November days

We had a surprise Sunday snow shower. We had to snag hats from the church lost and found to wear for our walk home. 

With birthday money, Avonlea Jane decided to buy herself something nice. 

Granny and Granpy paid us a visit, so we all went to the Boston Children's Museum. 

We met dancers from The Nutcracker. 

Will was the only boy in a mini-ballet class. 

Stopping by a restaurant window to watch chef's work and hearing Will narrating what they were doing

At their friend Jackie's puppy birthday party

Playing Musical Puppy Beds

Decorating dog bone cookies

Avonlea Jane went with her Girl Scout troop to a World Girls' Day event at Boston University. 

The girls worked with Kappa Delta to make recycled outfits for a fashion show. 

Ready for the show

Someone got a little shy.

After their fashion show and before having lunch with the Kappa Deltas, the girls handed out decorated balloons to strangers to make them smile. 

The kids each wound up with private swim lessons this fall, and here they are doing some class work. 

Countdown to Halloween

"William, let's play Mary and Joseph."

William plays photographer.

Avonlea Jane takes a turn.

At a beach creatures class at Joppa Flats

After their class, they insisted on going to Plum Island to the beach.

After an afternoon spent in Newburyport, we went to Halloween party in Beverly, where Will had his first pony ride. 

The Saturday before Halloween, we went downtown to the carnival. Avonlea Jane/Princess Merida got a lot of attention and people wanting their pictures taken with her. 

My little dinosaur

The crowds are just starting to fill in.

At a Halloween party with their friends Sophie and Jacquie

One of the best decorated houses in Salem

"Put me in coach, I'm ready for the big game," she said.

Harry Potter on Halloween day

On Halloween, after A's school party, we went to one at a nursing home where the kids visit once a month.

Watching the balloon man

Ready to trick-or-treat

Merida's dad, King Fergus

Ms. Earhart

The kids' haul. Earlier that week, Avonlea Jane decided to give up sugar so that her eczema would clear up. She was very serious about it, taking paleo cookies into her school Halloween party and refusing any candy. She kept the pretzels and Goldfish and wanted to donate the rest. Will kept a handful of pieces and decided to get rid of his candy, too. 

They left some out in their shoes, like on St. Nicholas Day, but for the Switch Witch, who came to pick up their candy and left them each a prize.