Farewell to the Bissells, Off to the Albarrans in CT.

Drew and Hayden on tractor

Carving the Turkey

The Reader

Happy Girl

Playing with Barbies

Play Room

We have quite a drive ahead of us today, depending on weather, traffic, and which roads I decide to take.  I am going to avoid Interstate 95 and try to head up to the NYC area the back way, through PA, into NJ, saving on tolls even if it takes a bit longer.  It should take about seven hours plus but I will no doubt take eight since I always take longer than most people,

It's hard to leave the girls; they have been such fun, happy and fun to be with, few tears, no tantrums, just great kids.  Every time we see them they seem more grown up, especially Hayden who seems mature beyond her years.  Halle, too, is quite a character and is beginning to get into books like Hayden.  Evie has spent lots of time with her reading and she seems to have improved in just a week or it's our imagination.  Whatever, she is really starting to enjoy reading.

Yesterday was spent mostly inside, the girls playing in the basement play room as the pictures suggest, Drew and Jill out shopping, and Evie and I relaxing, getting organized, and enjoying the girls.  We had lemon chicken for dinner, watched Anne of Green Gables with the girls, for the tenth time at least, and it still is fun.  The girls love it, of course, especially Hayden.  Some of Jill's friends came over for a drink; both grew up in Wooster, Ohio, and spend at least a week of  their summers at Chautauqua, so we had a lot in common.  He's the technical guy for the Army Band, travels with them all over the US.  Interesting job for someone in the Army.