Show and Tell

Wednesday is the day B gets to finish his school day in front of his mates sharing a most-prized possession. This week, he told me he wanted to take his camera. Because I was at the school to celebrate G's birthday, I sat in and watched, with my camera in hand as well.

I love that he talks with his hands.

He took some photos and is showing them to his teacher.

The view from up front

Even better, the view he captured at home earlier in the day...

C is for Cookie...

Budding Ballerina

G is great playing with cars and tools. Not a huge surprise because she is perfecting the art of mimicry. She, however, has developed a new passion. She loves dancing.

Currently, any person wearing a skirt is referred to as a ballerina or "all--auh--eeee--nah". She has never taken a dance class but she knows for sure what they are. We have a book called "Dancing with Degas" which I think has been her only real exposure to dancing (Degas paintings set to poetry about dance). It is enough. With that in mind, I found a perfect outfit to celebrate her birthday.

Pumpkin Patch - Take 2

Well, since PP - T1 ended abruptly due to a tantrum throwing 4 year old (I won't name names, but I think you can all make a guess) we tried it again a couple of weeks later, this time with Cousin B and his mom, Auntie Nicole. This patch was great. Lots of mud and muck. Hay to jump in. A pony to ride. Pumpkins to wrestle into a wheelbarrow.

Posing - why have all of B's smiles become the forced can't-really-smile (just-like-Chandler-on-Friends-smiles)? I have to hit myself or do something silly to get him to laugh to see the real grin.

Loving the time with Auntie Nicole

Buddy - the 23 year old pony who was so patient with the kiddos

This angle doesn't show it, but she was beaming the entire time.

Why must all piles of hay be jumped into by all little kiddos?

She can't really jump yet, but she wanted her turn anyway.

Now that he's 7, Cousin B had to show off by jumping from great heights.

Great toothless grin

When I showed him how to launch small pumpkins, I intentionally gave vague instructions hoping he'd lose interest if he had a difficult time getting them to launch. 6 or so attempts later, he was still at it. Better yet was his assistant, who really did help rather than get in the way. I love the way she's looking at him with total happiness - as seen in the close-up following.

Weekend Warriors

I realize that I have spent many blog posts raving about our play group. But they are really worth the time and effort to praise. Not just the kids, not just the moms, but the dads, too. This fall, instead of planning a Moms' weekend away, we tried to pick a weekend when all of the families could take a trip together. Unfortunately, only 4 of the 7 families could make it. We missed the other 3 families. However, I think it was ambitious to have 8 kids 4 and under in one house for one weekend. No major fights. No trips to the ER. Only a few bandages needed.

No backyard, unless you count the Par 4 golf hole behind the house. Lucky for us, the course was all but deserted the entire weekend.

Lots of downtime just chilling with our friends.

Even though the forecast called for rain, our daylight hours were dry. The kiddos spent a majority of the weekend in the large driveway riding bikes, trikes and scooters.

Lots of doorbell ringing

Balloon rockets were flying

As we prepared to leave on Sunday, the dads played 18 holes while the moms entertained the troops. Here the kiddos are running an obstacle course designed by one of the very creative moms.

Pumpkin Patch - Take 1

Another noteworthy play group outing this month was our trip to a local pumpkin patch. This particular pumpkin patch works as an exotic animal rescue as well, so we got to see a camel, a lioness and a lion cub, primates, chickens, ducks, rabbits, a porcupine and oh, yeah, a TIGER!

I didn't mind the tiger or the fact the kids could get VERY close (double fence helped my nerves a bit) but when it started pacing back and forth more and more rapidly, we decided to move on to the next animal!

B and his pals

Who doesn't love a little Merry-Go-Round?

New phrase heard often, "Mom! Look me. Look me, Mom!"

Getting ready for a hay ride.

Where did October go?

I think I have determined the reason for my few blog posts during October - I haven't been home!!! I just went through some photos and found SEVEN times I took photos and have yet to post them. So, while the big 2 year old naps, I will see how many I can get posted.

Play Group Gymnastics Outing

As the kids age, we have been trying to find more creative ways to spend our weekly play group gatherings. Many of the play group kiddos attend gymnastics classes, so a trip to the gym has a pretty regular spot in the rotation.

B started the day saying, "I don't like gymnastics and I just don't want to go!" I explained that he was going and it was his choice to participate. I am not sure, but looking at this photo, I think maybe he changed his mind once we got there.

G is still a bit small to really get into all of the different types of equipment. Her favorite activity of the day was getting into line and holding onto her brother as they moved from one play space to another.

Here, all of the 2s decided that holding on was the cool way to line up!

Welcome Two

I am the first to admit that my children do not need new toys. However, we couldn't resist getting a kitchen for the big two year old because it was relatively small, we don't have any toys like it, and it had the potential power to spark lots of imaginative play. Since both kids have already spent all of their play time at home playing with the new set, I will say it was a decent investment or as we say to the kids, a "good choice".

Finding all of the excitement just too overwhelming, G takes a little rest on the stairs.

She would like all of her adoring fans to know that now that she is two, she is, "So Big."

Before school, I made them pose for a few photos. I literally had to hit myself in the head to get them to smile.

Big cheesy grin from the beautiful birthday girl.

Just a sample of the rather teenage-like attitude G loves to show off these days.

After her typical Wednesday morning in school, T and I brought cupcakes for her class.

I think you can say she either really likes the cupcake or we need to get her a fork!
Proud Mommy and the birthday girl.

Is Type A Contagious?

Sad that the words, "Mom, can I play with my moon sand?" really strike fear in my heart, especially when they are spoken within minutes of the house finally feeling clean.

I tried my best to let B enjoy his creative play, creating bricks and other piles of red gunk all over the kitchen table (and chairs and floor). I held my tongue when he ran across the house (bringing small piles of red bits with him) to show me his successful creation of bricks and other objects.

I was, however, filled with a bit of pride when he told me he was done with his moon sand and asked if he could help clean it all up, including getting out the vacuum and cleaning the rug under the table. He even thanked me when I shortened the handle, allowing him better control over the machine.

WW - Attack of the ice cream bowls

Our Clan

Trying to come up with an original gift for the kiddos, we decided to bring home kilts. I made sure we got plenty of photos of bag-pipers in kilts, in case B didn't like the idea. However, he put it on without much convincing. G's is a bit long, but we learned that women/girls may wear their kilts from the floor all the way up, while men/boys tend to wear their kilts just about knee length. Kilts are also an official part of a rugby uniform, so we got B the rugby jersey and sporran (aka man-purse) to finish his look. G got a pretty pink Scotland t-shirt. As for this photo, they are also sporting their new orange "wooden-shoe" slippers we picked up at the airport in Amsterdam.

If nothing else, I think this photo will serve us well in the blackmail phase of parenting down the road.