalie & Signe. (Genavie made that face for most of my pictures. She thought she was very funny.)









Making apple cider is a lot of work. Signe got to turn the crank first.













Signe's teacher - Mrs. McKenney (in the red stripes) We love her!











Highlight of the day: a REAL reindeer (who didn't pay much attention to the kids)

Lately...

these girls can't seem to get enough time creating. At the top of their list is painting. They even recruit Daddy to paint with them.

Best Part of the Day

is when I get to see the girls after school. Though today I'll have to stand in the rain to meet Signe.

Vermont State Fair

At the end of August we went up to Rutland for the state fair. We had a great time riding the rides and seeing the animals. I LOVE this picture of Signe. I can't look at it without smiling. She said that the roller coaster was fun, though I'm not sure she looks like she's having fun in this pictures. Nor does she look like she's having fun in ANY of the pictures I took. She might have screamed the whole time. (Anni didn't look very thrilled either.)




The highlight for the whole family was the giant slide. I'm not sure how many times we went down, but it was plenty.

Summer Photos

I can't believe it's been three weeks since I updated the blog. I don't know where time goes. I've got Anni's birthday pictures & video to share, but for now just a few of my favorites from this summer. The first ones are from the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Signe really enjoyed the amazing dinosaur exhibit. The kids were able to really dig for fossils. The exhibit recreated what things would have been like for dinosaurs -including the smells & sounds.

Here Signe heard a dinosaur roar.









They had this really cool pretend area, where the kids could dress like dinosaurs and play with some nests & eggs. I'm not sure whether Signe like the dig or the dress-up best. It's too close to call. Poor Anni, at this point it was WAY beyond nap time. I surprised she didn't fall asleep while walking.




















Anni's favorite part was the merry-go-round until she realize her horse didn't go up & down. Kids under 3 had to ride stationary horses.