October Outings

We went to the first Preschool Skate of the season in early October.  It wasn't well advertised so for about the first hour we had the place to ourselves.  Fiona and Ava had fun though.  Fiona was skating quite a bit by herself (no holding onto anything) and Ava had a blast on the toys and pushing the skatemates around.

Newly refinished floor and the place to ourselves.

Skating by herself!

Checking out the toys.

We went to the Renaissance Festival the first Sat of October.  It was cold and drizzly; not the ideal day to go, but Sean's Uncle Jim and Aunt Terrie came down from Michigan so we braved the weather and still enjoyed ourselves.

Uncle Jim and Aunt Terrie came in costume.

The whole gang (except Carol who's taking the picture).

Fiona and Caitlin "watching" the juggling show.

Fiona got to be part of the magician's act.

Sean got most of it on video.

Cousins enjoying a ride.  We also did the maze again this year.  Caitlin ended up figuring out the end part so we could get to the bridge and get out!

Fiona wanted to ride the horse after the jousting was over.

The next weekend we went hiking at the Cox Arboretum.

Sean and Ava waited at the bottom while Fiona and I climbed the tower. 

Fiona at the top. 

Fiona took my picture at the top also.  She got a good one on the first shot. 

The girls wanted to climb on the butterfly chair. 

Fiona also took this picture.  This one took her two tries. 

 Ava wanted to hold Sean's hand.

Fiona leading Ava through the children's hedge maze. 

Ava and Sean watching the ducks (who got really, really close to us). 

Fiona loves climbing on the rocks. 

I told her to give me her goofiest face and this is what she came up with.  :)

The girls have also been dancing together a lot and Ava likes to chase Fiona around (although Fiona usually ends up telling Ava to stop or "no thank you!").  They both like being goofy in general.

They picked out their outfits.

Ava thinks it's fun to wear my jacket.

Ava loves to play "nigh-nigh."  Here she's tucking Violet in.

And then giving her a hug.

I raked up some leaves for the girls to jump in.  Fiona wanted to help rake. 

And then Ava did too.

Ava didn't know what she was supposed to do until Fiona showed her.

Having fun dancing together.