Fall Update

Where have you been, Tremblays? I look back at the last date of the blog and cringe. Posts are more quarterly these days. We've been pretty busy just keeping the wheels turning.

Sylvie is immersed in her 1st primary year at Cambridge Montessori in the Red room. She'll be in the Red Room for three years, so she benefits learning from older kids now and experiencing that leadership role in two years. But I'm no expert, talk to Katie.

Here's the kids with a favorite sitter, Gaby. She used to watch Henri on Fridays and sometimes in the evenings. She recently got a job in her field, so we're happy for her. But according to Sylvie, they're planning a sleepover.

Kids with Gaby

You can also make out Sylvie's big bruise on her forehead. She slipped and hit her head on the car door getting out one night. It swelled up like half a container of silly putty. Luckily, she was fine and embracing her bruises and cuts like all kids- as trophies.

Henri has been doing quite well. His ease at bedtime seems to be balanced by his zeal for trouble. Hey, he's just curious just like Daddy... He's phrases 2-3 word sentences and the vocabulary is ever growing. And like most boys, the "truck", "fire engine", "train" gene is fully active. Of course he's surrounded by girls in the neighborhood. Fate is so cruel. Grow up cousin Adam so we can get into trouble!

Sylvie and Henri, here with Uma, one of the girls in the neighborhood.

Adam, Iman and Sylvie.

The weekend before Halloween we headed over for a costume party Joc had heard about--a platform for some local politician's campaign, but the kids were oblivious to that aspect of it and they enjoyed the festive atmosphere.  Sylvie got to bring her inner-bunny to life with her costume, and Henri's obsession with spiders this fall was reflected in his spider costume.  We were able to squeeze one more year out of that outfit.  Good, since he was sick last year and couldn't really enjoy it.  Well, he was sick again this year, but we dragged him out anyway! 

And on another note, below we see Henri taking his first, quite early leaps into potty training. He's putting his sister to shame, but I'm sure a lot of his motivation comes from watching her. Oh to be diaper free, one day.

Contemplative Potty

Serious Potty

I was considering showing the "results", but I'll spare the graphic details. He's going both poop and pee on the potty, but not consistently. Still, it's an awesome start at 22 months.

And I thought I'd round out with a little more Henri. Here he is, getting down. I love how kids just feel it and are totally uninhibited.

More Chicago Pics

Some more pictures from our trip to Chicago. Thanks, Jenny, for sending these along!

NC trip

To top off our trio of trips in July, we went down to NC last week to visit Mimi, Pepere, and Smokey.

Scenes from Southern Pines...

 Henri and his turtle tat.

Just a few highlights from our visit to the "Aloha Zoo," an animal rescue "zoo" (farm, really) we went to one day.

 The Zorse--zebra-horse.

 Watusi cattle

Mimi and her new friend at the zoo.

 

 At Camelot Playground in Pinehurst.

And finally, Sylvie and Smokey shared some good times.

Giving Smokey a bath outside.

NH trip

We're back from an almost week-long trip to Waterville Valley, NH, up in the White Mountains. Before we even left, however, Beau, the kids and I went to a wedding at Kimball Farms on our way up there on Sunday morning.  A co-worker of mine was getting married. The Kimball Farms that Beau and I have been to and taken some people to out near Concord is just an ice cream stand that doles out huge portions.  This Kimball Farms HQ's, out in Westford, MA, has ice cream, but also mini-golf, boat rides, a driving range, pony rides, etc. It was a great, informal, family-friendly wedding.

 The ceremony.

Back under the tent, opting out of the receiving line and waiting for lunch.

 Going on a pony ride.

Beau and Sylvie went on the bumper boats while Henri--who didn't meet the height requirement--and I looked on.  Soon, little guy!

Now, onto Waterville Valley.  Here's some scenery of the town and the surrounding mountains.

The end of our street.

We visited Clarks Trading Post on Tuesday, which was this nice little place.  Not quite an amusement park, but it was perfect for the kids.  They had a train ride, different museums/shops you could visit along the Main St, climbing walls, bumper boats, face painting, bear shows, acrobats.

Here we are, on the train.

Now, I don't really know how the legend of the "Wolfman" got started, but when you go on the train, there are all these warnings about the Wolfman.   Story is that he is this lone miner who is trying to run you off of his territory.  Once you go through this covered bridge, the train is then pursued by this crazy guy (who has a mic set up on him so you can hear him ranting and raving), complete with a pop gun and fireworks.

Catching sight of him!

Wolfman!

The kids didn't really know what to think of the whole thing at one point,  Iman curled up in the fetal position, hiding.  Wolfman definitely was a hot topic of conversation for the kids in the day after--and possibly months to come (?).

After the train ride and a bear show, the kids got a little face paint.

Sylvie loved strolling her cousins around.

 Climing up the "Old Man of the Mountain" climbing wall.
Me...

 Joc...

 Beau...

 Henri, hanging out in the "Wolfman Hotel."  I literally had to tear him away from it!

 Relaxing on the couch once we got home.

 Henri in baby Adam's seat.

On another day, while on a hike.

Finally, we went to Storyland up in Glen, NH.  It was a bit of a drive, but a beautiful one and well worth it.  It's like a more accessible mini-Disney World without all the lines and craziness.  Definitely on the list of things to do again.

 Iman, communing with an animatronic tree

 Henri, sitting on Miss Muffet's Tuffet.

 Pirate ship ride.

 On the Ferris wheel.

The tractor ride, which Henri and Sylvie since it meant they got to drive!

 Jocelyln, Iman, Bibi and Adam going for a ride.

 

The "Crazy Barn" ride, from which Henri, Adam and I opted out.

On our way back home from Storyland, on the scenic Kancamagus Highway.