Fall

 With the weather getting colder the kids spend more time playing inside.

 But we had some really sunny and warm fall days to enjoy too! Biking doesn't seem to get old!

 Nathan and Melanie working together. This project is a detachable basketball net...I think we'd better remember to take it down now that we have snow on the ground! Gonna be a while before we play basketball!

The close of summer

 We had some hot weather in September.

 The boys spent some of that time discussing life.

 Melanie kept the younger girls entertained.

 Despite despising her own schoolwork, Melanie does enjoy being a teacher.

 Her pupils, unlike mine, are all eager and obedient. I should spent some time watching and see how she manages!

 Nathan redesigned his go-cart. The first attempt was very dissatisfying. This attempt was much more successful!

 We had a fun Friday. If they week's schoolwork is done before Friday and we have nothing else going on, then we want to do something fun!

 This occasion was a "theater day". Most of the day was spent in getting the scenery for the play ready.

 The inside and outside of the three bears house was a lot of work, but it was the good fun kind of work!

 We all had jobs to do to help get the whole project done.

 The outside of the house is complete!

 The inside is done too! The tree background was made by Melanie and her helpers ages ago...so we added to it with more backgrounds.

We put on a grand play, with whoever wanted to acting, and there was still an eager audience left over!

As usual in these big endeavors, the final production was a bit of an anti-climax...but it was still worth it. We also raided the public library of all the versions we could find of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and the kids enthusiastically and independently did a unit study on this fairy tale 'cause no one mentioned that it might be considered schoolwork. ;)

Jennifer's Birthday Part 2

 Finally Jennifer's friend could make it for the "official party". Her younger sister came along...I have learned that it is helpful to have an "extra along so that the birthday child does not have to struggle so hard to maintain their friend's attention. Sibling rivalry is spread out and thus, thinner and easier to manage for a happier birthday child. :p

We love our Jennifer. Boisterous, fun loving and noisy. We love the noise a little less than some of her other character traits. She is a very determined child and if she has any say, does not miss out on any of the fun and happenings!

 Gifts are great! And there was a gift unwrapping game and a "pin the candle on the cake" game, all made and organized by Melanie the unofficial party hostess.

Nathan wasn't part of the sibling competion. He was busy building me a compost for outside. :)

silly break

 As a break for Jennifer's bday, here are some gorgeous portraits by Mommy Paparazzi. Maybe one of these silly shots will put a smile on your face. You probably need to smile more.

I had a "relaxing" day today. No commitments to chores or school until 4pm...just puttering slowly through a few of them and not feeling any stress. I was babysitting for someone else. Funny how it's easier to be a "better Mom" when you have kids that aren't yours in your care! These pics are old. And Jennifer is genuinely threatening me. Nothing to be proud of, I am sure. The rest of us are just weird.

Jennifer's Birthday Part 1

 Take a picture of me! (and Daniel the photo bomb)

 Waiting patiently to open presents

 while Daddy gets the coffee ready. Is it done yet?

 Cards first! This one is from a couple in our "Small Groups".

 Reading siblings cards.

 Daniel delivering a hand crafted gift.

It is hard keep big brothers from helping too much with the unwrapping.

 

 Note how Evelyn is hanging tight to her own hand crafted gift from her sister that was "re-purposed" for Jennifer without her permission!

Daniel reads a clue from Nathan and Melanie's gift...which had to be found by following the clues.

 "Look in the library." We're looking...now what?

 Found another clue! Where to next?

 And there is the present, made with time and love, for our very own Jennifer!

 A bunk bed for dolls!

And as Jennifer can be easy going, I got away with a small store bought cake. :) 5 years old already! She is growing up so fast!

Around and about again

 Dress up clothes! Jennifer and Evelyn love putting on dresses...with crocs. Very fashionable. And MUCH more comfortable than heels. I'm sure.

 Officially I don't approve of the "jumping into the play room game"...but I also don't officially give any consequences to players of the game...unless they get too loud, and so they get sent outside.

 Evelyn is our gardener. She took her little patch in the garden quite seriously, and remembered what she planted and weeded. Maybe that's why her carrots did better than some other people's carrots.

 The sand box is still an attraction, though it spends many days in a row looking forlorn sometimes.

We had a membership at the Science Center...expiring in a month. So we had to go a few more times to get our "money's worth". Only $5 each time (half of the parking fee).

 When it is just me and the kids (no Philip) it is more like an indoor playground.

 Not sure how much learning of science occurred this day...but we did get exercise!

 Cycling was good exercise too! But they weren't very good at pedaling. Matthew thought the light bulbs might not be working. ;)

 We had gone on holidays in August so we could miss the terrible summer weather.

So there was a week or two of roasting weather is September, lest we think we got away without feeling the heat!