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.
Playing with the Teapot that Auntie Tara got her for her birthday, also notice the apple with a few bites out of it!
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!
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 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.
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.
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 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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
For the first week Mom, Ava, and Sarah stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house while our belongings were being shipped. Dad stayed in Arlington and slept on air mattress and worked the whole week. The girls had lots of fun at Grandma's house. Sarah says "woof woof" whenever she sees a dog. Ava and Sarah got to play with Abby and Sophia too.
Here are Ava and Sarah as they got off the plane in Boston on Aug 12th. The first thing that we saw was a lifesized Red Sox statue and a couple of seats from Fenway Park.
Sarah and Ava visited Mrs Machado on Thu Aug 11th. We were so blessed for Mrs Machado to care for Sarah while Mom worked. She was an angel that God sent to watch over Sarah while she was just a tiny infant. Every morning Sarah would smile when she heard her voice and Ava would run and open the front door. Mrs Machado spent the days playing with Sarah and helping her learn to crawl and stand and almost walk. Sarah is about to turn 1 yr old in a week and she is ever so close to walking.
It was a bittersweet goodbye, but we will pray for Mr & Mrs Machado and family. Someday when we go on vacation back to California we will stop in for a visit. Until then may God send his angels to watch over them and bless them all.
Thu Aug 12th Ava had a performance at her Summer Theater camp. It was Leonardo the Terrible Monster. She did a great job, smiling and singing the whole time. This was Ava and Sarah saying goodbye to the house.
Here is little Sarah in front of the big Mayflower moving truck. The house was packed and empty on Wed Aug 10th. We spent Wed and Thu night in the Larkspur Landing hotel in Campbell, CA. We left out of SFO on JetBlue on early morning of Fri Aug 12th.
