August 30th 2007
ENT Appointment
Abby and Zoë had an appointment with an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor in Kittery this morning. It was a quick decision on Dr. Rankin's part, after talking to us a bit and checking out the girls ears and throats, he said that he thinks the girls would both be good candidates for tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies. We asked all sorts of questions and then went ahead and scheduled the operations for the next time Dr. Rankin is available in Portsmouth, which is the 26th of September.
We are, of course, nervous about everything having to do with having our girls put under and having, even minor, surgery. Dr. Rankin said that he's done siblings before and thinks the best way to do it is to have them done on the same day, so that's what we'll do.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 15 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 15 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 25 days
News posted by Laura at 10:24 AM | 
Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
September 1, 2007 02:23:05 PM posted by Nonna
Girls, I guess this is something that has to be done. You are brave little girls so I know you will do well.
August 28th 2007
A Different Beach Today
After nap we headed out to a different beach. Grandma Cindy had found it while meandering around the roads near our house. Daddy had been there before, and it ended up that if we walked all the way down the beach we would be at the New Castle Commons playground area. We stayed on the side we'd arrived at and found some nice soft sand. We ended up not playing in the waves, but explored the rocks and the tide pools in them. We also did some playing with our sand toys, but the most time was spent checking out the little crabs and such hanging out in the pools of water.
After getting back home, Grandma Cindy and I drove over to Savario's and got six of their eight pizza slices left and also ordered two calzones for Chris and Grandma Cindy. Abby and Zoë were excited to have the pizza, and it was pretty tasty. After we'd eaten the pizza, Daddy and Grandma Cindy went back to get their calzones, which we all got to sample.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 13 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 13 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 27 days
News posted by Laura at 6:30 PM | Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
August 30, 2007 06:37:54 AM posted by Grandma Cindy
I was having such a good time. I didn't want to leave
Morning Playground Time
This morning we walked in to town to get something Grandma Cindy had saved for her at "Me and Olie's", gooey granola buns, and then we walked to the mill pond playground. First the girls played in the smaller kids "ring" area, then moved on to the middle "ring" where they climbed the rope climber and went down the slide again and again. Every time Abby was ready to go down the slide she would yell for me to bend down so that she could see my face, then would slide down, feet first, on her belly. Zoë just whipped right down the slide, sitting up on her bottom, whether I was waiting right for her or not. The girls also rode on the teeter-totter together and both tried the balance beam, which tilts when you walk on it. The last thing we did were the swings, which are in the last "ring". I reminded them of how to pump their legs and move their bodies to swing themselves, and then Grandma Cindy helped them to do the movements and both of them were getting it and beginning to swing on their own. A little more practice and I think they'll really have it!
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 13 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 13 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 27 days
News posted by Laura at 11:30 AM | Comment
August 27th 2007
Reading to Auntie Reanna and Grandma Cindy
After a nice walk into town this afternoon with Grandma Cindy to do a bunch of errands, where we also picked up a couple of yummy treats for after dinner, Auntie Reanna stopped by. Before bed tonight, Abby and Zoë showed Reanna and Grandma Cindy their reading game. They both did really well, Abby was better with sounding out words today. Zoë would quickly sound out each word of the short sentence and then re-read the whole sentence without me even prompting her, Auntie Reanna was very surprised with how well both of the girls were doing... more advanced than some of her kindergarteners!
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 12 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 12 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 28 days
News posted by Laura at 7:52 PM | Comment
Babysitting Quinn
Leann dropped Quinn off before 9:00 this morning and both of the girls were very excited. I was actually a bit surprised at how into the baby Zoë was. She thought it was so neat that she could make him smile. Quinn is now 6 months old and both of the girls thought it was neat that he could sit up and play with toys near them. When Leann came to pick Quinn up, she dropped off a bag of cute hand-me-downs from Dakota.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 12 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 12 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 28 days
News posted by Laura at 12:45 PM | Comment
August 26th 2007
Vollaro's Visit
Tom, Sue, and the kids arrived while Abby and Zoë were napping. Jack took the opportunity to check out the toys on his own. Once the girls were up, Jack had some snack with them at the table... cantaloupe chunks that Chris had put in the freezer. Once they were all done eating, we prepared to go to the beach yet again. Sue said that this was Anna's first trip to the ocean beach.
At first the kids were happy to play in the sand, while we tried to get the kite to fly, which we've had upstairs since Chris moved in to the house, but never tried to use. Pretty soon Abby and Zoë wanted to get their wet suits on and play in the water. Jack felt how cold the water was, and decided to just watch. We had fun jumping the waves again, and at one point Zoë laid down on her back in the sand and let a wave wash over her, keeping her head up just enough to not get water in her face.
When we got home Chris started dinner while the kids began watching "Shark Tales" together. Everyone enjoyed dinner together and the kids ate really well, even though they were anxious to get back and watch more of the movie together.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 11 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 11 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 29 days
News posted by Laura at 7:12 PM | Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
September 1, 2007 02:15:25 PM posted by Nonna
What a wonderful visit with your friends!! Looks like eveyone had a wonderful time!!
Wal-Mart Goodies
We went to Wal-Mart this morning and while we were there we checked out the sneaker selection. With fall just around the corner, the girls will be needing something besides sandals that fit. Abby and Zoë were wanting to try on the princess and light up shoes, but then Daddy found a good selection of normal shoes. There were a couple of super cute ones that had cross over velcro closure, which was good for tightening around narrow little feet, but they were around $14 each. Daddy spotted some cute little lace-ups that were marked down to $7.50, so after trying them on, we decided to go ahead and get those. Since there wasn't much difference between the 8.5 and the 9's, in these particular shoes anyway, we went ahead and got the 9's, which should fit with thick socks come cooler weather. Abby and Zoë are excited to try out their new sneakers soon.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 11 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 11 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 29 days
News posted by Laura at 12:45 PM | Comment
August 25th 2007
SO Hot
It was really hot and humid today, and we spent most of the morning hanging out in the bedroom with the air conditioner on. This afternoon we went back to the beach, this time with Abby and Zoë's wet suits. It was a good thing, as it was about 10 degrees cooler at the beach. It was a nice change from just a short drive inland. Daddy got in the water with us today and we all did lots of wave jumping. Abby kept telling us, "But don't go too far out!"
As soon as we were in the car, both of the girls were asking us if we could eat at "Taco Bells". We decided that it wasn't such a bad idea, as our house was sweltering hot.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 10 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 10 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 30 days
News posted by Laura at 5:58 PM | Comment
August 24th 2007
Beach
We're finally getting back into the swing of getting to the beach more often. We went today and had lots of fun running through the waves. Abby and Zoë wore their little bikini's and, though the tops fit wonderfly, the bottoms were sagging off of them after the first wave got them fully wet, it was quite funny. They didn't mind, it didn't stop them from having a great afternoon at the beach.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 9 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 9 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month
News posted by Laura at 4:55 PM | Comment
Reading Game
We stumbled upon a great (free)
website for beginning readers. It's easiest level is just working on letter sounds, then there's three more steps up. We've been working on the second level, for early beginning readers, which has different levels inside of that. We've done games/reading activities for the short a, e, and i sounds. We're going to start talking more about vowels before "school" starts in September. I'm working on a lesson plan now for three days a week of "school" days starting in September so this website find is quite helpful!
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 9 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 9 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month
News posted by Laura at 7:50 AM | Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
September 1, 2007 02:10:54 PM posted by Nonna
You both will be reading soon!
August 23rd 2007
Training Tikva
Abby and Zoë just love to tell Tikva what to do. Usually Tikva just ignores them or looks at Grandma Cindy like "Who do these kids think they are?" Today, however, the girls have been training her pretty well. With getting treats for finding the girls during hide 'n seek, waiting for them to finish eating to get goodies, and getting attention at other times when they're trying to train her, she's begun to listen to them pretty well... most of the time.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 8 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 8 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 1 day
News posted by Laura at 3:11 PM | Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
August 27, 2007 06:51:32 AM posted by Grandma Cindy
Tikva could sure use some more training. thanks for your help
August 22nd 2007
Movie Night with Grandma Cindy
This evening the girls, Grandma Cindy, and I sat on the couch and shared a bowl of popcorn while watching "The Princess Diaries 2". We watched a little bit of it, then took a break to brush teeth and get jammies on, then watched some more of it before we had to pause it for bed time. The girls enjoyed snuggling on the couch and having a tasty snack, before they were even in bed they were asking Grandma Cindy if she was going to continue the movie with them tomorrow.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 8 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 8 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 1 day
News posted by Laura at 8:04 PM | Comments ( 1 )
Comments:
August 27, 2007 06:54:18 AM posted by Grandma Cindy
I really enjoyed watching the movie with you girls and mommy. Papa Norm said that he wished he could be there.
Princess Dolls
A package arrived from Nonna today with some good things in it, but the favorite by far were the
princess dolls that were included. Abby and Zoë agreed to get rid of some toys in order to have a place for their six new toys in the toy box. We emptied the little basket with a bunch of little trinket toys and that is now where the princesses live, when they're not being carted around the house that is. They've already had tea parties, slumber parties, rides on the ponies... and so much more. Thanks Nonna!
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 7 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 7 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 2 days
News posted by Laura at 7:46 PM | Comment
August 21st 2007
Meeting New Family
Grandma Cindy's Aunt and Cousin came to meet us today. Her Aunt Virginia and her Cousin Dawn live not too far away, in Mass., it turns out. Abby and Zoë warmed up surprisingly quickly, especially when Dawn brought in gell leaves in fall colors to stick on the windows. Abby and Zoë have not stopped playing with those since. It was nice to meet and talk with them, and hear a bit about some family history.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 6 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 6 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 3 days
News posted by Laura at 4:44 PM | Comment
August 20th 2007
Games and Library Fun
This morning, before lunch, Abby and Zoë got to practice riding their bikes outside. Both of the girls took off pedaling pretty well, we just had to work on steering and speed. Sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow, and sometimes stopping too quickly... once Abby did this and tipped, luckily with me their to help catch her fall.
When Abby woke up from nap, Daddy was on a phone call so I brought up candy land, the memory match game, and a snack to her room (Zoë and her had napped on their beds in our room). First Abby did the memory match game while eating some crackers and sipping her leftover smoothie from yesterday. We started to set up candy land just as Zoë woke up and came in to see the fun stuff we'd set up. She was so excited, she just couldn't stop rambling on about what she was going to do, and how we needed to wait, when she was done going potty. Grandma Cindy arrived just a little into our game, so she joined in. Next we cleaned this up and went for a quick trip to the library. Abby and Zoë got to see Ms. Mary, whom they haven't seen in a while. She was very excited to see them, and asked them if they were going to come to story time when it starts back up. Abby and Zoë read books and did puzzles with Grandma Cindy while I got some of their learning books, fun reading books, and a book that I was reading before our trip to PA; "
Family First", by Dr. Phil. After I'd gathered the books we wanted, I let Abby and Zoë check out some movies. When we got home and I was making dinner, the girls started one called, "Doogal" with Grandma Cindy until she went back to Reanna's. After dinner Abby and Zoë got to watch the rest of it while eating some popcorn.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 5 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 5 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 4 days
News posted by Laura at 6:21 PM | Comment
August 19th 2007
Cider Hill Farm Peach Picking
Auntie Reanna and Grandma Cindy wanted to pick some peaches so we all met at
Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury. We got a cart and let Abby and Zoë ride in it. Part of the way up the path, Abby decided she wanted to get out, but Zoë wanted to stay in... all the way up the big hill, to the top, where the peaches were. Apparently the ripe peaches had been picked already, because the majority of what we saw were not ripe yet. Next it was on to the apples. Abby and Zoë helped pick a couple, then we headed back down to the store to get some apple cider donuts while Reanna picked some more apples. Grandma Cindy got some corn while I filled up a box with a dozen donuts, plus the two we sampled, and the elephant ear Daddy got and we all nibbled on.
Next we went to get some dinner. Grandma Cindy asked the girls where they wanted to eat, and they suggested some places, but then kept talking about Bugaboo, where the moose talks. However, when we got there, there was a super long wait so we just went over to fresh city and ate at their outside tables.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 4 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 4 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 5 days
News posted by Laura at 7:10 PM | Comments ( 2 )
Comments:
August 28, 2007 06:09:07 PM posted by Nonna
Your Dad, Uncle Matt and Aunt Elizabeth used to dread the time when their Dad would stop at the side of the road and pick pears. Bring them home and them we would freexe or can them. Nonno had a garden so we canned and froze tomatoes.
When we lived in Delaware and Uncle Matt and your Daddy were little there was a peach tree in our yard. It produced million of peaches or so it seemed. Nonna and Nonno picked, washed and froze them. I made a lot of pies and put them in the freezer and we just froze some so that pies could be made during the winter. They always tasted delicious and smelled delicious when baking.
August 21, 2007 06:47:30 PM posted by Auntie Elizabeth
Sounds like so much fun!!! Yesterday Auntie made a fresh peach pie!! Let me know what fun treats you all make with your peaches! Miss you!
August 18th 2007
Show Day in the Park
Abby, Zoë, and I hustled over to the park for 10:00 this morning, to catch the Kids Fest from beginning to end. When we arrived the Touring Actors Company had just gotten into their rendition of Charlotte's Web. We ate our popcorn snack while watching this, then was Mary Kaye and Professor Von Wienerschnitzel. This was a pretty funny act, with Mary Kaye singing silly songs, and the Professor doing funny things with his "German Accent". While this was finishing up we ate our lunch and then got to see Wayne From Maine perform. His songs are fun, plus their was audience participation. The first couple of times the girls didn't get chosen, but the last time they were passing out instruments, I placed the girls up on the ramp near the guy (Wayne's assistant, I can't remember his name) and he handed one to Abby, but then skipped over Zoë and ran out. I told the girls to share the egg and shake it together up on the stage, where all of the kids with instruments got to go, but it didn't work out so well. Abby wasn't doing so well on the sharing so Zoë was crying, then when I told Zoë to go ahead and share it, Abby started crying... not good for the show. (Luckily there were plenty of other kids up there too) I tried a little more to coax Abby into getting the concept of shaking the "egg" together, but it wasn't happening so I just got Zoë to come near the edge and brought her to sit with me. She was so upset! Meanwhile Abby was happily shaking and dancing away. After she was done and the show was ending I let her know I was dissapointed in her choice and that she really hurt Zoë's feelings by making Zoë have to get off the stage on her last chance. I could see Abby was sad by this fact, and she apologized, maybe it helped that Zoë was still wailing about not having her turn on stage.
Later, after nap, we went back to the park to watch the Portsmouth School of Dance. When they woke up, Zoë had said she didn't want to go watch the ballerinas, but Abby really really did, so I offered Zoë a stroller ride instead of having to walk, and she conceded. The show was pretty good, with little kids even as young as the girls performing, all the way up to high schoolers. There were some fun performances that kept the girls' attention, and as soon as we got home they put on their "tu-tu's" and danced around the house.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 3 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 3 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 6 days
News posted by Laura at 4:13 PM | Comment
August 17th 2007
Family Walk to Town
Reanna and Grandma Cindy were here when Abby and Zoë woke up from their naps. They set out to walk into town, but the girls and I weren't quite ready so we finished up our laundry folding (it's surprising how much having them fold the wash cloths really does help) and walked in to the post office, then met them in Market Square. We went into the coffee store so that Grandma Cindy could pick up some coffee beans and then walked down to the running store to get Grandma Cindy a water bottle. While there, it started to be time for the girls and I to get back for dinner, so we left ahead of them. Abby and Zoë decided that they wanted to run all the way home, and to my surprise they meant all the way home. We stopped just at the traffic lights/street corners, and walked twice for a short break, but they really did run their little legs (and mine!) all the way home.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 2 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 2 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 7 days
News posted by Laura at 5:20 PM | Comment
Little Girl Funnies
While I was folding some of the laundry before our walk into town, Zoë walked up to me with two of her bouncy balls in her tank top and said "Mom, look at my boobs." I laughed and told her to go show Daddy what she'd done and she replied, "No, I don't want to show Daddy my big boobs."
Then, as I was coming up from the basement with the other load of laundry, I see Abby at the top of the stairs with two tennis balls in her shirt. She showed off her "boobs" proudly and then proceeded to tell me, "I paid five hundred dollars for these" all the while holding on to them so I was sure what she meant. I was cracking up laughing and asked her if Daddy had told her to say that, but no, she'd come up with that on her own. I will say, that she's been in to telling us how much all of her stuff costs. After seeing that we thought that comment was so funny, she told us how much a couple of other toys were, I'm guessing she was trying to elicit the same reaction.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 2 days
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 2 days
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 7 days
News posted by Laura at 4:08 PM | Comment
August 16th 2007
Last Swim Lesson of the Summer
It was nice weather yet again, for Abby and Zoë's last swim lesson this summer. Grandma Cindy was able to come with us again. Abby and Zoë enjoyed their all girl class yet again. Today I noticed two little girls that I'd seen last session, but hadn't noticed yet in this class. They are three and half year old twins too. The girls did their normal swimming, gliding, noodles, kick boards, as well as some games. They played "Brooke Says", where they did the water activities Brooke instructed. They played "Fishy, fishy", where Brooke held the big fish float in the middle of their pool section and when she "swam" the fish in the water and said "Fishy, fishy" all of the kids had to "swim" towards her, but when she turned around they stopped (theoretically). Before class was over all of the kids got their towels and then went to get their prizes. They got a certificate, a sticker, a bracelet and bubbles.
Abby @ 3 years, 8 months, 1 day
Zoë @ 3 years, 8 months, 1 day
Enzo expected in 1 year, 1 month, 8 days
News posted by Laura at 12:13 PM | Comment
