St Clements

Dad and Ava prayed a rosary at St Clements in Boston.

Donut treats

Mom was going to the store. She stopped at Gail Ann's and got Ava and Sarah and Daddy a donut. Ava's donut had rainbow jimmies! Love Todd, Arita, Ava, and Sarah

Christmas with our cousins

Monday Ava and Sarah shared Christmas with their cousins in Connecticut.

Trampoline

Ava is sitting on the trampoline and Sarah wants to go on. But Sarah fell off except she didn't get hurt and didn't cry. Love, Ava and Sarah and Todd and Arita. We love you! The end.

The Carriage Ride

We are still in the palace room. I got out to take a picture.

Love, The Basso Family

Balloons!!!

Dad found a whole bunch of balloons and gave them to Ava and Sarah. Ava had all of the red ones and Sarah had all of the silver ones.

Goodbye Mimi and Papa

We loved having you visit this whole week! Sad to see you go, but hope to see you again soon! Love, Ava and Sarah

Lost my tooth!

Friday night Ava's tooth was literally hanging by a thread. Dad got a tissue and barely got a hold of it and out it came. Ava couldn't believe it and she ran around and was quite upset for a few minutes. She said that she didn't want anybody to see it and that it looked horrible and she wanted it back in. After a while she was okay with it and was excited for the tooth fairy to come. Now the tooth right next to it is loose and we are guessing it will be next, though it could take some time. This first tooth was loose for almost two months!

ca-ca

Sarah likes "ca-ca" which is how she says candy. Her favorite are Junior Mints. Mom usually gives her a couple after breakfast. Tonight Dad gave her the whole (little) box after dinner tonight. But she also just loves to sort through the bag.

First snow!

Sunday morning we woke up to a couple inches of wet slushy snow. It was cold but Dad and Ava managed to shovel the driveway and sidewalk before Mass. It was an early snow, not often do we get snow in October. But unfortunately it wasn't too good for everybody. Lots of people lost power. Grandma and Grandpa lost power in Connecticut and still didn't have power even on Monday.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween from Laura Ingalls and the Little Chick. Monday was a cold Halloween night, but that didn't stop our little trick or treaters! Ava made out with a good bag of candy. Ava, Mom, and Sarah went trick or treating with Ava's friend Sophie and her mother. Dad stayed home to hand out candy (a total of 9 kids came to our door in 2 hours!). Sarah got a few candies and managed to eat a 3 Musketeers and part of a dum-dum. Ava stayed up and watched a TV program while she settled down. Then she fell asleep in less than 10 minutes, a really tired kid!

Custom House Tower

Sunday we visited downtown Boston. The day started with a bus and subway ride to get to the Custom House Tower. In the picture it is the tall building in the background with the clock faces. Ava calls it the clock tower. We went all the way up inside the clock tower and out onto the observation deck on the 26t floor. After that we went on a horse and carriage ride, watched a street performer at Quincy Market, and finished with treats at Mike's Pastry on Hanover St in the North End.

I'm a little teapot

Playing with the Teapot that Auntie Tara got her for her birthday, also notice the apple with a few bites out of it!

Letter to Santa

Already thinking of Christmas! Ava has written a letter to Santa asking for what she wants for herself and what Sarah wants too. Though one of the "toys" for Sarah is really for Ava!

Pumpkins

Here are our two little pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. Means that Halloween can't be far away! We'll see if Ava is interested in pumpkins this year, but usually she doesn't even like the sight or smell of them. Sarah on the other hand might like it.

Laura Ingalls drives the tractor

Laura Ingalls drove the tractor at one of the apple orchards that we went to. Seemed that it didn't go fast enough for her and she like to steer the wheel back and forth like a racecar driver trying to warm up the tires. She got stuck a couple of times in the sandy parts. But she made two good laps around.

Peekaboo

Sarah loves to play with Ava's dollhouse. She puts things into it like blocks and some of Ava's little people. When Ava is playing with te dollhouse Sarah likes to peek through the windows. Here Mom is playing peekaboo and Sarah finds this very funny.

Apple picking

Picking apples and peaches on Labor Day!

Home sweet home!

Town day pony ride

Bunny

Here is Laura Ingalls riding her horse "Bunny". Really this was on Labor Day at the apple orchard. We picked some apples and peaches and then Ava got to ride on a big horse.

Thank you for my presents!

Thank you to Auntie Tara and Mimi and Papa for my presents. I opened them on Sunday morning before Church, Ava helped me. I absolutely love the presents and cards! Thank you so much!

Abby

Sarah loved all of the attention and care the Abby gave her. At Sarah's birthday's party Abby (or "Abbs" as Ava calls her) held Sarah and helped her walk and played with her at the park. This was really special because Sarah has been having a bunch of rough days because of teething and she was really tired because she didn't nap much on her birthday!

Tug-of-war

Playing tug-of-war with Abby and Sophia! There was lots of running, screaming, and squealing. It was the perfect day for Ava. And Sarah likes to watch all of the action too!

Laura Ingalls!

Ava's favorite thing now is Little House on the Prarie! She likes to pretend that she is Laura Ingalls. She calls Mom, "Ma", and Dad, "Pa". She also calls Sarah, "Carrie". Every night when we go for a walk she pretends that she is riding "Bunny". Saturday Ava took Dad to the costume store and Dad bought her a bonnet that she is wearing everywhere!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Sarah's first birthday! We had a birthday party for Sarah at Grandma's house in Connecticut. Ava and Sarah had a great time playing with Abby and Sophia. Sarah was quite taken with Abby who didn't put Sarah down the whole day. Dad grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Mom made a strawberry cake. Sarah got to eat her own piece. It was great to have a party with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Peter, Aunt Carol, and Abby and Sophia. On the way home we stopped and had a nice visit with Uncle Andy. Sarah got so many nice presents at the party and from Mimi and Papa and Auntie Tara too!

Kindergarten!

Ava's first day of kindergarten was Tue Aug 30th. She was so excited to go to school. At first she wasn't too excited about her uniform, she was used to the "full" uniform at her old school. But after trying it on she decided that it was comfortable and she is proud of her uniform and her school. The first week was easy with 3 half days, but now that September is here she is going full days.