December 8th - Homework

This was our last night with Betty and we were lucky enough to finally have homework. Of course, this meant that Amy had homework too. She had to have the same "lello" pencil and clear ruler that Betty did, but once that was accomplished, they got down to work. Too cute. We are not looking forward to tomorrow evening when we have to take Betty back to her house after dinner. Someone thinks Betty has moved in.

More December 6th - Office Christmas Party

We went straight from the FCC brunch to Daddy's office family Christmas party. Seeing as how we were there early, Amy and Betty were able to spend a huge amount of time in the bouncer before any other children came to have their turn. As you can see, Amy quickly got the hang of it. Last year she only wanted to watch the other kids.

Betty really enjoyed the games and won a number of prizes. She was great in showing Amy how to play them as well. Of course, whatever Betty does, Amy does too.

Amy got back into the bouncer once her friends Lily and Izzy got there.

Up on stage, playing her instrument.

Betty too!
Enjoying cookies with Betty, Julia, Lily and Maureen.

Visiting with Santa again. Boy, he sure gets around!

Opening presents from Santa with Aunty Carol. Amy got a Dora doll with baby accessories while Betty got a High School Musical tote bag with a High School Musical notebook and pens. Great presents enjoyed by both girls. What a smart Santa.

December 7th - FCC Breakfast with Santa

On Sunday, we went to our FCC's (Families with Children from China) annual Brunch with Santa. It's always so much fun to see all the kids all dressed up and excited about Santa. Amy was a little nervous going up to get a candy cane, but Betty went with too and helped her.

Aunty Carol came with us too.

All the children (no longer all little girls as there are now three boys) sitting with Santa.

We made gingerbread men and a gingerbread house on Saturday and the girls really got into it.

Concentrating very hard.

Someone picked all the candies off the gingerbread and licked all the icing off! It's just another form of recycling cookies I guess.

Betty's finished gingerbread house, loaded with candies!

December 3rd - Betty Comes to Stay

Our friend Betty came to stay with us for a week while her Mom was out of town. This was our first night and we were reading books before bed.
We have quickly discovered that everything Betty does, Amy has to do too. This is both a blessing and a curse as it makes it much easier to brush teeth, but the number of bruises due to the cartwheels and somersaults are mounting!

December 1st - Amy and Daddy

November 28th - Baking Cookies

Amy loves to help out in the kitchen, so it was only natural that we make Christmas cookies.

The pastry chef measures the flour.

Sometimes, you have to just let loose and get naked in order to be creative.

Hmmm. Freshly baked cookies.


(Picture of Mommy, taken by Amy)

November 27th - Let it Snow

There had been snow here for quite a few weeks, but on the way home from Montessori, Amy and I stopped at Canadian Tire for a very special Canadian winter purchase - Amy's first snow shovel! Once home, she immediately got to work shovelling all the snow from the yard onto the driveway. It was a big job, but someone had to do it!

November 24 - Princess Amy

Since learning of Cinderella, Amy has become very interested in Princesses. This was an outfit I had bought at Winners shortly after we decided to add to our family and then completely forgot about. I found it as I was going through her cupboard and she was thrilled. She wore it all day - even grocery shopping, with the addition of a shirt and tights. I gave her a ring to put on and she couldn't stop looking at it.

November 13 - I Wanna Come Too!

Daddy went to Vegas with some of his friends and Amy really wanted to come too.

"Maybe if I squish a little this way . . ."

"Can Giraffe come too?"

November 10 - A Morning with Jillian

Our Montessori had an Inservice day, so we had Jillian over for the morning.When she arrived, the girls watched a few minutes of TV and enjoyed a drink. Note to self, never ask two year-olds to smile; you get nothing but cheese!
They each made their own salt dough and then made many sculptures. I began rolling the dough in thin rolls to make letters out of. Amy immediately told Jillian I was making contrails!
The two girls washed their dishes. This lasted for at least thirty minutes and they got totally soaked . . . but the dishes were clean!

We went to the basement and played with the doll house . . .

. . . and on the playstructure . . .

. . . and finally a little rest. What a fun morning.

A is for Amy

The other night, Amy was quiet in the family room and then called for me to come and see what she was doing. She was busy writing something on her easel . . . and she revealed an "A" that she created. It's a little sideways, but it's still an "A"!

Corn Maze - Day 2

We had so much fun at the Corn Maze on Saturday, that we went back again on Sunday and had a fire and a wiener roast. Arlene and Carol came with us and had a great time.

Amy having yet another pony ride. There was a turkey that would gobble back at you if you gobbled at it first. Amy, of course enjoyed the conversation.We all went for a hay ride (you'll notice there really is no hay to be found on this ride!).

Sitting around the campfire.

Another gourmet meal prepared by Robin!

What a great day!