Friday, October 29, 2010

Pumkin Patch

 A day at the pumpkin patch...a day with cousins

 The kids got to run free and feel adventurous

 and pick out their own pumpkins, cutting it right off the plant

I think this was the cutest pumpkin of all:
 
a wagon to carry



 A corn maze to hide and seek

 Cousin Fun
 Tire swings...hay ride
A great afternoon!  

It was a windy day and cool weather.  


My wonderful Mother in Law arranged the event and even brought yummy snacks.

My head wasn't doing too well so that was frustrating.  But it didn't affect the fun that the kids got to enjoy with each other.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Fall Planting


 About a month ago Andrew surprised me and brought home a green house house type container and a bunch of seed packets.

 First we soaked the small sections of dirt:

 Then we worked together to drop the seeds inside each section of dirt:



 Andrew labeled each row of seeds and put them in the container:

 We put them in a place where they could get sunshine and we watered them every couple of days...

...and waited...
...and waited...
...and waited... 

Then we saw the seeds begin to sprout.  
What an exciting day!

Now the plants are growing leaves and getting stronger:



 Soon we'll move the plants outside, they will grow stronger and fuller and be ready to transplant into the ground.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Family Nights

Family nights are very special in our house.  
We are big fans of having FUN.  
Board games are especially great. 

I have to admit it's not as easy as popping in a movie.  Sometimes we have to deal with our own impatience when for the 20th time we're having to tell the next person it's their turn, or if my head is hurting I'd rather not deal with the noise and mental focus of encouraging or instructing.   

But the interaction is awesome and worth the effort. 

It's an opportunity beyond just playing a game. 

It's time to listen to each other and for each person to express themselves in a safe environment.   

We've found that when the kids feel welcomed and loved at home they are much more confident when they go out and deal with the difficulties of life.

The unity that grows when we spend time together is priceless.  

Enjoying each other.  

Especially now that the kids are in public school these times together are much more rare and sought after.  

Sometimes we break out and do something crazy...

Like setting up an obstacle course outside that we're all timed separately to complete.

Or we do an impromptu pile into the car for ice cream cones.

A couple times we've put on crazy music and let the kids dance...okay, I confess, we dance too!

One month Andrew read a chapter from an exciting book (Hardy Boys) every couple of nights.

What do you do when your family gets a night to spend together?

Friday, October 8, 2010

Ice skating

 Angela loves ice skating!  On her birthday, back in March, we had promised to take her ice skating sometime.  
So...on her 6 month b-day :)  we went ice skating.


 Angela and Joshua picked it up real quick and were speeding around the rink in no time at all.
 
 
Jeremy, on the other hand, had a bit of trouble.  
This was his first time ever!  
They let him use a little walker to help him get the idea of it.  But he still slipped and fell all over the place.  He was not a happy camper for a while.  
We left him alone for a couple rounds to keep practicing on his own and he started getting the hang of it. 

 

 We played "tag" on the ice! 
The kids wanted to stay there forever. 
 

 By the end Jeremy ventured out on the ice without the walker!


By the end Andrew and I were wiped out.