Extra Long Warm Weather!

While Shane and Paisley were out of town the big kids and I loved outings without a stroller or a diaper bag!

This tiger wanted a lick of the caramel apple succors and they weren't about to share! 

Normally the kids love to take a group picture in this turtle shell but with Paisley gone I was able to Sardine my way into that shell!

The neighbors have the coolest toys!

Things are getting real here with these competitive domino games.

Lots of biking with this new bike trailer. Getting Stronger!! 

The louder they cry and fight the faster I pedal! lol 

She can do it herself, but looks scared when one of her siblings decide to help.

Holding on for dear life.

She gets so excited when she gets to ride things. 

Both kids wanted to share their bikes and teach their baby sister how to ride. 

This is how we do things at my house! Life is crazy!!!

Seasons Display

Tip of the Day: Don't buy posters- make them!

This is a project that hangs on our wall and my kids love being able to return to it and turn the pages to review the seasons.

I love it because yes it shows the seasons, BUT we talked about so much vocabulary and got to use so many art mediums while completing it.

Spring: My kids love making flowers! I had them draw as many yellow dots on the paper as they wanted. In order to decide how many petals each flower would have the kids had to roll a dice, count the dots, and then draw that many on each flower. So lots of secret counting while they thought they were just drawing flowers. 

Summer: The summer was just fun with green crayons and finger paint... 

Fall: We talked about symmetry and fall colors. Obviously we need to practice that some more because it doesn't really look all that symmetrical. 

Winter: We used glue and cotton balls to make snow. 

*The last day we taped it all together and made the labels! 

Focus on their Interests!

 Tip of the Day: Don't focus on letters and numbers.

Simply focus on what the kids are interested in (Volcanoes, Dinosaurs, Flowers...) and then sneak in letters and numbers into the play.

My kids were loving the planets so we abstractedly painted some cardstock. Then we drew circles on the paper and practiced using scissors in order to make planets while we talked about the sizes and temperatures and such. Finally I helped Daphney sound out and make labels for the planets and order them.

Our Little Stud Muffin!

Mom for the WIN!! We got the interview done before the actual birthday! Soon to turn 3!

Fourth Birthday Interview

Okay so mom fail... A little late, but watch to see what Daphney thinks and likes!

Sorry long winded so grab some popcorn!

Woes of the Third Child

First Child: Parent's hover over the first child making sure he/she doesn't eat off the floor or heaven forbid reinsert a pacifier that has fallen onto the ground.

Second Child: Parents start to lose control... Five second rule starts to save the day!

Third Child: You are just happy they found the good stuff!
So Sorry Paisley...

Halloween 2016

 This year we were "Little Red Riding Hood Characters". 

Shane:Woodsman
Katie: Grandma
Daphney: Little Red
Demitri: Big Bad Wolf
Paisley: The Basket of Goodies (Although I never really sold her on the basket so more of just a cupcake.)

Family Celebration:

For our family Halloween celebration we went to a park and had the kids go on a treasure hunt following clues to find a basket of goodies (cupcakes). Daphney was sure that Pirates had made the cupcakes and left for us! Daphney and I made her basket out of newspaper and then painted it. Harder than it looks online but a fun memory. 

See not her favorite place to sit in the basket!

Clearly a daddy's girl! Look at that smile while with him!

            Love this picture of Demitri and Shane- One SCARED wolf!!!

Trick or Treating Experience:

All three kids had a blast at Halloween. Daphney sprinted from door to door and Demitri took in every little detail of every decoration so it was hard to keep the two speeds near each other. 

BIG BAD WOLF:

Demitri kept calling people names when we would leave and luckily most people could not understand him when he would shout, "YOU CATERPILLAR!" -or they didn't know to be insulted. I had to explain to him not to do that because that is not their name and that is being mean. So instead at every house he had to ask them, "What is your name?" - and then in turn of course introduce himself. He could be our next president (of our neighborhood at least) because everybody now knows him. 

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD:

In Iowa they have a ridiculous study that says like for the last 80 years 911 calls have been down 50 percent because some politician started the tradition of kids telling jokes at Halloween for their candy. That somehow discourages the vandalism and chaos, because they have already gotten their orneriness out telling that funny joke. Anyways clearly I think it is silly and did not fight Daphney when she said she was "not telling jokes!" At each house they would ask for a joke and she would stubbornly reply, "I don't really tell jokes at houses." Finally a lady said, "fine I will tell you a joke then... What is the world's largest pencil? Pennsylvania.." After leaving that house Daphney said, "Hey mom, I have a joke for you! Why did Heavenly Father give us stores?" "I don't know Daph, Why?" Aghast she responded, "Well I DON'T KNOW!!" I don't think she quite has the joke thing down yet. 

OUR LITTLE CUPCAKE:

Paisley loved trick or treating! I felt kind of sheepish letting her trick or treat but I wanted her to experience it. She would walk right up to the basket and take handfuls of candy and people never complained because she is so baby cute! She would even fuss if she thought she wasn't going to get a turn. This picture is from a library's Halloween dance party. (The egg is a shaker not an Easter prop!)

Fun October Halloween Celebrations:

          Halloween seriously was just a month of parties and candies. Every library and business used it to attract people. A little ridiculous and maybe next year we will try to use restraint and not try to go to them all.  But I had to share this picture.... I mean really have you seen a happier boy riding a pony! I told the kids that we were going to get to do a pony ride and they looked unimpressed at least confused why I was so excited. Then Daphney asked, "Are they real ponies?" Me:"Yeah they are REAL!" That is when she nearly swallowed her tongue; - "THEY CAN TALK!!!" Me: "Aw, no. I guess you are right not that impressive..."  

            Another party we were pushing the closing time in line for the tallest, largest obstacle course bounce house slide. I even had to lift him up to get through the entrance. It was no surprise that Daph came down the giant slide head first and on her belly.Well of course they decide it is time to close while Demitri is still in the bounce house. He is taking forever and they keep turning off the lights. So he is doing all this big kid climbing in the dark. I was so proud that he finally made it out. I thought it might have eaten him!

Oh and lastly Shane would have never let Demitri go out in a dress (I didn't even have to ask), but while he was at work we had a fun time dressing him up as a wolf in Grandma's clothing!