Enjoying Autumn

The past few weeks have been both good but trying. We are so grateful for the love of our family and friends. We will keep you posted on things as we hear more.

We love Autumn in New England!!! It is so beautiful. I wish everyone could be here with us and see the most majestic sights that we see merely by walking out our door. New England has a special spirit in the Fall. There is so much to see and do and we have been trying to do it all!!

APPLE PICKING

Last weekend we took part in a time honored New England tradition of apple picking. The girls had a blast. We went with our good friends.

(I cannot get enough of this baby. We are calling this year "the year of the Kate Lovefest")

APPLE BAKING

What to do with all those apples? Apple tarts and pies, of course. Here we are baking an apple/almond tart. The girls LOVE to bake with me. Together we are becoming gourmet cooks.

The BIG E

Every state has a state fair. But when you live in New England, your states are VERY small. So we combine all of our state fairs into one great big one called the "Big E". I remember going as a child, and now it is so sweet to bring my own daughters. Along with the normal state fair activites like rides and petting animals, each New England state has a building that is somewhat a replica of a famous building in that state. Each state's building highlights their agriculture and industry. It really is an amazing event to go see. Mike LOVES it! This year I really was fine to skip it with three girls now. But it was Mike who INSISTED we go. I am so glad, it was a great time.

BRIMFIELD

Martha Stewart fans should know what Brimfield is (she loves it and writes about it annually. For us once might be it). Brimfield is the largest anique show anywhere in the country. For one weekend a year, in the Fall, of course, this little town of Brimfield turns farm fields into a tent city with "antique" vendors. You really have to sort through it, though. MOST (and I really mean MOST) of the items for sale are garbage. But we had so much fun spending the day there together. Mike has been working so long and it was such a treat just to be with him. We did manage a couple of great finds. I found this beautiful silver platter with a monogrammed "C" on it dating back to the 1800's. I also find a silver plate and cup for display in Kate's room. Along with the antique vendors, there are also artisans. We bought the most beautiful painting of a girl walking the beach. It reminds us of our daughters and our great love, the ocean.

Here is the platter on display in our China Hutch

Kate ...

Our sweet Kate has been sick this weekend. It makes me so sad when our babies are sick. She is such a joy for our family. Her big sisters literally cannot keep their hands off her (as indicated in the picture above). Rileigh loves her a little too much sometimes. Emerson is always so gentle with her. Last night Kate didn't sleep very well. Mike went in to give her binky. Every time he tried to put it into her mouth she would hit it out. Mike said she looked at him like "Daddy, that is not going to work this time. I WANT TO BE HELD!"
She is such a cuddler. I love it when she wraps her little arms around our neck and hugs as tightly as she can.
The other night she was "talking" in her sleep. It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard ... "dada dada dada". It almost made me cry.
Now if only I could put her down while I made dinner then she would be the perfect baby. I hope she feels better soon.

Opera (Chatwin style)

So Emerson is quite the opera singer. It is the Italian in her (their love of all things cultured is their Italian side - wink wink!). So here are the girls performing opera. Enjoy!!

For Sophie:

Here is a story for Emerson's very best friend in the whole world, Sophie. Emerson dictated the words to me herself. Emerson and Sophie have been best friends since their first breath. We moved from D.C. when Emerson was only 2 1/2 years old. Yet, Sophie has still remained her dearest friend. Emerson has a little friend here who she is very close to, Miya ("Miya from church and school"). Emerson will say Miya is my new best friend (for the last two years) and Sophie is her "all my life best friend". I just love this little girl's loyalty. She includes BOTH her best friends in her prayers. Emerson talks of the plans that she has for Sophie all the time. "Sophie and I are going to go to the zoo together" or "Sophie and I like to make sand castles at the beach together"

So Sophie, this is for you (you may have to double click the pictures to enlarge and read better). We love you, Sophie:

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First Day of Pre-School

Rileigh started Preschool last week. She will be attending the same Preschool Emerson did. We LOVE our Preschool. Truly, we cannot say enough wonderful things about her school. The teachers are the greatest you will find. It is such a safe and nurturing enviroment. The children learn through play (I think that is the preschool norm). They really are so creative in teaching math and science. Which is what drew us there orginally.
Rileigh is in the Teddy Class and has Emerson's first teacher, Ms. Lucy. We adore Ms. Lucy!!! She is so kind and sweet. I think she may really be the greatest teacher in ALL the world (except Grandma and Auntie Danielle, of course). We crossed our fingers all summer hoping that Rileigh would have Ms. Lucy. Ms. Lucy's assistant teacher is Ms. Mona. She, also, is so wonderful. We are so grateful for these women who really could teach elsewhere but choose to teach preschool.

Rileigh was not even a little bit nervous for school to start. She was so anxious and excited. She told me the morning of her first day "Mommy only one little boo hoo today. And that's it!!!" When I asked if she was ready to leave she "Finally". Meaning, I was ready for school to start months ago.
Mike went into work late and along with Baby Kate, we brought Rileigh to school together that first morning. Although, as you can tell from the picture below, not only was she not nervous to start, we were obviously holding her back. As soon as we got to school Rileigh and Dante ran away from the parents and dashed towards school. There was no separation anxiety, no crying (except by Mommy, of course). She already loves school and is very upset that you cannot go on Saturdays.

Kate Ate!!

Go Red Sox!!

First Day of School

Emerson started kindergarten this week. She was so nervous beforehand. But she came home that day and reported that kindergarten "rocked". She has two teachers, Mrs. MacDonald and Mrs. Incutto, that will rotate teaching, plus a full time teacher's aide. There are 16 students in the class, and three (counting herself) were in the same preschool class. Having friends that she has already spent two years with made the transition much easier. Her kindergarten classroom is bright and cheery, with many fun stations.

Mike gave her a father's blessing the night before. She said she felt better. We got her a new pink alarm clock that she really likes. The entire family, including Grandma, took her to school on her first day (this past Friday). She was so excited.

She told me to stop crying. Everything I read said that you shouldn't cry in front of your children. It makes them more nervous. I did do a pretty good job, but the occassional stubborn tear slipped. Once we got out of the school, after first dropping her off, Mommy had a melt down. Kindergarten is such a big world. She really is ready.

Beach Trip

The friends: 2/3 of the children:
We rented a beach house for a week in Rhode Island this year with our dear friends the Lloyds and the Busses. We truly had a wonderful time. The girls esp. had so much fun. There were 9 children under the age of 5, so there was always someone to play with. Emerson learned to boogie board. We spent a day on Block Island. The children loved the ferry ride. We also spent a day in Newport. Newport is just beautiful. Newport was the playground for America's most influential families at the turn of the 20th century. They built summer cottages there (or mansions as the rest of us would call them). Mike really loved that Chris brought the X-box. Here is an actual quote from my husband regarding X-box: "To be the man, you have to beat the man."

We brought a babysitter with us and each night after the children went to bed the adults would go out. It was so nice to spend time with such great, entertaining and interesting friends. Each of us truly enjoyed our time with our friends. We are so grateful for such great friends here!! We look forward to our next trip with the Lloyds and Busses.

We also spent a day with Mike's cousin Tyler. Tyler is an officer in the Navy stationed in Newport. Tyler has a daughter that is 5 also. She and Emerson instantly bonded and couldn't believe their good fortune to have a cousin so close.

The cousins:

We missed you this year, Guymons. Emerson is "desperate to see Sophie". To quote her directly.

Rhode Island Vacation

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

(he looks so handsome in his new glasses)

Today is Mike's Birthday! We really love our boy!!!! I do not know a man who works harder at the office (often 80 plus hours a week) and then comes home and dedicates himself more to his family. He makes each of us feel like a princess.

So in honor of "our boy" as Rileigh calls him the girls and I came up with a list:

Why we love Mike:

1) He absolutely adores having all girls. He takes pride in being a member of the "All Girls Daddy Club" with other blessed men like him here.

2) He tries his hardest to do the girls' hair (from Emerson)

3) He is truly brilliant (all of us)

4) He is articulate in any subject

5) He is shy

6) He still manages to laugh at his wife's joke

7) He is very empathetic

8) He dedicates himself to all his callings at Church.

9) He is always the one to seek out those who are often forgotten. He remembers those at Christmas time that really need a friend.

10) He puts his family first!!! (all of us)

11) He nevers misses an important event in the girls' life. With his work schedule this can often be challenging

12) He is an amazing lawyer (from Rileigh)

13) He still brings his wife flowers, almost weekly

14) He is very funny (from Rileigh)

15) He is a man of great faith

16) He has had the same best friend since his freshman year in college

17) He helps around the house whenever he is home

18) He is always so willing to help with the girls

19) He is an amazing cook (from Emerson)

20) Thinking about the day that his girls will get married already makes him tear up

21) He loves new gadgets but doesn't spend money on them

22) He loves his incredible new grill though

23) He is a fix-it man. It is the engineer in him. He can fix ANYTHING

24) He has a song for everything (from Emerson)

25) He loves to play with his girls (from Rileigh)

26) He loves to make pictures (from Rileigh)

27) He likes to play cowboy (from Rileigh - this entails Daddy letting the girls ride on his back)

28) He lets the girls dress him like a princess (from Emerson and Rileigh)
29) He works really hard (from Emerson)

30) He cares about us (from Emerson)

31) He always knows what I am doing (from Emerson)

32) He guides me (from Emerson)

33) He was the best soccer coach (from Emerson)

34) He protects me (from Emerson)

35) He is the best teacher ever (from Emerson)

36) He is the best husband and friend to his wife

37) He gives great back rubs

38) He knows all about the planets (from Emerson)

39) He knows everything about the world (from Emerson)

40) He sometimes can come home early (from Emerson)

41) He is a good gardener (from Emerson)

42) With a tan he looks like the "bronze god of love" (a nickname the guys gave him after a trip to Jamaica)

43) He loves to read

44) He can finish my sentences

45) His Dad and Grandpa are his heroes

46) He loves ESPN

47) He knows all the stats on the Red Sox (so cool)

48) He is very friendly to everyone!!!!

49) HE IS THE BEST "BOY" IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! (from Rileigh)

50) He is a good provider

51) He tries hard to make everyone around him feel comfortable

52) He is very modest

53) He absolutely lives for his wife and daughters

54) He is a great body surfer (from Emerson)

55) He is so patient with the girls

56) He doesn't like being apart from us for even a day. When he travels to NYC for work he has us come down with him.

57) He has a great laugh (from Emerson). It starts deep in his belly and works its way out.

58) He makes every birthday and holiday special for us.

59) Calling us a character from Stars Wars is a term of endearment for him

60) THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD WE WOULD RATHER CALL FATHER AND HUSBAND!!!

Mike, you are the best. You really are one of a kind.

We love you so much!!! You are "our everything"!!!!