Day296-302

Day 296, Sunday, October 24th

Another beautiful fall day and Baby Girl's first "walk" back to Nana and Papa's.

Mother-Son date night at church.  We made our own pizzas and watched a movie together.

Day 297, Monday, October 24th
Scout awards tonight!  L was really looking forward to it - until they mentioned that he would be getting his face painted like an Indian.  L has never liked face-painting, fake tattoos, even stamps.   Even at a visit to Chucky Cheese, I have to convince him that he can't go in unless he gets an invisible stamp on his hand!  This dislike is written all over his face!

Oh, wait . . . Dad gets painted too?!

Now, that is worth smiling for!

He even made it home with his stripes and didn't wash it off right away!

Day 298, Tuesday, October 26th
I have been spending a lot of time here lately - my part-time pizza making job!  Isn't it cute?!  Before it was a pizza place, it was a barber shop.  My father remembers getting his hair cut here when he was a boy.  No matter what you asked for, everyone got the same cut!

Day 299, Wednesday, October 27th
My read I have been trying to get through.  My brother and a brother-in-law suggested it.  Not hard to get through, just hard to find the time to sit down and read it!

Day 300, Thursday, October 28th
Baked apples from Kim!  Yummilicious!  Thanks for the recipe!

Band Fall Party tonight!  J and some friends . . .

M getting ready to head out on the hay-ride.  This boy can just melt my heart!

The older students getting ready for their hay-ride. 

L all decorated as a mummy!

Day 301, Friday, October 29th

Hubby came down with it Wednesday and M was the first one to get it.  You know this boy is sick if he is napping!

Day 302, Saturday, October 30th
Can anyone say T-R-O-U-B-L-E?!  Baby Girl didn't want to eat them, she just wanted to dump them all over the floor!  And her attempts to make sure she got sick (using M's toothbrush and drinking from two of his "sick" cups yesterday) apparently worked - she was up shortly after bedtime getting sick. :(



Day 289-295

Day 289, Sunday, October 17th
What a beautiful fall day!  J raking leaves . . .

and my sister's yummy salad for small group.

Day 290, Monday, October 18th

I am so proud of my husband - not only did he accumulate 2, 487 miles in these shoes, but he was able to say good-bye to all of them!  Trust me, he has plenty more in the closet!

Day 291, Tuesday, October 19th

Baby Girl finally managed to keep a hair clip in for the morning!  See Mom, it's still there!

And, our first fire of the season!  Yeah for warmth!

Day 292, Wednesday, October 20th

For history today, we read the story of Joseph and made our own coats of many colors.  (Please don't judge us on our sewing ability . . . we just used what we had and sewed strips of on hand material on to shirts)

Day 293, Thursday, October 21st

Bought me some apples today . . . gonna make some applesauce, apple butter and maybe a pie and some dumplings . . . yummy!

Day 294, Friday, October 22nd

Yesterday, I went into the town of Wakarusa and regretted not having my camera.  So today, we went back!  Here was one of their fall decorations . . .



and this in the middle of town!  I love this little town!

Day 295, Saturday, October 23rd

Baby Girl having some fun (also known as getting into everything!)!



Day 282-288

Day 282, Sunday, October 10th

Finally, a picture for Sunday.  I had to take it before we even left for church, because I knew it wouldn't happen otherwise!  Baby Girl taking Toby for a walk!  Well, not really, but she follows him around with the leash thinking she can.

Day 283, Monday, October 11th

This is how I live vicariously through my kids - by letting them sleep in when I cannot!

Day 284, Tuesday, October 12th

Enjoying the warm weather while we can - and discovering dandelions!

Day 285, Wednesday, October 13th
My oldest turned 13 today!  See below!  Happy Birthday J!

Day 286, Thursday, October 14th
What a little girl with older brothers gets to play with!  She was smiling when it came off.

Day 287, Friday, October 15th

Day 288, Saturday, October 16th

L went on the Ironhorse hike for cub scouts at Potato Creek State Park.  It was a beautiful fall day to be out!

Happy Birthday to my Boy

He turns 13 today.  I love you, J.  I still love your smile and love that you are my blond-haired boy with a quick wit and gentle heart.  I love you for who you've been, who you are and who you are becoming.  I love you for teaching me unconditional love as an infant, selflessness as a toddler, patience as a boy and to trust in God as a pre-teen.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Day 275-281

Day 275, Sunday, October 3rd

No picture - boo! Sundays!

Day 276, Monday, October 4th

We have recently joined a science co-op with some friends and this was our first project.  Chicken bones in vinegar!  After 3 days they turn rubbery - very fun, but dangerous?!  I don't think L really likes the results (or else it was the vinegar smell!).

Day 277, Tuesday, October 5th

No picture, but a very busy day!  BSF, science co-op, work! 

Day 278, Wednesday October 6th

Our history lesson today was about Egyptian mummies and pyramids.  Time to build a sugar-cube pyramid!  They were disappointed that we didn't allow them to use icing for the glue so they could eat them!  Seriously?!  Where do they get these expectations? 

Day 279, Thursday, October 7th

Karate day - and a belt test too!  It was a little tough keeping Baby Girl quiet and occupied.  Thankfully, a little friend was generous enough to share her new crayons!  Can you see Baby Girl's bottom lip sticking out?  So intent!

My favorite part of the test - dropping the old to accept the new!

Great job L!

Day 280, Friday, October 8th

Some of our pumpkin crop.  For 3 nights this past week we had a frost, so the garden is officially done, though I think we were all done about a month ago!  There is something nice about seeing it all plowed under and cleaned up.

Day 281, Saturday, October 9th

Happy Birthday to my mother!  We thought since she is leaving on J's birthday to visit her siblings in Florida, we could celebrate his birthday on hers!  What a serious group of boys - NOT!  J will be turning 13 on Wednesday!  How did that happen?!

Dayy 268-274

I am having a hard time getting pictures taken and posted lately, but I just can't give up on Project 365 yet!  This week has been the worst so far and I will definitely try and do better for the next one! 

Day 268, Sunday, September26 th

Yeah . . . no picture today.  There is just something about Sundays!

Day 269, Monday, September 27th

M has started taking piano now that he is in the first grade.  He had asked me this last year when he would start learning to play the piano like his brothers.  I loved how he just assumed he would, it was never a question of will he take piano or not.  This summer he said that he didn't want to go to lessons because he didn't know how to play (yes, that is the point of the lessons), so we started the beginner books to give him some confidence.  He was so excited after his first lesson because no one had passed so many songs on their first day!  He likes to practice (at least for now!) and enjoys playing.  I love watching him grow!

Day 270, Tuesday, September 28th

Happy Birthday Toby!  

Day 271, Wednesday, September 29th

Play date and school all rolled into one!  These kiddos are just along for the ride!

Day 272, Thursday, September 30th

We stayed home and did nothing!  We had all been fighting a cold this week, so it was our chance to try and play some offense!  Is that a good reason for not having a(nother) picture?

Day 273, Friday, October 1st

I cannot believe it is October, but I think I say something similar each month!  We took some time to celebrate Nana's upcoming 65th (!) birthday.  (This was one of about 6 shots!)

Day 274, Saturday, October 2nd

And again . . . no picture.  But I did spend a lovely day with family (which I brought the camera and then left it in the van?!) and topped it off with a night of work.