November 2014 Pics

NJ and the kids colored skulls for Dia de los Muertos. This was the first time ZJ showed us she could control her coloring. She colored in the shapes on the face and gave her skull arms, legs and other body parts.
 

"Mi gato caleco se fwe al pake." It should say "Mi gato calico se fue al parque" and means "My calico cat went to the park."


I opened a spaghetti squash and found lots of already sprouting seeds.


ZJ and I toured what will hopefully be the preschool she attends next year. It is the only school we're applying to and is a co-op so I'll be working there as well. They have themed weeks and were currently in their construction theme which she loved.


ZJ drew faces for the first time. Lots of creepy faces. There's a few full bodies too.


We went to 2 festivals this month where the kids got to put cereal on pipe cleaners to make bracelets and then eat them off.


The kids went to their first Miller Outdoor Theater show.  We saw FROGZ.


IJ's team soccer pic.


ZJ's team soccer pic (with several kids missing).


ZJ's Heart Heroes cape finally came. They send custom capes to kids with CHD.


The tag that came with her cape.


A very happy ZJ after her first Kindermusik class. She loved it and followed directions beautifully.


ZJ had some very cold and one very wet soccer practice.


NJ was a mystery reader in IJ's class. The mystery reader sends in clues about their student so the kids can guess who's parent is coming. Then they show up with their kid's favorite book.


ZJ and I were there for the mystery reading because we also spent the morning preparing IJ's class' vegetable garden for planting and then during their recess we planted seeds with the kids. They've already begun sprouting now.


Proud IJ with his goodie basket prize. This was his 2nd time to get to visit the goodie basket for the entire school year. Both times he has brought home items I've donated and he could have used anytime at home.


IJ had to disguise a turkey. He came up with the idea to make it a robot.


IJ was going to camp in the backyard with NJ as his reward for having such a good week at school but he got sick with a mystery illness. His throat hurt, his stomach hurt and he threw up once. Camping was delayed and he didn't have a fun weekend.


He recovered in time to go to school the following week and dress up for the story book parade. The kids pick a favorite book and dress up as a character. IJ decided he wanted to be the beanstalk in Jack and the Beanstalk. We made a vine of yarn with felt leaves, used a doll as jack and put a cloud on his head. He was adorable and had one of only a handful of homemade costumes.


Before this week was out IJ developed a cough which turned out to be the beginning of the flu. Both the flu and strep and other viruses were going around his school and masses of kids were out sick. He had a rough couple of days with lots of sleeping. We did our best to keep him isolated but by Saturday it was clear I also had the flu and by Sunday ZJ had it. She did the best and seemed back to herself in 24 hours. Camping was delayed yet another weekend.


IJ, NJ and ZJ turkeys.


I ran the Turkey Trot still weak from the flu. I hadn't worked out in days. I had committed to running my first 10K and wanted to follow through. My pace was slower but I ran the entire thing.


That night we went out to dinner for Thanksgiving and then took the kids and grandparents to the Zoo for Zoo Lights. Everyone seemed to enjoy it although the kids were exhausted.


Camping! Finally! IJ and NJ camped out the weekend after Thanksgiving in our brand new tent. They watched a movie in the tent, made smores and slept in their sleeping bags (IJ's sleeping bag was actually mine from when I was a kid).

October 2014 Pics

This was the first time I had seen IJ write without being asked to and have help spelling. He was at a classmate's house and I suggested he make his sister a birthday card since it was in a few days. It says "Happea Brtae" and he drew a dinosaur.


The little girl 3 houses down from us turned 3 the day before ZJ did and had a Frozen themed party that day. I'm assuming my kids were the only ones there who had never seen the movie. They were certainly the only ones there with paper bag crowns.


There was a face painter dressed as one of the princesses and IJ decided he had to have his face painted. He wanted to be a tiger. He also asked for glitter and after seeing some girls with gems on their faces he went back and requested those.




ZJ playing with her birthday gifts.


The kids and I made toilet paper tube bats and pine cone spiders.




IJ's class made a Peace Book. IJ's page says "peas is gooing swiming" which means "peace is going swimming."


This was from another book they made. The important thing about me is "I ReeD Buks" (I read books).


We made Halloween tortilla chips. IJ really liked cutting out the faces. He's also wearing the vampire teeth he got at our neighborhood Halloween party and was obsessed with for a few days.








When ZJ and I go to Whole Foods now she does the cart pushing. She's quite good at it.


IJ still moves all over his bed at night but doesn't seem to fall out anymore.


We made spooky mouths from apples, peanut butter and sunflower seeds.






ZJ still loves to paint.  This was a princess.

Halloween 2014

We had a full month of Halloween activities. The first weekend and first opportunity for the kids to wear their costumes was Zoo Boo. IJ had a pirate hat, eye patch and sword from previous birthday parties he'd attended so all we did was put him in a red shirt, jean shorts and purchased a piece of black and white fabric to make a sash. ZJ already had black clothes so I purchased one large piece of felt to make bat ears using a headband we already had, which I covered. Then she wore bat wings we made years ago for one of the dogs to wear.

 









The following weekend was our neighborhood Halloween party at the park by our house. NJ volunteered to do face painting and since no one else ever volunteered he painted for the entire 2 hour party.







The next weekend was the Halloween festival at IJ's school which is their big Fall fundraiser. I don't have pics but both kids had fun and I spent most of the time running a carnival game.

Then the actual night of Halloween. ZJ went out trick-or-treating with NJ. IJ was not allowed to go due to his behavior at school that week. ZJ really enjoyed herself.


Once they returned from trick-or-treating the "switch witch" came and switched out the processed candy junk for my homemade crisp rice crunch bars and coconut chocolate dipped bars.  The entire family enjoyed them and several friends we shared with.