First Snow

We had our first snow on Monday night/Tuesday morning.  It was more than a dusting, but not worth a cancelled day of school.  Madison was excited in the morning when I told her there was snow.  She jumped up and down and immediately asked that we take her snow things to grandma and papa’s house.  I obliged  - even though we were already running behind, and I still needed to get her eye drops in her eye. (Yep, she started some type of viral/bacterial infection during the night before.)  It was, as I imagined, well worth it.  Ellie just got boots last weekend, which she loves!, and was excited because Madison was excited. 

When we got to Grandma and Papa’s, they began playing right away – no breakfast, no toys, hardly a hug.  I had to leave just as they were warming up – one of the downsides of a my job – but Papa took some pictures for Jeremy and I to enjoy the scene vicariously.

Ellie just thinking about it as Madison runs right in.

    

Ellie tests the waters

   

Madison gets the full body experience

    

Sharing a moment

The fall, the snow in the face, the “I’m done with this stuff” cry

    

A snow man was not made this day, but a small snow mountain was built.

Until next time…

Leaves

I only have a few minutes before I need to finish getting ready to go to school, but I thought I would post some pictures.  Jeremy and I raked leaves the other night….. Well, Jeremy mostly raked leaves, but I tried to do my part while watching/playing with kids.  Madison and Ellie came outside to enjoy the piles as well.  Madison LOVED them; Ellie did too, but with not quite as much enthusiasm.

Madison’s running jump…

    

Ellie’s running jump…

   

The only posed shots I could capture….

   

Madison helping Jeremy with the leaves – super strong girl!

    

Halloween Festivities

(I know that it is long past Halloween, but hey, better late than never.)

Our town had a small fall fest on the Saturday before Halloween.  We went to part of it, but ended up leaving because Jeremy’s cousin, Beth, from out-0f-state was visiting.  There were pumpkins to decorate…

    

hot dogs to roast… (Ellie did enjoy some of it, but when I would move away to take the picture, she had issues with the unfamiliar man near her.)

    

and a hayride, which we missed … mostly due to the fact it was late arriving because the tractor wouldn’t start.

We went and ate at the Das Dutch Kitchen.  The owner, a man from our church, seated us in the corner; he is a wise man.  The girls were wound up!

On Sunday, we participated in Trunk-or-Treat put on by a local church and businesses.  It was really fun.  We went for one last meal with Beth before she left.  And after naps at Grandma Yoh’s, we started getting ready.  Madison wanted to be a ballerina.  So, Grandma, who has had lots of practice doing a ballerina’s hair, graciously took charge of that.  Madison sat very still and fell in love with her bun!

    

    

When Ellie woke from her nap, we dressed her up in her turtle costume. 

The girls practiced their trick-or-treat skills at Grandma and PaPa’s house first.

    

Then, we headed to the trunk-or treat event.  There were TONS of cars in the parking lot.  Each car was decorated in a different theme.  I enjoyed this part; the girls were more focused on the candy.  Ellie, who is afraid of unknown people, had no trouble walking up and getting candy.  I think I need to work a little on stranger danger with her! 

    

They had a lot of fun at the event, and it was even good weather for it.   We ended the night by trick-or-treating at Grandma and Papa DeeDee’s house (where we also ended up eating a little more for supper).

    

That sums up that holiday.  I may not blog again until after Thanksgiving, although I would like to imagine it will be sooner.  Until next time…

Sleepover

I have no pictures.  Not one.  But I wanted to record this memory somewhere. 

Madison had her very first sleepover.  Not one where all the cousins get together for a family fun time., but just her and Megan.  It was a success. 

After the art center date (see post below), Megan came over for a sleepover.  They started off by playing dress up, then Barbies, then kitchen/house.  Sometime they fit supper in there.  Then, we squeezed in bath time. 

They shared the queen-sized bed in Madison room.  I put pillows down the middle and piled on the blankets.  I only had to go in there one time to warn them that it was bed time, not play time. 

At 7:01am, they emerged to go to the bathroom, then raced back in the room to play Barbies.  I looked at Jeremy and said we should just rent a kid in the mornings to play Barbies, and then we could sleep longer!  They inhaled some Kix and continued playing – house, this time.  We managed to get dressed for church somewhere in the middle of all that playing. 

At church, Madison and Megan and Ellie sat with Grandma, and Jeremy and I were childless parents.  I could actually focus on an entire sermon!  The girls headed to Sunday school together to finish the morning off.

Then, everyone in my family (except Jen who was running in the Columbus half marathon and Nate who was volunteering) went to my parents for pancake lunch.  I imagine we consumed a pancake recipe quintupled (is that how you say five times??), 36 scrambled eggs, and a couple pounds of bacon and smoked sausage each.  It was good, crazy, and quite experience. 

Madison cried when we had to say good-bye.  Perhaps we will have to try the sleepover again….

Mansfield Art Center

I had gifted Sandy a trip to the Mansfield Art Center to see the Lego exhibit.  We finally made the time to go this past Saturday.  Madison had asked to go, and Sandy had graciously said it would be fun to have her along.  We planned to eat at an Indian restaurnat in Mansfield, but when we arrived, we figured out that they are not open for Saturday lunch.  (Really, who is NOT open for Saturday lunch??)  So, we headed to Olive Garden instead.  Madison was very happy about the big girls date and getting to eat in a restaurant.  The art show was really unique and very cool.  The artist, Nathan Sawaya, gave up his job as a lawyer to “play with toys.”  His creations are truly amazing!  There was a photographer who worked with him and took pictures with the lego pieces as a part of a otherwise normal shot.  Those were creative as well.  Here are a few of his creations:

            

Also, in the center they had an interactive area for kids to create with legos.  Madison worked on 1) observing those around her and 2) building a tall tower with small blocks.  I am not sure which one she spent more time doing. 

    

We ended the date by going to Meijer – oh, how I have missed you, Meijer.  (Some people long for Targets; I have a sweet spot for Meijer.)  Madison enjoys Meijer, too, because she gets to ride her favorite horse, Sandy, for 1 penny.  You just can’t beat that!

Fall Fun

(Sorry for the silence, I am working on surviving…)

Madison had a small pumpkin from her preschool field trip to Ramseyer Farm.  I had promised that we could make a jack-o-lantern out of it.  So, one BEAUTIFUL day recently we took it out to the driveway.  I cut the top off.  Then the girls dug in with their spoons to scrape the edges clean. 

    

I managed to fit a small bucktooth smile and two triangle eyes on it.  Still needing to get a candle to light it up for her. 

One Friday, I took off school to gather with friends; something I wouldn’t have done as a teacher with a full time contract, but felt a little justified in doing as a sub.  Kendra was back in the area from Mississippi, and I hadn’t seen her in quite awhile.  I carpooled out with Barbie and Rachel (other friends from college) and Barbie’s three kids. 

   

It was good to get together, let our kids play, and catch up amidst the chaos.  I am glad I took the chance to go.

Jeremy started a new job this past week.  His other job was good, but the hours were longer than expected.  The hours were also sporadic – sometimes it seemed that there was tons of work, and at other times, there were lulls.  Additionally, he had a lot of field work that involved long distances of walking. While this sounds okay/do-able now, it was hard to picture this being a good place for him when he was 50.  So, he looked around and found a different job in the same field.  He works from home, so that has been nice this week.  When we get home, he is here to say hi even if he has to keep working.  We’ll see how it all pans out as he gets a feel for the job, but it sounds like the hours will be a little better with more flexibility.  He went to Columbus for a two day training; we girls partied with a picnic and movie at the house on one nights and a princess tea party the next night.

    

          

This is what I have photographed… I am sure I am missing something.  Without a photo to trigger my memory, I forget things :(