What a great day! How lucky were we to have Halloween on a Saturday? Such a good day with the girls. We visited our church’s fall festival for a while. Here the girls got to play games, jump on moonwalks, go on hayrides and ride ponies. They loved it! Next we stopped at Grandma and Grandpa Daley’s for some fun in their neighborhood. Call it pregame warm-ups for the fun that was our neighborhood. After a short visit we came home. We enjoyed some pizza. Then out we went. Our dear neighbors had their fire pit going in their driveway so we grabbed our bowl of candy and hung out with them. First Mom took the girls to a couple houses across the street. Gabby liked it so much she wanted more. Off we went. Dad, Gabby and Madi took off up the block to fill our sacks. Now we didn’t fill our sacks completely, but boy did they do well. (and they said “thank you” to everyone!) After trick-or-treating we took our places around the camp fire to hand out candy to wave after wave of gastly goules. The night ended with a sugar induced crash by each kid. Again, I can’t say it enough, what a great day!
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P.S. Madi got her big girl bed this weekend. Made the move from toddler bed. The last picture is Madi standing proudly next to her new bed while it was packed in the van. She was awfully excited.

It’s that time of year! We have hit the pumpkin patch. This year the girls got to help gut a pumpkin. Honestly, neither liked the feeling of cold, slimy pumpkin guts squishing between their fingers. They were more interested in the cutting (hacking) needed to make the jack-o-lantern’s face. It was good fun. The seeds will be delicious!
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I think we covered it all this week. Gabby had a field trip to Cozy Creek Farm. It’s a working farm, but it was invaded by preschoolers on Friday! Gabby had a great time. She got to see cows, pigs, chickens, a donkey, goats and horses. She was blown away by the pregnant cows. Very cute.
Then on Friday night, Gabby had a soccer game. This was a breakthrough game for her…she got to play goalie!!!! She was an excellent goalie. She stopped more than got past. And she loved it.
Sunday while Mom was at Laura’s baby shower Grandpa Pacelli, Uncle JB and I took the girls to the Elgin Railway Museum. The girls have been there before. They had a great time this time too. (as did I!) We went on train rides. We played in empty trains. We wore ourselves out!
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We took the girls to New Salem on Labor Day. If you are not familiar with New Salem it is where Abe Lincoln lived in the 1830’s before moving on to the big city (Springfield!!!!). It’s a really neat place if you enjoy history. To a 4 and 2 year old this place is like mars! No TV’s! No indoor plumbing! Gabby says their putting bathrooms outside was not smart.
It was a cool day hanging out with my ladies. They seemed to enjoyed themselves. They really enjoyed the candy sticks from the gift shop…who doesn’t? Madi entertained one of the re-enactors who hang around the place by standing on a tree stump and reciting Abe Lincoln lines he fed to her. Hearing my two year old say “four score and seven years ago” is priceless.
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P.S. The picture by the statue…Ya’ the one where Mom is crouching down…I caught her trying to hide from a picture.

Madi got “daddy time” this morning. Gabby got “daddy time” this afternoon. Gabby really wanted to take me to the Illinois State Museum. Pretty neat choice for a four year old. We hit the museum for a while then headed downtown for ice cream. After ice cream we went across the street to the Old Capitol Plaza to be silly with bronze Abe Lincoln statues. Gabby is one silly little girl. I’m a lucky, lucky, lucky father.
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Madi has a bit of a cold. Instead of passing the germs on to the other kids at church, Madi and I headed to the park to feed the ducks. It was a good morning hanging out with “the baby.” My what a little girl she has become.
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Gabby had her fist game last night. She did really well and had a great time doing it. She got knocked down early in the game…tears almost were shed. A bit of encouragement from Mom-n-Dad from the sidelines (thumbs up work wonders) and she was all good. Next time she got tripped she found the kid who tripper her and gave him a good shove. Maybe I shouldn’t be proud of this, but I am proud of it. She’s a tough little cookie not afraid to mix it up a bit.
I smiled for the whole hour of the game. Gabby was a mix of smiles and stoic determination. Good fun.
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Gabby is really enjoying soccer. She is a good listener for her coach and she is picking up skills quickly. She was given her game jersey today….#15. She says 15 is the best number you can get for soccer. Who am I to argue?
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No explination needed.


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Gabby had her first soccer practice today. She did very well! She made us very proud!
A little background…Gabby asked us if she could play soccer. I am not a fan of soccer, but I’m not about to stifle an interest simply because I’m not a fan. The league she is playing in is through the YMCA. The motto is “Kick Hard, Run Fast, Have Fun!” Gabby indeed did so this morning.
Practice was about an hour. A couple drills and a short game. (a huddle of preschoolers kicking each other more than the ball…it was awesome!)
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