Around Here

 Around here it has been stormy and it is officially "coat jammies" season as Fieldin calls it. I guess that is much shorter than calling them "pajamas with the feet in them" 

 Around here we are finding family art time again since its been raining. Jeff made the pearler bead yoda, me the witch, Greta R2D2 and a tree(she's studying them in school) and Fieldin made a window that must have vanished before I took the picture...quick fingers. 

 Construction of props has begun for a certain little boys 5th birthday party this week. Can't wait. I love this stuff and seem to go a little overboard.. just wait til you see the pool noodle lightsabers Jeff made.. 

Around here the house is chaos. Train tracks going ALL through the house. Lego creations everywhere, building materials, art projects an inch deep on the table.. It looks bad people.. very lived in. Need to pick up a bit before Wednesday. 

Around here, Greta is ever changing and has discovered hanging with her girl friends is just as fun as reading...she is becoming a pre-teen.. She is cleaning her own room and bathroom, getting her homework done and wanting to buy lots of nail polish... 

Around here, Fieldin is spelling. Writing words, creating, wanting to read. So very cool to see. He is very excited for his birthday!

Around here, I am keeping up with them all but am drinking more coffee! 

Around here, soccer and volleyball are finishing up and winter sports will be starting soon....... 

Around Here

Oh my, the weeks are flying by. 

I have been neglecting the blog. 

I forget about my camera sitting beside me at the kids practices & games. Instead I chat, cheer and take it all in. 

We are still adjusting to new schedules. 

When Gret gets home it is homework time. 

I even ignore my camera watching me at home reminding me to take pics. 

I would rather play a game with the kids, cook something new, plan for Fall and enjoy playdates. 

Life has been different around here as we are all growing and changing. 

It is nice and exciting to see. 

Sometimes I miss our old lazy days but I appreciate the ones we have now even more. 

Fieldin is changing so much. Not so little anymore. Teaching me letters in sign language. Writing in lower case now and not just all capitals. Teaching me songs, creating fun art, playing big kid board games, doing chores and playing sports. 

and Greta, 

So much changes with her I can't keep up. She's just trying to figure out what hobbies she enjoys and who she is. She gets a grand plan but decides she doesn't want to commit. We know she loves something when she will take the time for it. We are learning just as much as she is. Right now her love is volleyball. If you walk by the house you can probably hear her practicing sets in the garage. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. 

And then there is Jeff and I. 

We are changing, slowing down, rethinking goals and keeping up with these children of ours.

Life is full. 

 Fieldin's pumpkin creations. 

 One of Fieldin's soccer games. That's him above. Also him below. He is #9. 

 The cat is still being tormented... don't feel sorry for him, he gets his revenge. 

 The rain is starting to show up more often.. 

 Some things never change. Life at this poor worn table, that I am not sure I will EVER be able to part with. 

At any moment something is happening here. Now a days lots of art by Fieldin and homework by Greta. Tonight Fieldin was drawing Frankenstein and Greta was trying out a new pumpkin dip recipe. 

Fall Sports

 Been bad about taking pics of them playing but tried to take a few to remember. 

Gret's been doing volleyball...

 Fieldin is playing soccer..His games start Monday

 And when he's not playing soccer, he is playing basketball... 

plus they are both in school 5 days a week. I don't know how they are not tired... I am :) 

Around Here- Early Signs Of Fall

Around here we are moving into Fall.. 

 Around here, tired daddy after work getting dog piled 

 Around here, little man is always working on some kind of craft project like a little mad scientist

 Around here, it is pumpkin cake time 

 Around here, Fieldin made this "sweater" for the cat. He spaced two piece of paper together like a shirt and made two tubes for arm holes. He had this done and decorated by breakfast. 

 now he is making a tree with hanging leaves

 Around here, it is homework time again for the eldest. During the week and on the weekends....Only about three more months until you get a break for Christmas :) 

 Around here, the kids covered the cat basket with soft fleece and he is happy. He also sleeps with a big furry mouse and a "yoda" mouse. 

 Around here, I am noticing some new color on our weekly hikes. 

 Around here, nothing says Fall better than a football jersey and leaves. 

 Around here, it is supposed to get very hot this week. Our hike spot will look different in a matter of weeks. We are greeting Fall with open arms... 

Fieldin Singing "Rockin' In My School Shoes"

This morning before Fieldin went to Pre-K he sang a song courtesy of one of his Pete The Cat books. 

First Day Of School For The Youngest

Fieldin spent alot of time yesterday at his Pre-K class for orientation and could not wait to go back today. The problem is his class is right down the hall from the class I work in so he was VERY excited to get to class and could hardly stand waiting 10 minutes before he could walk down. I am glad he likes it so much, he has two very fun teachers so I wasn't too surprised.  

 Greta wrote "stinks" under the words 1st Day of Pre-K! on his chalkboard. He did NOT like this and we erased it for him. He kept saying"Preschool does NOT stink!! Does it mommy?" 

 Little man at his classroom. See how happy he is? 

 Me and him.. crazy to think he will be as tall as me before I know it! 

Around Here

Around here I am happy it is Friday so we can all breathe a bit. 

Greta had a great first week of school and started volleyball this week. We have also been tracking down a script for her because she wants to try out for a play at the city theatre this Fall. 

 Around here, This was my first main week at work and Fieldin has been hanging out either with me or at his Pre-K class. I am getting used to a new schedule but truly feel it was time for me to go back to work. Our routine at home has changed but the kids are doing great and being wonderful helpers. Fieldin still sees me quite a bit so he doesn't mind too much. I am home before Greta gets out of school so she doesn't notice much difference. I always take pictures of them going to school so it was only fair they took one of me to. 

 Little man spends much of his time drawing and playing with legos this week. He started soccer AND basketball this week. He had three nights of practice and he was a trooper. 

 Reading to brother after she got home from school. 

 Fieldin's newest thing is designing blankets out of paper. This is one of his designs for the cat. He also made one for a friends little boy. He loves making "blankets" and he cuts fringe around the page. 

It was a busy week. Happy busy. 

Happy First Day Of School For The Eldest

Happy First Day! This year Greta said she wants to make her own lunch. We will see how long this lasts but as of late she has been very responsible getting herself ready in the morning so I think she could do this. Here is part of her lunch today. Even though she will make her own lunch I am still sneaking in notes..:)

 Same idea as last year for pics but a bigger Greta and a bigger chalkboard. 

 She has been waiting to wear this "save the elephants" shirt for a month. 

 Fieldin told her he'd miss her and I got the picture.. 

 Getting all packed up. She said she's excited for third grade because she can do more science this year and dissect an owl pellet... 

She also told me this morning that I could drop her off at the school drop off and not walk her in this year. 

When we got to the drop off she didn't get out. Then she said "I will LET you guys walk me in because I know you two will miss me horribly" 

I think she will miss us a bit to :) 

Chompers May The Force Be With You

Lots of Star Wars around here lately.... playtime, toys, watching movies and drawings by Fieldin. 

It was bound to happen that he would make his special buddy a part of it. 

If Chompers could talk I am sure he would say in the true words of yoda: 

"Put up with the children, I must" 

"Get them later, I will" 

May the force be with you, Yoda Chompers. 

Nearby Bucket List Items

We are very lucky to have many wonderful things to do within 20 miles from our house. After 3 1/2 years of exploring there are still things we have not done. 

We had lots of errands to do today so we snuck in a few "nearby bucketlist" items off our list in between stops. 

 Baskin Robbins.. we are such frozen yogurt people we forget the joy of scoops of ice cream.. plus ice cream is always a good bribe. 

 Next, a gorgeous wetland trail that is all boardwalk. It is so pretty. I cannot believe we haven't stopped sooner and now I think it will be a regular stop. 

 Picking table grapes. We drive by the vines at least 4 times a week and every year we have not stopped, even though we say we should. Today we finally did and the kids loved cutting their own grapes. Not as much as they did taste testing the different varieties. Just so I remember next year our favorite variety was Interlocken which is the kind my dad used to grow. It was like eating a bit of the past. They aren't going to last long around here. I am thinking of drying some and seeing if they make good raisins. We came home with two full bags for $6. Not sure the kids will be able to eat grocery store grapes again.