Giving Thanks and five wonderful days off

This sweet note was found in her schoolbag:

Thanksgiving was spent with family and was doubly wonderful because the cousins slept over!  The next day, it was the annual visit with Mr. C:

We had a couple of visits with cousin Marianne and family, and with fellow 6-year old Maryam and family,

and today was so beautiful I decided to venture out for a Christmas card photo attempt.  Here are the rejects:

Here's 2nd place.  She was throwing a snowball at me:

Tonight was the Holiday light parade and she and her angel friend Samm had a playdate before and walked much of the mile-long parade hand in hand after:

'Tis the season...

Seeing the Future

Anthony took a bunch of photos during his trip to the park yesterday afternoon with Bea and, especially in this first photo, I wondered "when did she turn 10?" I haven't yet found the secret to slowing down time even a little bit, but I'm still searching.  Searching hard.

 

Final Colors of the Season

Before we're into full-blown holiday mode, we're enjoying a beautiful late fall weekend raking for the last time, as the Japanese maple is nearly bare, and spending time outdoors.  

We celebrated our Student of the Month this weekend as she earned an award for Honesty and Effort.  We're so stinking' proud of her: 

We put Christmas lights on the house today and Bea came in and quietly worked with origami paper and tape and the end result yielded the first wrapped presents of the season for me, Daddy, and Sula.  She hid them somewhere in the house....hopefully she remembers where!

Gol Tim

Or GIRL TIME, if you must...that's what went on this weekend when Rachel came to town! Beatrice raced out to greet her friend from NH, via Bac Ninh, and after a quick lunch they raced upstairs to attack the dress-up treasure chest.  Anna and Elsa came to life:

No shutter speeds are fast enough for these 2!

Aww....

Awww...closer up....can't believe these are now 6 1/2 year olds!

Sweet, 2-year old Ryan got in on the musical fun:

Then we headed out to go bowling!  Here are sizes 8 and 11 side by side:

The colorful lights, darkness, computerized screen and loud music made this a place from dreams, at least if you're six....

After that crazy fun, we headed home for dinner and TV in matching jammies:

The next morning these two were laying on each other like puppies from the same litter:

and this sign remains outside Bea's room, forbidding all potential visitors from entering:

Rachel wanted to stay another night, or bring Bea back home with them and take her to school tomorrow.  Beatrice exclaimed tonight that she wished she "could have 500 sleepovers with Rachel." Maybe in your lifetime you will, I replied!  Friends, like sisters, who just seem to pick up  right where they left off each time they see each other. Priceless.

Life Goes On

Beatrice took full advantage of extra cousin time the past many days.  After Paul's funeral we came back to my house and the kids were upstairs, out of sight or earshot of any adults for a good hour and a half or more.  I finally went up to check into the silence and found them playing beautifully and quietly together building this Lego "Superville."  I am so glad these 3 are so close!

Meanwhile, here is the modified Brodeur family.  We were once the seven, now four. The past many days reminded me sadly of all the joy that Bea will miss out on by not having siblings in her life. 

Goodbye, Uncle Paulie