November 2016

The girls started out the month each with a trip to the dentist.  Mila loved everything about it and was an absolute pro; Nellie needed a little more handholding.

Mila had her trike-a-thon at school.  She I raised money and she was able to ride her scooter at school.  I made her record a video asking her family to raise money; it's pretty adorable.

We went to Siena's (Kira's sister) first birthday party at the park.

And later she had a sleepover at her house.

Mila went over to her house around 4pm; Aimee and Matt (without kids) and Garret were over and Nellie was LOVING being the only child.  Thinking back I realized that Nellie hasn't ever really been alone with both of us since she was tiny little baby, still dependent on us for everything.  Seeing how happy she was being the only child reminded me how we ned to make time for each of the girls by themselves (easier said than done!).

Mila learned all about Thanksgiving and had a feast at school, although she told me that she only ate the mashed potatoes and the pie.  She loved talking about pilgrams and the Mayflower.

We had the village watching the girls during the first three days of Thanksgiving break and the girls loved spending time with the Lloyds and the Kings.

And then we spent Thanksgiving at Robert's parents house along with his brother and grandparents and had a great time celebrating with his family.

With Thanksgiving over, that means that Lucy is back!  She spent her first night in the girls room, spying on them.  At bedtime Nellie promptly threw her on the floor and Mila ran out of her room like a crazy person yelling what happened.  The next nights she was in with the toothbrushes, hanging from the chandelier,  riding a train and drawing on Mila and Nellie's pictures.

Nellie is talking so much, it's about a 50/50 chance that you can figure out what she is talking about.  Once you can figure it out, though, it's absolutely adorable!

I am loving the age that the girls are at. They love (most of the time) playing together and it's even more fun that Nellie is talking because they can communicate much more.  Mila loves to help out and teach her new words to say and Nellie loves everything that includes being like Mila so it's a win-win.  They love playing with their babies, the Barbie trailer (which Nellie likes to climb IN and then play), and pretending to be Mom and Sis, which includes Mila (Mom) going to work while I (Grandma) watch the baby and Sis (Nellie) just follows her and does what ever she says.

Can't believe Christmas is less than a month away!

October 2016

What an action packed, fun month this was!

We started the month with the St. Bonaventure Fall Festival, just up the street from our house.  This was the first year that we went and we will definitely go back!

Garret, Robert and I went to Oktoberfest at St. Ireanus Church.

For Robert's birthday I had surprised him with tickets to the Raiders/Chiefs game in Oakland.  My parents watched the girls and we flew up Saturday morning and spent the day and night with the Fontana family; it's been WAY too long since we caught up with them and so so great to be able to see them, even if for just a short amount of time.

Sunday morning we got up and drove into Oakland for the game and spent the night in San Francisco and flew home Monday morning. The game was amazing, even though it rained before (and we couldn't tailgate) and during part of the game.  At least it wasn't a hard rain and it stopped around halftime; it almost made for a better experience!

The girls had a great time with Nana and Papa while we were gone but I know they were happy to see us....both the girls AND my parents!

Shortly after we got back from Oakland (two days later!) Robert left for a boys trip to Green Bay for the Packers/Bears game.  He said it was an AMAZING time and we should both definitely go back.  This is the first time he has done a guys trip (other than a bachelor party, and it's still been a while since he went to one of those!) and I think he really enjoyed it. It's always nice to get away and let loose with your friends. Before we could really miss him, though, he was back!  Also, when he returned home he switched from Th/Fr/Sa day shift to Mo/Tu/We night shift; it will take us a couple weeks to get into the new routine but we are SO happy to have him back for the whole weekend!

While I wanted to squeeze in the apple orchard this year I settled for the pumpkin patch and the girls had a blast.  They each chose three rides and Mila got her first ever full face paint...and loved it! Until she started crying over something 10min later and all the paint started running down her face...

We ended the month with Trunk or Treat at Mila's preschool...

and Halloween.  Out of the 20 or so costumes that Costco had Mila picked Iron Man a couple months ago all on her own.  I was surprised with her choice because we haven't ever watched/played with superheroes (and I don't even really know who Iron Man is!) but she was adament that what she wanted to be.  At one point a little boy was over here and saw the costume and said "Oh you're going to be Iron Man? Or I guess it would be Iron Girl." And she shot right back, "No! It's Iron Man! And I know he's a boy but I don't care that's what I want to be!"  We are doing something right, turning her into a confident little woman who knows what she wants <3

Mila is as busy as ever and started fall soccer again.  She absolutely loves it, although she spent just as much time twirling her hair and rolling around on the ground as she did chasing the ball but she had a good time.

She visited Tanaka Farms with her preschool and got to pick lots of vegetables (green onions and radishes) and even got to pick a pumpkin to bring home.

Mila loves going to school, not only to see her friends, but also to learn.  I have printed out/bought activity sheets and at least once a day she asks to do "her homework;" it's adorable.  She told me in the car the other day that they were learning about bats and how they were nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and stay up at night.  Then it was like a lightbulb clicked and she said, "just like daddy! Daddy is nocturnal!"

She is still a very sensitive, loving daughter and friend but we are teetering on a new attitude change.  She has more of "a tone" lately and says things like "whatever" and sort of rolls her eyes.  Even still, though, it's only a matter of minutes after these incidents when she will come up to you with a hug and say, "I'm sorry for being mean to you."

Nellie is changing right before our eyes and we are trying to soak it all in!  She is still as independent as ever, gives you the meanest little glare but then runs over with a big hug and giggle.

She is still spending two days a week with Kerry and, now that Siena is walking and interacting more, she loves going over there to play and interact with her. It's cute seeing them play together.

She is on the cusp of a word explosion and has started communicating more.  We recently taught her the sign for help to use when she was starting to get frustrated but that only last a matter of days before she started saying "help" instead of signing it.  She has started parroting anything you say to her and you can actually understand what it sounds like she is saying. She's always had stories to tell and I know we are going to be able to hear (and finally understand!) them in just a couple more months.

Now starts the crazy time of the year where everything flies by!  Bring on the holiday season!