Some Pictures for Today: Trip to the Pumpkin Patch - Part 1

We had a fun field trip last Friday to a local pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, we weren't there long enough to be able to enjoy everything they had to offer, but the kids hadn't been there before, so they didn't know what they were missing. All three of them had a blast! 

We went with one of our home school groups.
Here is a picture of about half of the group as we got our ride out to the patch.

And here are T and D enjoying the ride.

And then we hunted for the perfect pumpkins...!

 After they were harvested, we moved on to the tons of fun stuff - which basically consisted of old farm junk-turned into obstacle courses and other fun things! It gave me ideas for the future...I think Marshall needs one of these!

I have no idea if this is actually the biggest lawn chair, but just in case we snapped a pic.

And yes - Patrick IS getting around enough that the puppy dog backpack WAS necessary on this outing!

Part 2 tomorrow!

Love, Us.

Some Pictures for Today: Kids in Hats and Diapers

It is one of those super cute things that you just HAVE to take a picture of... little kids in big hats and diapers! For today - some that I took of our little cow poke, Patrick, a couple days ago. He sure looks like a Librandi!

And, just for fun, a couple of T from five years ago! She definitely has more of my side in her!

Love, Us.

Some Pictures for Today: An Impromptu Carpentry Lesson

Well, we bought another book shelf. I know - no surprise there! The parts had been sitting in the middle of our library for a few days and I finally set the time aside to put it together. I was planning on doing it while the kids did school, just answering a question here and there. But, David noticed what I was doing and soon came over with his plastic hammer. He tried to hammer a few nails in, with no success except denting his hammer. So, I went and got a second real hammer and let him have a try. He was quite the little handy man! No fingers were smashed and quite a few nails were successfully hammered! Thérèse, of course, had to prove that she could do anything that David could do, so she was soon there helping as well. We now have all of our books in a proper home, and we added an impromptu carpentry lesson to the school day!

At first, David need an open-mouth focus to get the nails in.

However, he soon gained confidence in his skills and changed to a smile.
Oh, and I just noticed the Bob the Builder shirt - very appropriate!

Thérèse preferred the more gentle, one-handed hammering style.

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Patrick, the Big Baby (Doll)

This is actually the only new picture I have for today, and it isn't a prize-winner, by any means. However, it is a bit cute. I took it when we were waiting at the pharmacy. There is a kid table there, and Thérèse had put Patrick in one of the chairs - just like a doll. He sat there very pleasantly, but, just like a doll, he slowly slid down until he was almost falling off the seat. Thérèse would go lift him back up to a proper position, only to start the process over again. He endured this play for upwards of ten minutes. He is quite the good sport!

Love, Us.

For Today: What "Playing" with Daddy Looks Like

I've decided to give an insider's sneak-peak into the lives of our children. When daddy has a day at home the kids actually BEG to do these things - crazies!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Our Morning of Service

This past Saturday Thérèse's prayers were answered. T has a heart for the poor, and ever since El Paso put a new law in place that makes it illegal to hand out money to people on street corners, she's been hoping and praying that we would find a new way to help the poor. Well, one of our homeschool groups provided an answer. We were able to make and serve a meal to some impoverished people at a local convent. We also helped the sisters clean out their gardens, an area in which Joe was of great help. There were definitely more individuals from the homeschool group there than those who were coming to eat, but that allowed us to slow down and talk with those eating. In particular, we got to know David, a nice gentleman who may have encouraged me to try growing squash next year - we shall see! Thérèse was so happy to finally be able to help others in this way that she broke down in tears when I told her we needed to go. Dad was still talking for a few minutes, though, so she cheered right up when I said that the best way she could serve for her last few minutes would be to go sit by David and talk with him. She did, and I'm sure she will remember and pray for David for quite some time as a result.

Love, Us.

Stuff for Today: Patrick at the Splash Park

As I said yesterday, Patrick was a great little boy at the zoo - sitting quite content in his wagon. However, we let him out at the splash park and he had a blast!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Our Pilgrims Zoo Trip

For the Catholic homeschool group here on post we have decided to do the "Pilgrims of the Holy Family" curriculum this year. We will be studying science, and our fist topic is mammals. So... we had a zoo trip! It was a great time, and we lucked out with great weather amidst the current constant rains. We tracked down every mammal in that zoo!

We spotted this mammal on the meerkat's rock!

And this little mammal was a very good boy in the wagon for the whole trip!

Our biggest little mammal was too busy having fun with her friends and spotting the wild mammals to get her picture taken, I guess.

Love, Us.

A Picture and Video for This Weekend: Our Littlest Soldier

Well, it looks as though I will only be posting once this weekend, which is fine. But, to "make up" for the missing post, I've decided to include both a picture and video this time. The theme for today is Patrick's newest love: weaponry! Without any encouragement from siblings or parents (apart from witnessing his older brother's daily exploits around the house), Patrick has taken up the habit of going directly to the toy room's weapon box, grabbing both a sword and a shield, and parading around the house with them, attacking family members as he feels like it. He was very entertaining to watch BEFORE this new habit. And now,well... who needs TV?

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Surprise Rain Storm

Yesterday after naps the kids were having a blast outside with sidewalk chalk. We had just finished sweeping off all of the bird poop, so the artistic surface was primed. Patrick was eating some grass in the shade, and it looked like just a beautiful afternoon. Then the wind whipped up so quickly and fast that I had to deadlock the front door that doesn't shut properly so that it didn't come open. The kids were still enjoying the wind, though. But, then the rain started. It started softly, but not for long. Patrick at first was just a bit surprised, but still happy. Only for a moment, though. It soon became a heavy rain and he had experienced enough. His alarm went off and he came inside, leaving the older two to enjoy the tempest. And they did! I had just recently moved our outside bench to just in front of my kitchen sink window, which gave me a pretty great picture of them jumping off of it in the rain. It only lasted a few minutes, but they sure were glad that they were out in it!

We are off to the zoo today with one of our homeschool groups!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: School Fun

Today's sharing is two moments in our homeschool day yesterday. 

First off, it was science day yesterday. And, since I hadn't gotten to the library in order to pick up a new Bill Nye (I love those!), I had to be creative. I had run out of the mayonnaise the day before, and when prepping for the school day I happened to take a peek at the recipe I had to make more. Providentially, right there in the recipe book it said that making mayo was actually a fun science experiment for kids! Who knew? So, yesterday, the kids and I learned about emulsions (look it up!). Also, in the process, I got quite the forearm workout by whipping it up!

On the right: water and oil - impossible to mix! On the left: Magical Mayo! Yeah, it is THAT cool!

And secondly, T's final "fun" box yesterday was a puzzle that she got from Aunt T last year. We had quite a lot of fun doing it, and I was quite shocked by how good she was at such a difficult puzzle! Thanks, Aunt T, for helping finish off a great school day!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Happy Birthday, Hallel!

Today is my only little sister's birthday.  Well, only biological one, I guess. I have a whole TON of Little Sisters now because of her! Anyway, she is Thérèse's godmother, so today I am including a picture of the note that Thérèse wrote to her this year. She was very sad that she couldn't see Hallel, being that Hallel is in Kansas City right now for a few weeks. But, Thérèse LOVES giving gifts, so it made her much more content knowing that godmother could at least get her love-filled card.

And isn't her spelling just adorable!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Our Busy Little Guy

There is something you can definitely say about David - he does not get bored. This guy always is doing something or into something. Either he is changing costumes, literally, every two minutes, or he is getting new projects out one after another. He is always on the move - the problem is just getting him to move in the direction you want him to go! Also, the amazing thing about this constant self-entertainer is that he is actually pretty good about cleaning up one thing before getting out another. What a great guy! Well, for today, here he is the other day when out-of-the-blue he decided to go into the "forgotten closet" and get out some old Montessori-style Pre-K stuff that I had done for T a couple years ago. Now, if I could just find the magic trick to get him to eat and sleep when I want him to!

Hey! And just look at that dimple-filled smile! Who would have known?

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Lego Piano!

We actually did school on Saturday this weekend, because Joe was at Combatives all day and we could! So, Thérèse had a new Lego challenge to end her day. Joe chose the challenge, and he decided that she needed to make a Lego piano. Now, I am not going to lie and say that I was confident that she could do this without any trouble. I thought the piano challenge wasn't the easiest of challenges to think of. But, she went right at it, and the result, I think, is awesome! You can absolutely tell that it is a piano and bench! Super cute, T! Well done!

Love, Us.

Some Pictures for Today: Mud Puddle Fun

As I've mentioned, we've been very soggy down here all week. Today the sun came out for the first time in several days. But, before all of the wetness went away, the kiddos made sure to get some splash time in. We had planned ahead and gotten 2 days worth of school done on Thursday so that Friday was free for whatever fun showed up. So, while Joe and I were working out in the garage on Friday, the kiddos found the biggest hole they could find and...

...it started as an innocent puddle walk - even taking time to roll up his pants first. 

But then, it got into a little more of a serious puddle stomp session...

... and then big sister joined in whole hog!

The result: forget the rolled pants and 90% drenched.

Might as well make it 100%, T says!

D agrees! 

And that, Ladies and Gentemen, is one little reason why I love homeschooling - puddle diving is so much more fun when big sister is there to join in! Don't worry - they have bathed since this photo shoot.

PS - Happy Birthday to two very important gentlemen: Bumpa and our Godson/Godbrother Michael!
Have a wonderful day!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: Why Joe's Battalion is Great

Joe's Battalion is currently pretty high on my lists. Why? Because this is the view I had yesterday morning during my peek-a-boo photo shoot (and the scene that Patrick was smiling at during the "Yay" pic - see below): 

That's right! Joe washing my dishes, because he had the entire day off. This was a particularly great blessing, because Joe is currently in a Combatives school, so we usually don't even have him at home except on Sundays - and, literally, only for 30 minutes in the morning M-F. Thanks, 93rd, for a great day with dad! It was very good for all of us to have a day to relax and hang out together.

Love, Us.

Some Pictures for Today: Peek-A-Boo, a How-To

I often feel like I am fibbing when it comes up that I am a blogger. I mean, when is the last time you have seen a how-to or the term "DIY" on here? Well, I'm here to change all of that today! Prepare yourself for the best how-to ever!
The DIY Peek-A-Boo How-To!

Step 1: the Peek (after much testing, we've concluded that full coverage of the face in not necessary)

Step 2: the Boo!

 Step 3: the Yay! (include squealing and clapping)

 I would like to take a moment to thank today's baby model, Patrick. He was a very good sport during the entire (5 second) shoot. Sorry I couldn't include a template for today's project. Next time... I promise.

Love, Us.

A Video for Today: The Latest Recitation

Here is Thérèse's latest poem. I sure wish David would be more like Little Fred some days...!

It has been raining pretty steadily here for almost 3 days! I'm praying that it leaves soon and goes FAR north to MN!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: David, the Puzzler

David is REALLY into puzzles currently. I've yet to find a 24 piecer that keeps him "puzzled" for long. Here is his most recent accomplishment, and this particular one didn't even have a picture to look at while putting it together! These pictures, as you will see, also include two attempts (better than normal) at a David smile!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: T's Lego Challenge

Once a week, for her last "fun" thing of the school day, Thérèse has a Lego challenge. Yesterday's challenge was to create a house that looked like a picture of one that I printed off. I'm not going to say that I didn't have to give her any hints at points, but, for the most part, she did it on her own. Dad was VERY impressed when he got home late last night! Great job, T!

Love, Us.

A Picture for Today: "Just" a School Day

You know those Mercer Mayer books with Little Critter? I love how they are often titled "Just a Day at the Park" or "Just Shopping", etc. We all know that "just" anything with little critters is more than it seems! Well, today is "Just a School Day", and time will tell what it turns into! For example, David just ran into the room with a silly, mischievous grin on his face, because he thought that he had just visibly colored all over his face, not realizing that our crayons are not like the face painting crayons they had at the Company picnic day (Thank the Lord!)! And, in these pictures, it looks all quiet and nice, doesn't it? In actuality, David was blaring "Let's Go Fly a Kite" at the top of his lungs!
What a goof!

Hope you also have "just a great day"!

Love, Us.

A Movie for Tomorrow: Patrick Walking!

Ok, both because this is way too important and cute to hold onto until tomorrow, and because I often forget to blog on Sundays... you are getting it early!

Told you it was too great to wait for!

Love, Us.

Pictures for Today: Blast from the Past - Mom & Dad's Last Visit

Well, I didn't have any new pictures for today, even though Joe and I attended the MP Ball last night (I know, bad, bad, bad Maria didn't take any pictures!). So, I've got a few oldies for you today. We are hoping that we can get some new pictures soon to replace them... hint, hint, hint!

For tomorrow, I am determined to get a walking video of P!

Love, Us.