NALLS

In an effort to spend less money this year I decided to forgo Cox farms (that, and I didn't want to tackle it with an infant and two preschoolers).  Instead, went to Nalls nursery where we played in the tunnels, perused the pumpkins, and I insisted the kids sit for a few pictures.

Liz was pretty easy to get a shot of (even though she almost always refused to show her teeth).  A photo of Lainey would probably have been easy too if Ellie hadn't been tugging on her braid.

 Incidentally, Lainey and Ellie were in costumes (bee and lady bug) because it was dress up day at Music Makers that morning.  Emma was in her second costume of the day having spit up and slobbered all over her fairy dress.

Mandatory group shots:

The girls thought this fountain was "pretty" and asked to have the pictures taken in front of it.  Um, okay.

As with other visits to Nalls we bought some apple cider and drank it from the jug moonshine-style.  Also, as with other visits we purchased a pumpkin, but this was the first time we ever carved it.  Monday night was the first time we have ever carved a pumpkin with our kids (normally we paint them because it's easier).

 Liz took some pictures as well:

 She got shots of Alaina and Gabrielle "by the flowers because they are dressed like bugs."

Busy Weekends: parties, games, & other entertainments

Last weekend was pretty busy.  Well, just Saturday really: soccer game, soccer class, two birthday parties (one turned out to be a false alarm b/c I misread the invite but I prepped the kids before I realized), a primary program practice, a house guest, and an evening showing of our Saturday's Warrior.

This weekend was more chill.  Friday night we enjoyed a "Blocktober Fest" with our neighbors (love my street).  Saturday, Lainey went to her last soccer class (Liz had a bye week--hooray).  In the afternoon Liz and I went to the White House Garden tour (hopefully we can do it again in the spring and see more flowers in bloom).  We got back just in time (sorta) for Liz to join her little sisters at a neighborhood birthday party.  Also I made handsoap.  Fun.

It was nice to do something one-on-one with Liz and, happily for everyone involved, Emma slept through my entire absence.

An example of what a press conference set up would look like:

Sasha and Malia's play set (the main difference from my last tour in 2002).  Liz commented that they are so lucky to have there own swing set and I kind of had a sad moment thinking about how we live in an area were we are unable to afford a single family home and a yard and swing set and so on (you know, the things Drew and I grew up with).

 

Homeschooling (just a little tiny bit)

So, I didn't think that having a fourth child would slow me down, but it has.  I used to take Lizzie to lots of "enrichment" activities: museums, playdates, bounce houses, nature walks, parks, and so on.  Now, most of our "enrichment" happens at home (well, aside from our weekly music makers, ballet class, and ward playgroup).

Originally I planned to do one, maybe two crafts, worksheets, or learning games each week, but Lainey requests them so much that we frequently do two or three a day.  Thank goodness for pinterest, homeschool blogs, and free downloads. Lately a lot of our activities have had a fall or Halloween theme such as making mummies (covering simple human figures with masking tape). 

A lot people mistake Lainey and Ellie for twins because they are so close in size.  Sometimes I even find myself treating them as if they are the same age.  Doing crafts definitely highlights the difference in their ages (perhaps some of it is personality differences as well).  Lainey is far more meticulous, has a longer attention span, is better able to follow instructions, and is just more interested in learning her numbers and letters (whereas Ellie surpasses her sister in remembering the names of colors). 

Alaina carefully wrapped the tape around her mummy.

Ellie covered one side of her mummy (she insisted it was actually a skeleton) with overhanging tape, then flipped it over and did the same thing on the other side when she realized that Lainey was covering both sides.  At the end, her creation was unrecognizable.

 We also wove webs.  Lainey did her own.  I wove Ellie's, but made her point to which hole the string should go through (not quite the independent activity I had envisioned).  Incidentally we were using yarn I purchased eight years ago.  I can't quite seem to use up that crap.

I'm trying to make more things from scratch as well.  This past couple weeks the kids have helped me make homemade noodles, tortillas, chicken stock, and chicken noodle soup--all of which was super easy (why haven't  I done any of these things before?!).  Next on our homemade list: hand soap, caramel, and yogurt.

Emmaline's info photo shoot

These were taken back in August by Danelle Empey.  Love them.