RIBEIRO

Where did the month of September go!  I always consider September, my New Years, more so than January 1st.  I love the start of school, the start of new recreation programs, new clothes, the colours of fall and everything else that comes with the start of a new school year.  Seems funny when the kids aren't even in school yet and Jonas' preschool goes all year round so it wasn't a change for him either.  And now we can include Nadia's Birthday as part of the highlights of September and why I love it so much! We were so lucky to have Auntie Drea and Uncle Ryan come and celebrate a few days earlier.  We filled the Birthday girls' day with a playdate with a little friend, the park, feeding the ducks, dinner at her favorite restaurant ( Wendy's) ...hopefully her tastes improve as she gets older! And then back home for presents and cake.  Jonas kept wondering when the kids were all coming for the party ( typical 4 year old who know how kids parties work!) However,

August started with Zee-zee coming to town for a visit and a week babysitting Nadia. Doctor checkups had Jonas at 36 lb and Nadia 24 lb - all normal except for Nadia's chronic eczema. As Mom went back home we headed to Kitimat to visit family and friends and the wedding of Ralph and Melissa. The Gibaldis were once again very gracious in allowing us to invade their premises - many thanks to all our favorite people  for their hospitality. Hi-lites of the trip included spending time/meals with many family and friends, trampolining, Jonas' first time riding a quad, first fishing trip and yes, Nadia's first poop on a potty! We definitely appreciate the unconditional love of our family and friends. A nasty case strep throat just days before coming home made for a rough flight home, though, for Amanda, and an extended recovery that followed.   Nadia is becoming more and more independent and willfull. She loves ice cream, her pajamas, asks to have them on whenever she can.