Fall and an early snowfall!

 Exploring out back

Pumpkins being cooked, even the huge one! It's been going in tomato sauces and soups all winter...not sure how much more we'll use during this heat!

 Evelyn's work...she plans to be an artist when she grows up. We are warning her it doesn't pay well.

Matthew is always in some strange posture when I check on him reading.

 Snacks in the snow...that will get the chickens to brave the white stuff.

 Melanie has been enjoying decorating her room. Now that she has one on her own it is usually quite neat!

 School had to run again in earnest

 Hard working students.

 It's the ones on the main floor that are easier to catch on camera...the others are too much effort.

We had a treat of lovely deep snow. So beautiful!!

Jennifer was super excited about using the computer for learning to type, and for her second language learning.

Daniel Turns Ten!!

 Daniel chose to go to a play place we went to for Evelyn's birthday. I cheaped out and left Nathan and Melanie at home...only had to pay for four kids this time! It was a bit of a drive, and some stuff is kind of not working, but the point is you can run around all over the place inside, which is, I think, what the birthday boy wanted. He certainly got that! We went early in the week (doesn't cost as much, and is not crazy busy like a weekend!)

 Basketball and trampoline together...interesting, but only mildly.

 Bowling alley, which is fun if you don't mind the scorekeeping/equipment issues and just roll the ball for fun/practice.

 The jump into the cube pit is a lotta fun, but you gotta hang onto those socks as you climb out! Daniel's socks aren't much worth keeping, except that you have to wear them to be here.

 Daniel and Matthew had an "epic" laser tag battle.

 Yes, for most of the time they were just standing there shooting at eachother!  They had fun though. :)

Double digits!!

 As usual, cards and gifts from siblings. :) The vest was made with real reflective ribbon, so it's hard to read the POLICE label.

He also got a cosh and a holster. Time for the rest of us to be really nice to this future law enformement official!

Daniel is really growing up! Hard to believe he is ten already! He has lots of great ideas and a fantastic imagination.

November continued

 Who says it's Dad's workshop, anyways?

 Yay! Snow to play with!

 The base for the ice rink looks strong enough and ready to go, why isn't it lined and full of thick ice so we can play hockey??  (probably wouldn't have frozen thick enough so just be patient...)

 Making tracks

 Melanie says that she really feels that children's artist have set her up for false expectations. She can never make a snowman that isn't all dirty looking and is always disappointed with them as a result. No matter how hard she works on a snowman, it never looks right.

 So if you happen to illustrate a children's book with snowmen in it, please add some extra colour so children do not suffer with lifelong disappointment.

 Yum!

So we did have warmer weather again, not such a surprise for November, really.

Until mid November (2019 still)

 We had an event at church planned, and made sure we tried out the new games to make sure they worked ok. Jenga is sure fun when it's huge!

 Waiting for company -- what better spot to wait then on an easy to climb tree branch near the road?

 Deep snow! What a treat for November!!

 Off to try the hills for sliding.

 Playing around.

 Making dinner.

 Who says microscopes can't be toys?

 Working on the rink....it's freezing out, shouldn't it be ready to fill up yet!! We might be loosing potential skating hours!!

 The rink set up, but not ready to fill...cold weather needs to return.

 Sewing project, shirt for a doll.

 Reading out of a box

 Trucks in the snow

 (nothing else to say, it was so long ago)