Home again!

After yet another family party, this time the extended Reilly family, we drove home to Webster on Saturday night. As soon as we got home Quinlan checked to see if Santa had eaten the cookies we left out - he had - and then she noticed all the great presents he had left for the kids.

Max shows off his new "Cars" characters, Rusty and Dusty Rusteez

Reilly and her new Cinderella and horse

Quinlan opens her new Disney Sparkle Baby - Just what she asked for!

A purple (her favorite color) bike for Quinlan

and a pink Princess scooter for Reilly. Since it has been windy and cold she has practiced riding it in my kitchen so she'll be ready to go when the weather gets better...... like in August.

Grandma and Grandpa's

After breakfast at Susie & Barney's we went to Grandma & Grandpa Connor's house to open presents and have dinner with the Connor side of the family. Aunt Colleen and her dogs were in town (they are very fluffy, soft and excitable - the dogs, not Aunt Colleen). We had a great time and got a lot of great presents. Here is a picture of our greatest present of all! Reilly shows off the "pink" Musketeer - Corrine, a gift from Uncle Curt, Aunt Mary,

Mina, Will & Andee

Uncle Curt, Max, Daddy and Grandpa before the gift frenzy began.

Christmas at Susie and Barney's

We arrived at Susie & Barney's after mass and had dinner and an overnight (actually 2). Christmas morning we didn't get up at 5:00am like Jacob, Seth and Emily did. They watched a movie, we slept. After opening gifts the men cooked and served breakfast and Barney cleaned up (as usual). Thanks for the hospitality Croft family.

Matching nightgowns (or Nightengales as Reilly calls them) from Mima and Poppy

Checking out what is in the stockings Christmas morning.

Playing with Emily's old dollhouse on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve - 2009

Here are my little angels all ready for a trip to Corning on Christmas Eve. Max was none too happy to have to change his clothes but we were going to arrive in time for 6:00 mass so we needed to be ready to go. He did get happier, but it took a while.

Too much Santa is never enough!

Here are the kids sitting with Santa at the MOPS Christmas party on Friday, December 11th. They each got a chance to tell him (again) what they wanted and it was a good thing as each had left something off his or her list. We saw Santa with the Connor cousins (Mina, Will and Andee) the week before. It is a Christmas tradition that our families meet for lunch in Canandaigua and then go to see Santa. Next year we will plan, in advance, to dress warmly and bring blankets so we can go on the horse and wagon ride.

yes, they are dressed alike again. but so were all the other sets of sisters that were there! I'll do it until Quinlan refuses!

State Road School Father-Daughter Dance

Our little princess is growing up. She and her Dad attended the State Road School Father - Daughter dance. Yes, Dad even danced although if you ask Quinlan he didn't do a very good job. She didn't have him compete in the trivia competition though because she told me he wouldn't know any of the answers. Apparently all the questions were about Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers and other stuff like that. Not many of the other Dads knew the answers either. They had a great time and are looking forward to next year's dance.

UPDATE

Well, I would like to say that I've been tremendously busy with important things, too important to do the Blog, but the truth is that I just haven't thought about it or have spent my time pushing Reilly on the swing or driving here, there and everywhere. Every day I'm faced with all the things I didn't get done yesterday (like Max's photo album which is now 3 years behind - I have all the pictures or Reilly's baby book - I haven't got one) PLUS all the new things to do. I try to catch up but just seem to keep falling farther and farther behind.
We had the kid's bathroom tiled and Mike is working on our's now. He really works pretty fast but it just adds more dust to the already covered rooms. Now I suppose it is time I learned to paint and get rid of all this yucky, flat "builder's beige" that we have been living with since we moved in. I just wish someone would pick out the colors for me.... I so can't make a decision.
I can't believe that all the stores have their Christmas stuff out and I haven't even begun to think of gifts for everyone. Add that to the list of things yet to do.
Anywho, I hope you enjoy this little update to the last few months here in Ontario. We are waiting for our first snow and just take each day at a time. Keep in touch.
Ann

Reilly's Funnastics

Reilly has been taking a "Funnastics" class at the Ontario Parks and Recreation Department. It is for 3 - 5 year olds - although most of the kids are 3ish - and works on large motor skills and fundamentals like taking turns and getting along without your parent there to supervise. I drop her off and then 1 1/2 hours later I pick her up. She's usually tired but loves the class. Quinlan took the class right after we moved here. Here are a few pictures from the parent visitation class on October 30th. Learning to sit quietly, take turns and listen to the teacher (Ms. Nancy) are the fundamentals of the class.

Skipping to the music is important too. Reilly was the only one with her shoes off and we've decided that next time she'll need to leave them on.


Working with Ms. Nancy on a backward roll. She has the forward roll and the jumping down pat.

Reilly taking her turn as the "goose". She didn't catch the boy who chose her but she enjoyed the running.

Halloween 2009

Here are my little angel, my bigger Superhero and my Disney storybook character. Reilly is wearing one of Quinlan's old dance costumes. Her wings were really blown around by the winds (which were really blowing out there) but she didn't lose them. This is Max's last time wearing the Buzz Lightyear costume and I think he is ok with that. I certainly got our money out of that one! Quinlan picked Ariel (the Little Mermaid). The wig was a struggle but really made the costume.
Their Daddy took them out to trick or treat and they met up with the neighbor kids too. It only took 45 minutes for them to do the entire tract and then they were home for me to go through their candy and pick out my favorites..... I mean, the ones they couldn't have. Our last treater came to the door at 7:20 so it was an early night. They are still enjoying their candy but I hope they tire of it soon and I can send it off to Daddy's work where I won't have to avoid it.

State Road School Halloween Parade Pictures

Quinlan's "real" birthday - calendar date 10/22

Quinlan got to celebrate again on her "real" birthday - 10/22/09. We had her favorite meal, spaghetti and more cake. She got a new High School Musical 3 doll, Sharpay, and a new High School Musical 3 shirt. Here are Max and Reilly posing after Quinlan opened her gifts. Singing "the" song of the day!

Another birthday?? Another cake and some cupcakes with little flowery, sugary things on them. This time you can really see how old she is.

Quinlan's Bowling Birthday Party

Open weekend days at the end of October were in short supply. We had to celebrate Quinlan's 7th birthday, with her friends, a week early. She chose to go to the bowling alley and invited all the kids from our end of the street and a few school friends from the neighborhood. Everyone had a great time, especially our birthday girl. From left: Ryan Wade, Ryan Springer, Megan Wade, Quinlan, Jessica Jacobs and Lilah Hann.

Aiden Marques, Jessica, Quinlan and Lilah

I made the cake but ran out of green frosting (at 1:00am, why do I wait until the very last minute to do these things?) and had to make more. I had a little trouble matching the greens, but it tasted good and matched the rest of the theme.

4th Grade Fun Run

Max and the rest of the district's 4th graders participated in the "4th Grade Fun Run" on September 25th. One of the local businesses (a running shoe and apparel store) sponsors the run at a local park. As you can see by the pictures it was a very chilly, cloudy day but the kids really were up for it. Each child had an electronic timing device attached to their ankle and was assigned a number. As soon as they crossed the finish line their time was recorded. Max did a great job running the 1 mile. I expected him to walk a lot of it but he didn't and finished in around 14 minutes. Way to go, Max.

Here is Max taking time out of his start to wave to me and Reilly.

I bundled Reilly up against the cold with a blanket I found in the back end of the Tahoe. But this was not the right stroller to be pushing through the grass after we had to park out in the "north 40". It was a bit of a hike to get to the Start/Finish line.

Here are Max and the rest of the State Road 4th graders listening to their gym teacher, Mr. Graf (far left, blue hoody) give them instructions. Obviously Max was doing some great listening..... NOT!

Last Day of Summer Vacation

Here are a few of the kids from our end of the street enjoying their last day of freedom before school starts. It was a beautiful day with no suggestion of the weather and hard work to come.from left front: Connelly Springer (red hat), Ryan Springer, Quinlan, Aiden Marques (tan hat), Ryan Marques, Ryan Wade (black hat) and Megan Wade.

First Day of School 2009 - 2010

Here they are..... ready for the new day and the new school year. Max's outfit wasn't my first choice for him, but he had his own ideas about what was appropriate and so I gave in and lived to fight about clothes another day. Quinlan was looking forward to being in school all day and enjoying her "specials" - music, art and gym, all things she didn't have in Kindergarten. It was Reilly who was in for the biggest change though. She kept asking me when it would be time to get "Day Day" off the bus and when it was time for lunch and Quinlan still wasn't home, she cried. I guess she doesn't totally enjoy being stuck at home with just me.

A Ride on the Hobie

Sailboats aren't really my "thing". I want a boat that I can stop immediately if I want to. But my reluctance didn't stop Max and Quinlan from talking Uncle Barney into taking them out on his Hobie Cat. They said it was a great ride but their cousin made them a little nervous with his on-board antics.

Quinlan's lost tooth

Quinlan's "grown up" teeth were growing in behind her baby teeth on the bottom. Finally, she got one that was wiggly. She worked it for a while until it was hanging on by a thread. Then I asked if I could see how wiggly it was and pulled it out when she wasn't paying attention. I know, not a nice mom but I got the job done with minimal blood and tears.

Cousins at the Lake

The Connor Cousins (Mina, Will and Andee) and their Mom and Dad came to the lake for the day. Unfortunately, it wasn't too sunny but we had fun and a boat ride. It was a fun day!

Quinlan, then and now

I took this picture of Quinlan last week at the shore.

Aunt Kath took this picture of Quinlan during the summer of 2005 and I can't remember if it was before or after she broke her arm that summer. Cute, huh?

Keuka Lake and Izzy's (Marianna Keville) Birthday

Daddy and Max Max did a great job all by himself

Max, Reilly, Uncle Dick Keville, Izzy, Aaron (her brother) and Sydney Reilly

Uncle Dick and two pretty girls.... Reilly and Izzy. Izzy turned 2. You might think they were the same age. She got a lot of great presents. We were happy to celebrate with her. We don't get that chance often because she and Aaron live in Georgia when they aren't visiting their Grandma and Grandpa Keville at Panther Lake.

Aunt Susie and Reilly revive a "Poppy's Lake" Tradition singing all the old favorites while rocking in Poppy's chair.... K-K-K Katie, I've Been workin' on the railroad, East Side/West Side, You are my sunshine.