More fun in October

The rainy weather has arrived and we have pulled out our warm jackets, hats, and gum boots.  

We were lucky to have our good friends Pip and Marc visit with their 2 daughters, Alice and Zoe.  It was a really nice to see them amid our massive wind and rain storms.  They have kindly invited us to their home for the holidays again.  So we will be heading to the UK for another festive Christmas.  Since we feel the lack of festivities and decorations here, it will be really special and nice to be somewhere that is.  Here are a couple pictures of the kids and dads enjoying a nice movie.

Archie's first viewing of Toy Story 2.  He was in heaven and glued to the screen to see his pals Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

And then Halloween arrived.  I didn't attemp anything grand this year after making the past two costumes for Archie.  I purchased a pirate outfit for him.  Lucky for me I didn't spend hours on it as he REFUSED to put it on.  He understood the kids at school were dressing up and he wasn't scared but he would not put on a costume.  He like it but wasn't having anything to do with it.  So Halloween was a little lack-luster for us.  It is such a fun and festive holiday in the states.  I missed getting to share it with our kids this year.  So next year, I am back on making them costumes!

We did buy some festive gordes and a pumpkin to decorate.  Archie enjoyed them as he thought the were good drumming sticks.

Sylvie enjoying the toys at Ikea.  We always have fun there.

Toastie sandwiches after our swim at the gym.  Sylvie and Archie love having swim class every week.  They like the cheese toasties even more.

And we had some chips/fries because they ate ALL the snacks I packed.  I thought I overpacked until I realized they ate them all in the daycare while each other swam.

To Provence and back

Autumn is here and at the start of October we went for a week in the south of France.  We met up with Alan and Caroline and their son Joseph.  Alan was in our wedding and they have been friends of Campbells for years.  And two other good friends (also Kiwis) theirs joined us.  All in all there were 6 adults and 4 little ones.  It was a great week in a wonderful place.  We stayed near a town called St. Remy.  

City of Avignon.  Really great old roman city with a palace that the Pope once called home.  The city is surrounded by a wall and ramparts.

In the gardern/yard of the house we rented.  There was a pool and it was warm enough to swim several days.

City of Arles.  There  is an old Roman colluseum which is still used today for bull fighting. It is an amazing structure that they are restoring.

French market in St. Remy

We enjoyed great food while there.  Every morning we had fresh croissants and pan au chocolat.  For lunch, fresh baguettes with cheese and ham.  And dinner, we had fresh food from the local markets.

City of Aix.  It had beautiful streets and markets. 

Kids in one of the many road stops along the way.  They were enjoying driving the play truck.  Luckily there were two seats and steering wheels!

Bathtime with Joseph!

Storytime!

More bathtime!

There was a lot of fun and laughs.  We were all spent after the week!

Busy September at home

It was photo week in Holland and the local shop was giving away a free photo (only one picture!).  So we tried to get one of the kids.  Like always, one was smiling when the other wasn't.  But i was a cute photo!

September has come to an end an fall is here.  The weather is really nice right now and sunny.  We have been busy but not much has changed.....other than Archie did a potty in the potty chair for the first time.  So he was able to put on a pair of underwear with Lightning McQueen (cartoon character).  He was super excited.

Oh!  I did a potty and get to wear underwear!

Trying to get a photo together....again.

Sylvie can finally ride the car...much to Archie's dismay.  He does like to try and push her around, which doesn't end well.  They were having fun riding it around and Sylvie is really happy to do something on her own.  She screams when we take her off it.

Sylvie is getting closer to walking but still reluctant.  She is taking some steps for us that she sees as a game.  She is really delighted when she does some on her own.  It will only be a small amount of time before she is off in a flash after Archie!

Last bit of summer fun at a friends house.  We even went for a swim.  Archie climbed a high ladder all alone to go down a slide into the pool.  He sceamed he was so happy to do it.  

Playing together finally.  They really have a good time playing together.  Archie gives Sylvie toys and they do pretty well.  No major fights yet.

With the seasons changing the sun is coming into the house in different ways.  Archie left the kitchen after dinner and I heard him talking an giggling in the hall.  There he was playing with his shadow.  He didn't quite understand and was a little afraid to touch it.  It was a fun moment that we were able to have playing with shadows.

And here is our girl again

Reading our favorite book, "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site,"  we try to make the shhhh noise at certain parts and this was their attempt.

We went to the play farm nearby our house.  The kids love seeing all the animals and there are toy tractors to ride on.  This was the first time Sylvie was able to do it and she had a great time.  We had a hard time leaving.  Archie rides the tractors too but is too fast to get a photo of!

Reading his favorite book.

Me trying to get another photo of them together....fail.

Today we went to a local agricultural fair nearby in the fields by our house.  We rode our bikes in true Dutch fashion.  Archie was in love with all the big tractors.  So we had a nice photo for him on one.