Auntie Amanda's baby shower

Maura, Cheryl, and I held Auntie Amanda's baby shower mid November.  As I write this the baby will be coming in a week or 2.  Exciting!

Hello again Ste. Anne's Spa

At the beginning of November we ventured out to Ste. Anne's spa again.  This time for 2 glorious nights! Two nights is the way to go.  We had a gigantic room this time.  The room was off site at the gym, so we had to get in the car to go to the main building, but the size of the room made up for this minor inconvenience. This time we each had our own bedroom.  Mine wasn't a bedroom per se, as I had a Queen sized murphy bed in the living room, but it was still my own room.  Since I wake up way earlier than the others I loved my space as I would start the wood burning fireplace in the morning, make a coffee and read until the other 2 got up. 

Here are some photos in random order.  We had our spa treatments of course, spent time in the hot tub (we had our own hot tub outside our door!), ate a ton of food, read books, and went for a long walk.  Amanda was 7 months pregnant at the time, and Maura was getting over being sick and having her voice problem, so I'm surprised we did the long walk.  It was good for everyone though as the day was amazing and we all needed the exercise.  Maura's voice went from probably 20% to 99% while we were at the spa as well, which was crazy,  and a testament to the healing powers of relaxation.  

The strangest part of the getaway was that we often got in the car wearing our robes.  It felt super wrong and awkward. 

All things Halloween!

Halloween fun in no particular order:

I took Rose to buy this wig on Halloween day while Paige was at an oddly-timed birthday party.

A week before Halloween we went to the Great Pumpkin Trail at the RBG again.  Always a fun way to kick off Halloween for the kids.  Mike had to carry Henry through the entire trail though.  Just as well since it was dark and scary for him. They loved seeing the pumpkins and listening to the campfire music.  Grandpa joined us as well which was fun.

Henry was not impressed with wearing his Paw Patrol costume to the RBG, and still was unimpressed on Halloween night.  He would have much preferred to dress as Elsa or Anna.  After a little coaxing (ahem forcing/bribing), Mike got him ready for the night and he was ok after that.  See the first picture as a reference as to how he was feeling about wearing his marshall hat.
Now when Henry sees the character from Paw Patrol he names them, "Sky, Chase, Zuma, me...".

"Me" instead of Marshall.

The kids did our entire street together mainly with Mike, and then Henry was ready to head back home. I then took the girls out to do another street, which was the most trick or treating they've ever done.  

Thanksgiving Muskoka Style

Even though I had a debilitating neck pain, as well as a bad cold, we headed up to the cottage for Thanksgiving.  The first day was quite cold, but then it warmed up quite a bit and we were able to be outside a lot.  

Grandpa had to go in the water to take the end of the dock out of the water.  I'm sure he'll pass the torch onto Mike one of these years.  Seems like a man's job to me.  I'm much too busy with childcare and baking to be involved in a task like that. ;)

While we were listening to the neighbours and Mary Jo play a lovely clarinet concert, Rose got stung twice by a wasp in the woods.  Greg appeared suddenly carrying her out of the woods.  She was pretty upset and it seemed to hurt a lot, but at least we know she is not allergic.

It was the final visit of the year.  Always sad, and unfortunate that it is the one time of the year with absolutely no bugs (minus wasps of course).  Our next trip up will be riddled with mosquitoes and we'll be cursing the fact that we even decided to go.

Back to Gymnastics and Dance!

This gymnastics picture is not from the beginning of the year, but it shows her new professional looking suit!

Back to School!

SK, Grade 3, and Preschool!

Henry not impressed at all with me wanting to take his photo...

 Rain on the first day of school was a bit disorienting! None of the usual line ups outside of the school with the teachers.  Mike took Paige and I took Rose.

I then took Henry to an open house at his preschool.

 
And he started for real on the Thursday.  Look at those cute new shoes.