a walk in the woods

Friday afternoon I had to make a quick run to my tea cup supplier in Crystal Springs.  The girls and I decided to make it a fun trip.  We stopped at Chautauqua Lake for a little stroll and to enjoy the beautiful weather! 

(Stroll was one of Ellie's vocabulary words this week).

The Trail of Tranquility

We saw a lot of little brown frogs hopping around and several funny-looking long legged spiders.

It's beginning to look like Fall!

In addition to the walking trails, the park has a fun playground where we stopped for a quick snack.  The girls spent most of their playtime on the see-saw.  They thought it was sooo funny to 'boing' each other when they'd hit the ground and bounce back up.  They laughed and laughed!  It was so cute!

We had such a wonderful afternoon in the fresh air!

Big Reader!

Today, Ellie received a certificate for reaching her reading goal for the first part of the 9 weeks.  Yay Ellie, great job!  She also got her progress report -- all A's.  She's loving second grade!

Abby's First Haircut

Abby is so patient when Ellie and I get our hair cut.  She really wants her hair to grow long like Ellie's (and Tangled's Rapunzel!), but she's always asking when it will be her turn for a haircut, like a big girl.  It was time Ellie's trim, so we scheduled Abby for a teeny trim to clean up her little baby ends.  Abby was sooo excited all day long, frequently asking if it was time to go to the salon. 

Finally the time came -- Abby walked right in, greeted Ms. Melissa and climbed up into the chair, just like she'd done it her whole life.  She sat up very straight and tall with her big brave smile while Melissa trimmed away.  Soo grown up (I wanted to cry, though!)!

First snip!!  Melissa gave us an envelope with Abby's clippings for her baby book.

Abby tried to lower her chin like Melissa asked, but it was more exciting to watch in the mirror!

Finished!  Such a sweet proud brave smile!

After Ellie's trim, Melissa curled her hair and it was gorgeous.  We'll have to practice it at home so Ellie can go curly some days!

Big day at the salon for both girls!

Hanging out during Tropical Storm Lee

Ellie & Abby kept themselves very entertained during the long rainy weekend.  They built a huge fort in the living room and stocked it will all the normal camping supplies: princess sleeping bags, coloring books, flash cards, dolls and lots of books.  They 'camped' in it off and on all weekend.

Camping really works up an appetite so I surprised them with chocolate dipped banana chips and marshmallows (our rainy day version of trail mix and s'mores).

On a quick grocery run, Ellie picked out a new craft kit and made a beautiful beaded bracelet.  It was pretty challenging, weaving the beads through the thin threads and threading them with a real sewing needle, but to our surprise, she caught right on and finished her bracelet in one sitting.  She's already planning a bunch more for gifts!

Abby spent hours rolling out snakes and shapes with her play doh.  She loves it these days!

The rain ended Monday morning so we took a puddle-stomping walk around the neighborhood.  The girls discovered a puddle with tons of worms wriggling around in the water.  They felt sorry for the worms so they 'transplanted' them back  into the grass using leaves. 

Puddle are fun!

Soccer!!

Ellie also started soccer practice this week.  This is her 3rd season playing and she's on a great team full of her school buddies.

Abby was cracking us up before practice saying "I'm going to BEAT you on the soccer field, Ellie!"

Team huddle.   Go Bank of Brookhaven!

Ballet!!



After a summer of anticipation (and lots of "when does ballet start?"), ballet has begun!  Hooray!!  Abby's lovingly watched big sister perform her graceful leaps and twirls for two years and has wanted to be a ballerina, too.  She's leaped, twirled, danced and curtsied her way through the summer.  She loves all things ballet! 

 This year, Abby is finally old enough to start classes.  She's thrilled and Ellie is so glad to be back in class, too!   Abby is in 'pre-ballet' and Ellie moved up to Ballet II with the big girls (which is a big deal! We are very proud of Ellie!). 



Here's Abby on her very first day of ballet (at age almost-3)!

And here's Ellie on her very first day of ballet (at age just-turned-3)!

My ballerinas headed to class!

Ellie spent several moments before Abby's class helping Abby get settled in -- a thoughtful, big-sisterly thing to do!  Here they're decorating name tags with Mrs. Kathy, their instructor.

A nervous, but excited, little smile!

Mrs. Kathy & Rachel with the sweet class (Abby's in the middle with her back to the camera)!  Can anything be cuter than little girls in ballet slippers and tutus?

When their classes ended, Mrs. Kathy gave each ballerina a rose since their theme was 'flowers' today! Ellie & Abby have their roses in places of honor in their rooms. 

After class, while waiting for Ellie's class to end, Abby consumed a plate of cantaloupe and feta -- quite an interesting combination!

Happy Birthday, Papa!!!

Papa's birthday is tomorrow so we celebrated with a little family lunch after church.  We were all so excited that Uncle Jeff & Aunt Sarah could come, too!!  It was a fun day, full of lots of laughter!



Abby serenaded Papa with her version of Happy Birthday!  It was very sweet!



Birthday cake!!!

Trick candles!  Papa needed a little help blowing them out!

Papa used his new birthday telephone to check in with the train station.

Hat Day, Color Day, Playing Doctor & A Little Perch

I discovered Ellie and Abby playing doctor the other night. Abby was the patient, Ellie was Dr. Taylor.   Here's Ellie evaluating Abby.

And here's a copy of Ellie's patient sheet. 

Abby has discovered a new little snack perch in the kitchen.

Ellie's school had a school spirit day to support the high school football team's first game.  It was "Hats Off to the Panthers" so they wore their favorite hats and their new Panthers tees.  Cute!!

Abby's class studied the color black last week, so the children were asked to wear something with black on it.  They also learned about octagons.  She's sooo excited to be in pre-school!

Abby's First Train Ride!

The brand new Godbold Transportation Center (train and bus station) opened this week with a celebration and ribbon cutting.  It's a very big deal for Brookhaven, the project has been in the works for many years and it is finally completed.   Papa and Granna thought it would be really fun to be the first passengers to board the Amtrak at the new station and they asked Abby to come along for the ride!  I don't know who was more excited about the adventure -- Abby or Papa!!!  (except that Abby is not a fan of train whistles!).

Rolling into the new station!

All aboard!!!!

Abby and Granna in the lounge car enjoying a lovely snack. 

She loved the train ride! 

I met the trio in McComb.  Here they are pulling in the downtown station!!

A little help from the conductor!

Big wave!!!  Big day!!

Train Lovers!

Abby, in the McComb station's museum, telling me ALL about the big train trip!   Abby enjoyed the museum, especially pulling the cord to blow the whistle.

She made sure I knew they rode in a passenger car, not the engine.  She's definitely Papa's little train buddy!!   What an exciting train adventure with Papa & Granna!