Merry Christmas!/Not that Song!

We tried to get a recording of a Christmas carol for you folks abroad. Both of the girls know quite a few. But as you can see, they could never agree on the song...

The Old Times

Eleanor is doing a painting "from the old times."

"In 2002. There were Indians alive. And some Pilgrims. This is in New England. That's where the Patriots are from. But they weren't even born yet."

Vote 4 Eleanor

When we got home from picking Eleanor up at the bus, they wanted to play outside. I had just seen a hunter go into the woods across the street from the bus stop, so I thought maybe we shouldn't be out playing in the yard right then -- and I told Eleanor that they might come onto our land because we hadn't put signs up saying they couldn't. Obviously, as soon as we went inside, El wanted to make "No Shooting" posters, so I got out the paper. At some moment when my back was turned, they changed from "No Shooting" into "Vote For Eleanor." I guess she's swept up in the moment... Gemma, however, is having none of it, even though her sister made her a poster, too.




Our house is now decorated with campaign posters. She made a few last-minute, get-out-the-vote calls as well. Poll results aren't always an indication, but 3 out of 3 people called have pledged their imaginary vote...

Leaps and Bounds

Gemma's language and thinking has developed so much over the past month that she still surprises me with what she says. Here are some conversations and sayings from Gemma yesterday...

In the morning, as I am making a fire, she pulls out one of the newspapers, sits down and opens it up, saying, "Hmmm. I wonder what there is to worry about today".

As we are in the car traveling down our dirt road, Gemma comments that "The road is very bumpy". She's so right. Several minutes later, I hear her from the backseat say, "This road is smooth. They must put smoothing cream on it".

We were walking into Eleanor's school and talking about "things" when Gemma out of the blue says, "Walking and Talking. That rhymes."

At the school sock hop, Gemma acted clingy and I thought she might be tired. The gym was crazy busy, but when I tried to get the girls to go, Gemma wanted to stay, "I want to dance to the music". When I finally convinced them to leave, Gemma noticed the music coming outside through an open door and said, "We can still listen to the music and dance". Then, in the car we had a near meltdown, with Gemma crying, "I want YMCA music RIGHT NOW!!!!"

Eleanor loves talking about words and sounds while we are riding around in the car. She was talking about the spelling of a street we had past when Gemma chimed in. "Eleanor, be quiet please. It's my turn to talk to momma. I spell the word like this B...R...W...Y."

I don't know if this translates to a blog, but coming from the mouth of a two and a half year old, it's constantly entertaining.

Fall is football

I tried to get a shot of the girls and their dad watching football, but I could only get Jud to look away from the television. The girls love to wear dad's Pats tees, sneaking them out of the drawer and then giggling when they show up with them. Go Pats!



















This fall, the girls choose gymnastics as their sport. Eleanor is on her own with the instructors, but they request parents stay with the younger ones. As you can see, chalking up for the bars is Gemma's favorite part of the lesson.

Gemma starts school

Gemma has been pretty excited about going to school by herself. Here are pics from Jud on her first day...



















One thing she was very excited about was that she was going to school and Eleanor was going home! Here they visit with Ms. Stephanie, Eleanor's former teacher.




And then...Gemma is off to play on her own. And there is no looking back. Ms. Stephanie says she is holding her own despite being the youngest in the class. And she's so proud that she goes to school just like her big sis.

Too cute outfit

Here is Gemma in the backyard looking like some European maiden out on the hunt in the backyard. Thanks Auntie Ray!

Fun at the Fair

What a treat to have 3 Jay and Ray come for a night and than to accompany us at the Common Ground Fair in Unity Maine. It was way crowded, hopefully a sign that earth conscious folks are a growing breed. We were able to have fun despite the crowd.
Jude was happy as long as he could push his stroller around.
The girls went for a wagon ride.
And Gemma just loves giving love to Auntie Ray. Thanks for coming guys!

Almost like Daddy's

As we are finishing our cereal with frozen blueberries, Gemma says, " My have a new special, special song. It's almost like daddy's" and she sings (with the correct melody structure) "Blueberry Time. It's Blueberry Time."

While back at home...

And can you guess who wants to be riding the bus? We have to walk a half mile to the bus stop. On the way home, Gemma was bemoaning the fact that SHE doesn't get to ride a school bus. She is extremely talkative in Eleanor's absence. Perhaps filling up the space? She discussed her future on the way home. "Mama. Maybe my be in an airplane when my all grow up. My ride in Blue Angels! (they were flying over in prep for the air show) My ride in Blue Angels and then my come home and say 'Momma. I'm home'"

Goin Solo

Eleanor is at school by herself today. She's the first one on the bus and has the bus to herself for several miles. And she's lovin it. Seems like Ted the bus driver doesn't mind this chatty little girl.

Thoughts on the big day...

First Day of School

If the first day is any indication, Eleanor will be having a great kindergarten year. She was totally comfortable with the many new faces, greeting the bus driver, principal, and teacher with enthusiasm. One parent got to ride along on the bus both to and from on the first day, which was fun, but I don't think she needed me.

Here she is talking to dad on the line in Oregon as she waits for the bus...Eleanor is the first of only five students who ride the pm K bus #43 with Ted.
Here she is in her classroom after finding her spot.

Gemmalemma

When I went to get Gemma out of her crib this morning, I was welcomed with "Momma, when I was a baby the doctor cut me out of your belly". Don't know where this came from, but guess it's true...

First Day Back to Work

It was only with great reluctance I dragged myself away from the family and back to work on Wednesday. When I came home, Jud and the girl surprised me with a new campsite set up in our yard! Complete with a new firepit and fire, tent, chairs, girls in pj's and boots- basically just add hot dogs to this party. And we were even able to get some sleep that night!

Chatty Cathy

Gemma may be hard to understand at times, but her language and memory are coming right along. Today she said this to me, as she was jumping and turning on our little trampoline:

"Momma, I'm getting my exercise. I'm getting my exercise going round and round just like the ferris wheel at the blueberry fair."

Here she is with Eleanor posing as the "Blackberry Princesses" at the Blueberry Fair last weekend following Jud's gig.

And the parade marches on...

The Coast Guard Festival Parade is still a big draw. Not quite as exciting as I remembered from the past. All the family met at a spot along the route to enjoy the spectacle. Here are Eleanor and Gemma with my cousin Ed's two little ones, Van and Cade.Gemma saw much of the parade while on the lap of her aunts and uncles, particularly Auntie Ray and Uncle Joel.
Eleanor stayed on her feet, waiting for the next candy gathering opportunity with candy expert, Van. Notice the full mouths of candy...

One float tossed out squirt guns. It was a hot day, and Gemma spent the next couple of minutes cooling herself down.

Rycenga Fun

Its hard to pick from all the pictures of the fun we had visiting with the Rycenga clan at two parties hosted by Aunt Becky. The Fricano's pizza was a hit at the first party, but it took second place to the shaving cream frenzy.





























On Saturday, we celebrated Gramma's birthday on Coast Guard Saturday, stopping to take a picture of the entire clan, with all 44 in attendance. Here is the birthday girl with one of the newest members of the family, Jonelle.

Good and Plenty

There's plenty to do to keep the kids entertained. Here, we go to the John Ball Zoo (Pygmy goats were a big hit) and to the Kids day at the Hollow.

Grandparents Rule!

One of the best things about GH for the girls is visiting with the grandparents. We were able to fit in numerous visits, but its never enough! Here are the girls with Grandma Eleanor (little Eleanor's name for Gramma Rycenga)... We tried to stop into their place whenever we were in the area. And when the fireworks got too loud for El, Gramma and Grampa came to the rescue and invited us to watch from their porch. It was a perfect view of the fireworks without the sound. Thanks Grampa and Gramma! While we missed Grammy when she traveled to Isle Royale for her women in the wilderness gig, the girls still had a change to sneak in plenty of fun. Gemma still talks about her trolley ride and wanting to take another soon. The Grand Haven Museum was really cool too.
When visiting Grampy, getting out on his boat is a must. The girls favorite part was anchoring in a bayou and jumping off the boat. Eleanor learned how to do the cannonball dive. Gemma jumped right in and didn't want to get out, swimming away from us when we mentioned we would have to leave soon.

Ol Sandy Pines

The first week in MI we had great fun visiting the Retsema's at Sandy Pines.

If you haven't had the Sandy Pines experience, you probably don't remember eating an ice cream while riding on a golf cart through acres of shaded lots filled with trailers after swimming and boating all day long. The girls got the full treatment.

We were lucky that not only Aunt Betsy and Uncle Don, but Peter, Becky, and Margaret were there as well. Here are all the cousins...The girls had to have some chats with Aunt Betsy...

And read to Aunt Betsy...
Before heading to the awesome new water park. They say the water was on 57 degrees and you can almost feel the cold water by watching the expressions on these two little girls.

Gemma made good friends with cousin Peter after he took us out on his boat. Gemma screamed "Faster!" as her sister pleaded him to slow down. What a pair.

It's Blueberry Time

A trip to Michigan in late summer is not complete without picking blueberries at least twice! We would have even gone a third time if the weather cooperated.


Gemma, our little "fruit bat" was in hog heaven. For the first 20 minutes she just sat under a bush eating everything in sight.Eleanor preferred discussing the experience. Who can find the biggest berry? How is your bucket going? What would happen if the world were upside down?
The second time we went with Thom, Jonelle, and Shelly. We were quite selective as we didn't need as many. I do believe we picked the finest bucket of berries that ever were seen. But of course, the girls kept taste-testing for good measure.