pumpkin festival

While Chris was away, we filled our time with lots of fun things with Nana!  One of them was heading out to Chino Valley to the local Pumpkin Festival.  The kids had a blast!

They all enjoyed picking picking their own pumpkins, which we carved just yesterday!

And of course, the petting zoo!  Emmie wasn’t so certain about it!  Annalisa and Eli’s favorite was chasing the ducks!   My mom was albe to pet the ducks in the wading pool.  Audrey commented later that it was because “the ducks probably thought she was a big duck”!  That must have been it…or maybe, just maybe, it was because she wasn’t chasing them wildly around the  pen!

All in all, it was a really fun day.  A great memory with Nana! 

(Thanks Mom!)

Apple Pie – Finally!

You may have seen the pictures from our apple picking adventure. It was great fun and we all eagerly looked forward to yummy apple crisp and warm apple pie, homemade applesauce and other sweet treats from the kitchen, lovingly baked by mommy and the children. Well, life has been moving along at its rapid rate and the truth of the matter is I didn’t know when on earth I would be able to make anything more than what has been necessary for survival, especially with the help of four eager children!

Yesterday was the day, albeit 2 weeks after picking them, we successfully made an incredibly yummy Dutch Apple Pie!  (Annalisa missed out on it, she was having some special time with Mama.)  Chris said it was the best apple pie he’s had in years.  He told me after his two pieces that he had given up hope on homemade pie…I’m glad we were able to come through with it!

Here’s what’s left…..going, going, soon to be gone!

Family Photos!

I am so blessed by our sweet friend Angela. She joined us again down at the square for a family photo shoot .  She is so talented.  She captured our family, our children in an amazing way.  We will treasure these forever.  Check out her blog to get a sneak peek.  www.photographybyangela.org/blog

remember these?

Keith and Dorothy brought back some sparklers from their trip to Colorado.  The kids loved them!

the race is on!

A fun game that I use to refresh their memories!  It’s like a quiz, just a whole bunch more fun. 

The idea came from “My Father’s World” Curriculum (kindergarten I think).  What’s great is I can adapt the game for everyone to join in.  I make up the questions appropriate for each child, reviewing what we’ve already learned in math, science, history, geography, bible, spelling, even gymnastics.  So although it’s a race to the finish, it’s not really competitive.  (That can sometimes get ugly!)  Plus for a little extra motivation, some answers we use the timer and the more info they can give me, on Benjamin Franklin for example, the more spaces they get to move.  The kids even take turns asking me questions – like “Where is Daddy working today?” or “What are tree branches good for?”  🙂

bucket ball toss

I really would like to get my kids involved with some more PE kind of activities.  Four of the five are in gymnastics once a week, and 3 have taken swim lessons over the summer.  That’s good, but I don’t want them to be lacking in this area.  Well, while we were outside this morning  I came up with a little game that seemed to go over well.  Annalisa named it “Bucket Ball Toss”.  3 buckets, 2 water balls, 3 kids, 1 mommy and some sidewalk chalk.  Stand behind the line and see if you can get the ball into one of the three buckets, spaced at different distances to acquire points: 5, 10 or 25.  Lessons learned: following instructions (always a good thing to work on); throwing;  aiming; catching (the child who just tossed the balls then moves to the end to throw the ball back to the next person); writing numbers (after they move from the last post, they are the score keeper) and lastly, addition.  So we all had fun and exercised body and mind!  And of course, everyone got otter pops for doing a good job!  

Here’s some pictures of the other outside fun we had!

Moving Up!

Emmie moved up into the toddler bed and her sisters’ room! We now have a “boy’s room” and a “girl’s room”.  I don’t know if she, or I am quite ready for it.  She’s used to being “contained” and will normally sleep in til about 9:30. Well…not anymore!  I do like Andrew being in his room and not ours, but is this a good exchange?  I’m not sure, but it is what it is.  So, we are once again adjusting!

I will say it was an exciting night of preparation!  Daddy had alot of helpers putting the little bed together.  Eli was the builder, Emmie and Audrey were the cleaners and I think Annalisa was the supervisor!

 

Time to Get Ready

I am ready, as well as the children.  It is time. 

Since Andrew’s birth, we’ve done a little bit of schooling here and there.  He was born in April, then of course summer came.  We enjoyed many activities at church, the library, downtown.  The plastic pool and sprinklers provided lots of enjoyment in the front yard.

Or, just some “leisurely reading” by Annalisa.  She LOVES to read!  (Yes – that is a dictionary! She’s amazing, I know.)

So I have quite the project ahead of me.  Cleaning out and organizing the school closet, teacher’s and childrens’ desks, the hutch…  But I think my biggest challenge will be figuring out a schedule that works well for 5 little ones.  Emmie doesn’t take morning naps anymore, so this will be a bit tricky! 

“Order presupposes priorities.”  (Karen Andreola)  I’ve been mulling this one over for a couple days.  I think it’s very true.  Combine orderliness with some good established habits, and I can see success in site!

sick days

We have had a bad stomach bug going around for about a week now.  We are used to getting outside and expelling alot of energy.  I have had to rediscover some of those quieter, mellower inside activities.  They have been fun and made the sick days go by smoother. Oh, and of course, playdough!