Halloween parade

Annie and Mia had their storyhour Halloween parades last week. Mia went back and forth what she wanted to be. First it was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, then it was gosh I can't even remember but finally she said she wanted to be a cat. And somehow Annie on her own accord wanted to be a mouse, so it really came together as a cute pair. Annie was going to be Elmo, then Cookie monster and her baby Elmo but I was glad when the girls decided on the classic cat/mouse idea!

Annie's parade was on Wednesday.





Mia's parade was on Thursday. Annie dressed up again and several library workers were heard saying "oh look the cute mouse is back!"

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last soccer, papa visit and choir performance!

We had a fun weekend. Papa came to visit us Friday night. We went to a local pizza place and heard a live band while we had dinner. The girls loved dancing to the music. Saturday was our normal piano (Papa, Annie and I went to Starbucks while dad took Mia to piano)then LAST soccer game! Corey coached alone since our friend who coaches was doing an ultra marathon in the city. We had a little  party at the park after the soccer game and the girls had cookies and hot chocolate. We had a great team this year and hopefully in the spring we can get this same group of girls to play together again. Corey passed out placques and pictures and the parents all gave him and coach mcmanus a gift card to the brewery which was very nice.

Then Papa treated us to lunch at the Flossmoor Station. We then took a hike at Izaac Walton, I ran 4 miles while they walked Bosco and Charlie. It was a nice fall day! Then we came home, the guys went out to the cigar shop for awhile then we had Chicken Posole for dinner and watched the Tigers lose. Papa left early Sunday. The girls had a great time and love being with their grandpa.

Sunday Mia's Cherub Choir sang with all the choirs to celebrate our church's 85th anniversary. We stayed for a yummy pot luck lunch then did grocery shopping, leaf raking. I took the girls to see our friends band at the music shop in town for a Halloweeny concert.




















Mia is the left front girl.

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sleepover weekend

Mia and dad took Grandma, Papo and Annie to the soccer game on Saturday morning. Mom ran a trail 4 mile race with friends. Dad coached the entire soccer game since our friend was at the race with me. Then the girls went to the city for a weekend sleepover with Grandma and Papo. They had lots of fun at the Rainforest Cafe, made Halloween treats, zoo trip and breakfast at the pancake house in Lincoln Park. Dad and I had date night last night which was fun and a day to get yardwork done. One more week of soccer left! It flew by!


Mia practicing piano on Friday. She leanred the E key on Saturday so we are working on playing a few basic songs now.

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Sock hop

The girls had a great time at the annual preschool Sock Hop. It's hard to believe a full year has passed since last years' hop and both girls have grown so much! Mia wore her pink lady jacket again. Tons of her friends were there so it was fun. Dad even had a dance with each girl too.

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We made a quick trip to Sprague's farm in between the rain. We then spent the afternoon in st joes shopping and at the kids museum then lunch.














My view during my morning run. So pretty





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In michigan

Early morning for us. Piano then soccer game. Rain hit right at the end of the game. Aunt Christie was here for the soccer game. Then dad and her took a trip to malabar farm in Ohio to see a memorial for grandma Victoria. The girls and I picked grandma up the headed to the summer house for a long weekend. A very rainy day so we are sitting by the fire, listening to pearl jam telling stories. Pouring out but cozy by the fire Hopefully we will get to the pumpkin patch tomorrow.







We baked some cupcakes this afternoon.








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fall field trip

Today we went to the Children's Farm in Palos for Mia's field trip. It was a great day. The weather was chilly but sunny. The kids were able to pet ducklings, chicks, rabbits, ducks, horses, mules, pigs, goats and baby cows. We like this farm and usually come every year on our own. Then after that we took a hayride and picked pumpkins then had a snack. We had Mia's friend Sophie with us so we went to lunch after and saw some more friends. The kids played awhile on the playlot then we headed home. Sophie stayed at our house until her mom came to get her this afternoon. It was fun day!

















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tidbits

* We saw Mary Poppins for movie night on Saturday. The girls loved it. I misread the time and thought it was 1:39, but it actually was 139 MINUTES so the girls went to bed way late. But it's such a great movie and they really enjoyed it. Annie keeps saying how Mary Poppins flies with her umbrella
*Annie has entered the 'why' stage...everything is why momma this, why momma that, and she has turned 16 over night. It's crazy the growth spurt from 2-3, vocabulary and all.
*Mia is a reading machine. We get tons of easy readers out from the library and she will just sit and read to us. I love how she can just read to herself now. She is getting really good with adding too and spelling her whole name with no help. She's very independent.
*Annie is officially in underwear - yeah! She's so cute with it and I can tell she feels like a big girl
*This week is Tillie's birthday and tonight I asked Annie what we should buy her for her birthday. Annie's reply "a piggy bank"...so a piggy bank we will buy :)
* Cutest thing is driving and seeing Annie sing songs that we play. Some favorites are John Denver's Annie's Song (or as she says "MY song"), Country Roads and Sunshine on my Shoulder; Jason Mraz's Momma Says; Raffie's Banaphone to name a few.
* The other day when we took Mia to school, one of her friends hugged her hello, then another, then another and before I knew it all the girls were hugging Mia saying "Mia, yeah, Mia". So sweet and so happy to see her have so many friends. She will also tell us how she plays with her 'soccer' friends at recess since some of them are in different classes. CUTE!

piano and potty

Christmas came a little early this year! I found a great used piano for the girls and Grandma and Papo bought and had it delivered on Sunday for the girls! Mia has been playing it non-stop as has Annie. It's a great addition to the house and now Mia can explore her lessons more so than on the keyboard.


Annie has started to potty train this weekend too! Saturday morning she wanted to wear only undies, so we pulled out the m&m's and she's been doing awesome! She trained easily, I think because she is watching her sissy and knows how it goes. She is still in pullups over night and we have to remind her every 20 mins or so and she has accidents still but she for sure knows when to go and is learning how to hold it! So proud of both our girls!

Mia had another great soccer game. She takes control of the ball and fields it great! She needs to practice setting up and heading it towards to goal. But she has made so much progress. Such smart girls we have!
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The witch

Mia made a story called "the witch". I wrote it as she told it. She was proud of herself and likes reading it over and over again.



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