More Fall Fun

On Saturday, Dan took a break from studying and went outside with the kids to play. He snapped these great pictures. He also helped rake a big leaf pile for them.

Just this Fall, we have given Jeremiah permission to ride on the road between our mailbox and the neighbors. He really enjoys this and think it is great fun. I think he really feels like "Big Stuff." He is very cute out riding.
And here is our Tucker...actually AnaGrace calls him Tuckerooni....I think its beginning to stick. He is a very cute puppy albeit a little naughty.

Gorgeous Guords

Well, Dan had to work late in Lancaster tonight and then had a meeting. So we decided to make some gorgeous guords. (Yes, I got the idea from Family Fun.....and I heard the collective groan from my extended family. Someday, you will all be calling me for ideas.) We had our church's Thanksgiving Fellowship last Saturday. The centerpieces were guords. Lots of them. Miah asked me if he could have a few to bring home. (Mommy thinks 3 or 4: Kids think as many as they will give us). Well kind "Mr. Mark" gave my kids all of the guords. We are talking 2 grocery bags filled to the brim with them. Thanks, Mr. Mark. Needless to say, we all had fun tonight and it was a great way to kill time between supper and bedtime. Here are our creations. Miah made this one that the kids thought looked like Dan....sorry honey.

This was the tiniest one, so Dani named it AnaGrace.
This is my creation, which the kids said looked like Grandma....sorry Grandma. Anyway, know we only have 2 partially filled grocery bags left.

Trick or Treat

We took the kids trick or treating last night. Not too much, just a few neighbors. There weren't a whole lot of people with their lights on last night, but it was enough to get some candy. Jeremiah wanted to be a "Superhero"....no one in particular, just a super hero. We chuckle because when he was much smaller he used to wear his blanket like a cape and run through the house saying "Superbunny saves the day."
DaniRae wanted to be an ice cream cone. It was cute, but AnaGrace kept picking the sprinkles off which did not make Dani happy. As you can see, though, Dani loved her costume.
And now, youv'e heard of Daffy Duck and Donald Duck.....Introducing....Grumpy Duck. Obviously, AnaGrace was not impressed with dressing up. She really, truly did not enjoy this experience and sat in the van most of the evening


Here we are at Pah-pah's house. He gave AnaGrace goldfish, but of all the nerve, he tried to put it in her bag....OHHH, can you believe it. Ana was not happy about that; apparantly she lives by an unwritten rule that you eat it immediately. Finally Pah-pah opened the goldfish and gave them to AnaGrace right away. She was much happier. (In Pah-pah's defense, we were all kinda flabbergasted at her behavior). So that is when she sat in the car the rest of the evening and ate her goldfish. (After this week with a grumpy sick toddler, the nutrition police are soooo gonna come after me. Her appetite has been very poor this week for anything decent. However, she did put away 3 pieces of pizza tonight----not that its healthy---but I think she is beginning to feel better.)

Carving pumpkins

We carved our pumpkins this week. I can't say that this is my favorite family activity, but I am just one in a family of five. The kids really enjoy this, so we continue to do it. Jeremiah did a great job this year of cleaning out his own pumpkin. This is the first year that he actually was able to help a little more. DaniRae still needed help, but had a lot of fun. AnaGrace thought this was interesting for all of 5 minutes and then she wanted to be held the rest of the time (she isn't feeling real well right now).
Here are the amazing finished projects. What a fun creation God has made for us. Who would have thought to give us big vegetables for us to eat and carve, except our wonderful God? Happy Fall everyone.

The Strong Museum of Play

We went to the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester on Friday. It was an incredible place. There were so many neat hands on thing for all of the children. Everyone had a really great time. Dani wants to go back for her birthday she had so much fun. This is a really long post, so enjoy. Jeremiah had fun trying out this rock climbing wall. Dani, much like her Mother, could not even get on the wall. Poor thing.

One of those rooms where the children became as tall as Mommy. I am afraid that this picture will be reality in a few years.
Is this a dream or a nightmare???? My children have mutiplied!!!! This was called the Kid Kaleidoscope.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?
One my favorite places was the child sized Wegman's that was there. The kids were allowed to go in and shop for five items. Then they became the cashiers and scanned everything and printed out a receipt. Then they became stock boys and put everything away. It was all fake food, but some of the best looking fake food I have ever seen. Jeremiah enjoyed weighing all the meat and DaniRae was intent on finding a pizza to pull out of the brick oven to buy.

And.....AnaGrace goes for her third box of fudge pops. I think she looks a little guilty.
This was Jeremiah's favorite activity. He got to run the camera, the light board and the sound while other children dresse up and put on the show. This happens to be DaniRae dancing, but Jeremiah sat there and did it for anyone who walked up.
This was DaniRae's favorite part. A room that showed what it would have been like if she lived one hundred years ago. She loved this room and could have played here for hours. I was really impressed with how hands out and play oriented this whole museum was.

Queen DaniRae awaits her ride to the royal ball.
There were lots of places to pretend play which was really up Dani's alley.
Watch out, Uncle Joel and Pah-Pah.....I think you have competition. Maybe in a few years.
My three happy, but very tired children at the end of the day. They all fell asleep on the way back to Uncle Joel and Aunt Anna's. AnaGrace barely lasted 1 minute in the van before she was sound asleep. It was great fun though.

Fun in Buffalo

We went to Buffalo this past weekend and had a great time. The weather was beautiful (in fact a little sunny as you can see). We had a great time at a local park. It was cold, but good to get some fresh air. That is the Niagara River behind us ( I think)....it is the same water that goes over the Falls....so the kids weren't allowed any where near the river.....just kidding, kind of.

The simplicity of childhood

The children have been encouraged to read as part of a Book It Club for School. They earn points and rewards and if they reach the goal their teacher set, the earn a personal pizza from Pizza Hut. Anyway, they are to be reading about 15 minutes a day. Well, it was a gorgeous day here today, so I sent Jeremiah outside to read. This is where he decided to read...he found a nice perch about 25 feet up in a tree. I must admit, I think that I am a little jealous. OH, to have the time and freedom (and physical ability) to climb 25 feet into a tree and spend an afternoon reading.