Pumpkin Fun

 These girls are just hilarious. This is the best we can get at a picture together. Audrey usually tries to shy away from the camera lately, but Kathryn is still willing to ham it up. I love how Kathryn is just cracking herself up in this picture.

 Since our church has a pumpkin patch, it is difficult to get the girls away from church without buying a pumpkin. Kathryn is convinced that going to church equals getting a pumpkin.

 This girl loves a cookie. They were both excited because David worked from home last Friday, and we all had a picnic outside for lunch. Any day with Daddy at home is an exciting one.

 Audrey striking a pose.

 She looks so old to me here! She tells us right now that she can't wait to be 10. Apparently, that is the age of ultimate freedom.

And, this is how most of our picture sessions wind up these days...

B is for Butterfly

 We are plugging along with school at home these days. Some activities that I think should take at least 30 minutes take about five, but we are learning. These were a few of our B week highlights. The girls love these plastic letter tiles.

 Some of our books and rhymes

 Matching upper and lower case letters (and colors for Kathryn)

Caterpillar to butterfly crafting

Fall!

I am so glad that fall is actually here! For a few days in late August, I thought we might be in 95 degree weather forever. September has been a very busy month of travel for me and David, but the girls and I have squeezed in a few crafting projects. We made some fall trees this week, but Audrey was upset that the colors of the leaves were not pink, purple and red. I told her to take that one up with God.

Kathryn continues to love a glue stick which means she puts glue ALL over one small piece of paper and I have to force her to put 15 leaves on top of the mound of glue she left. Then, when she's done with the project, she will usually let me know by throwing the paper down and starting to eat the glue stick. Things that the camera doesn't capture because I'm confiscating the craft materials. Ahh, she's entertaining! Makes me thankful for whoever invented "non-toxic." Happy Fall, y'all!

School at Home

 One challenge in Memphis has been finding a preschool that fits our schedule right now. All of them offer programs from 9:30-2:30, which is a long day for these two little ones! They attempt naps there, but when we have tried that, I end up picking up two cranky girls who are in challenging moods for the rest of the day. This year, we decided to try something new. Combined with our scheduled activities between Bible study, MOPS, storytime and play dates, we are attempting some "home school" like lessons. I use that term loosely because I am trying to keep things fun and appropriate for their ages while not pushing them or myself too hard.
Most mornings, we start out with the calendar and some Bible reading time. We are memorizing a new Bible verse each week, and Audrey has really caught onto that idea. It's good for Mommy too!

 Here's K with her Bible lesson.

 This week, we started out with the letter A and an apple unit. I'm trying to emphasize colors and shapes with Kathryn while doing some letter and word work with Audrey. They both love the read alouds and songs/poems that we have.  Audrey asks me every day when I am going to teach her to read. She assumes that it will happen immediately!

 I loved getting our supplies organized. Makes me feel like I am back at work (the fun part of teaching.)

 Love a lesson plan book! I found a great Mailbox anthology of weekly themes and ideas and combined that with a program from a blog, "Confessi0ns of a Homescho0ler." Both of the girls have really enjoyed the cut and paste activities that we found there.

 We also have "center time." Audrey was hilarious on the first day. She wanted to know if her baby dolls could attend school if they were quiet. Then, when I told her that it was center time, she walked to the kitchen and said, "Oh, wow, this kitchen is just like mine at home!" She was seriously surprised that all of our centers were the same! That girl cracks me up.

 Lots of book choices, baby dress up, puzzles, etc.

 We are going to have to get some blue in our playroom by the time this boy comes along!

 Calico Critters time

 Kathryn cooking

 Crafting - this girl loves a paintbrush and a glue stick - she cries every time we are done!

Some apple crafting

On most days, we have another activity by 10:00 or so, but since we are up and going by 8 every day, it still gives us a couple of hours together. Right now, we have storytime on Mondays, Bible study on Tuesdays, a standing play date on Wednesday, and MOPS every other Thursday. I try to keep Fridays open and get some cleaning done so Saturdays can be our family fun days. So far, it seems to be working out! 

Ready to Roll

 The birthday girls both received some traveling toys from us this year. Audrey has been talking about a "big girl bike" for several months and was so excited to find a pink and purple bike of her own. My parents gave them helmets, and that solidified Audrey's belief that she is indeed a "big girl." She always wants to make sure that I know that she is no longer my "baby."

 Excited to see their wheels

 Ready to roll

 She loves the bell and the basket.

 Kathryn spent some time in the car, but really liked putting grass in the car for her "gas." She's so environmentally friendly!

Daddy has to run to keep up with her! She's ready to ride!

More Birthday Weekend

Post-party, everyone was pretty tired. Audrey needed a little snuggle with Granddaddy to wind down.

After naps, Kathryn and Audrey learned the art of shelling peas with produce from Grandmother and Granddaddy's garden. They loved it!

Then, there were more presents! The girls have a new love of Calico Critters, so they received a dollhouse, some critters, books, and balls from Grandmother and Granddaddy and Aunt Trish and Uncle Mike. (Please notice K's third outfit of the day - she helped dress herself!)

Mimi helping Kathryn

She loves it!

Daddy loves assembly!

 On Sunday, Kathryn was dedicated at church.  We were worried she might resist walking around with our pastor, Mr. Stephen, but she did it! Thumb in mouth and bunny in hand, but she did it!

The fam with Pastor Stephen

It was a great weekend...more to come!x

Birthday Weekend 2013

 Since the girls' birthdays are only four days apart, we celebrated them together again this year with a Minn!e Mouse themed party. Grandmother and Granddaddy and Mimi and Pops came into town and helped us host ten little girls for a backyard carnival. It was pretty warm, but the girls seemed to enjoy it and took good naps when it was over!
We started out with balls and coloring then moved to snacks. Then, the girls could circulate to four different games and fill up their favor game. We had a bean bag toss game, a fishing game, a kickball competition, and a kiddie pool filled with balls and prizes. Next, came Pin the Bow on Minn!e, cake, a pinata and presents.

 Party snacks set up

 Fishing game (crafted by Grandmother and Granddaddy)

 Kickball competition

 Photo board with Minnie Mouse chocolate favors

 Audrey's serious pose at the mural board

 Zoe ready to draw

 Zoe

 Audrey at the board

 Kathryn loves a marker

 Play parachute with balls

 May take a few years to get the hang of this game

 party snacks

 lining up for Pin the Bow on Minnie (Audrey was crushed she didn't "win")

 cleaning up the cake

We were trying to give each girl only one ribbon for the pinata; the point was to pull the ribbons all together and the candy would fall

 But, the ribbons were all gone and the bottom was still completely intact! David had to poke a hole in the bottom of it.

 Finally!

 The girls were good about picking up the candy pretty calmly.

 hugs all around

  

 mural wall

 snacks around the theme

 Mimi manned the ball game

 Pops handled the bean bag toss

 Granddaddy and Grandmother hosted the fishing game

 David handled kickball

 the girls snuck into the fishing game with Granddaddy

 Louisa in the hoops

 birthday cake time

 I'm making such a teacher face in explaining the pinata.

 trying the ball game again

 Lily inspecting her goodies under the parachute

 Audrey with her cookie favor

 It was rather warm, as you can tell by Kathryn's hair

 Presents!

 Margaret checking out her treats

 artwork

 

 photo board

Minn!e Mouse treats (label designed by my friend, Amy Cook!)

We had a great morning. I think we will remember ages four and two!