Sunday afternoon football

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Tessa

Lex has taken an interest in football so he and Alan have been tossing the ball around lately. Or, as the kids say, “toss around the old pig skin!” Lex remembered that from one of the Calvin & Hobbes books I put away ages ago. Grampy Don came to visit this weekend and the kids have been super excited to go out and play ball with him. This afternoon was perfect ball playing weather and we all had a blast!

Isn't he cute?!

Tossing around the old pig skin.

Each time Lex catches the ball they do a hand-off.

After awhile Lex got tired and decided to try playing while sitting down.

Tossing around the old Eve ball.

Then we got a little silly.

Sweet Eve

White bunny was playing football with us.

'da boys!

The color on this is funny but I think it looks neat. I wish his bright blue eyes were open.

After running around for awhile we moved the party inside for some football on TV.

I did it!!!!

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Tessa

Silly Sleepers

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Tessa

I added a tag called “silly sleepers” to mark all these crazy sleep positions :) Some day I’ll go back through the years of blog posts and tag them all. For now, here’s a starter photo.

Her legs were criss-crossed in front of her (criss-cross applesauce, hands in your lap) and she was flopped right over them. Sound asleep. So flexible!

Winter

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Tessa

Winter is in the air. I can feel it’s nippy touch on the breeze, it’s darkening in the clouds. I am not ready. Not. At. All. Ugh. I guess it’s time to dig out the winter gear and assess who needs what for this new season. This might be the year I wear two pair of pants. And gloves 24/7. I repeat, ugh!

Quince

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Tessa

Eve decided to eat one. This is her opinion on raw quince.

Harvest!

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Tessa

Think this is enough to make quince jelly?

Maxin’ and Relaxin’

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Tessa

After several weeks of maxin’ I am ready for some relaxin’! Today was perfect. Exactly what we’ve been needing. A “do nothing” day. Alan had to go to a conference (no “do nothing” day for him!) but the rest of us chilled at home, in PJs. Eve woke up with wet PJs but when she heard it could be a pajama day she zipped right back upstairs to grab some clean pajamas. I did some long-overdue exercising, we tidied up after last nights party, we did a lot of reading, including a full chapter of On The Blue Comet (the kids LOVE the book Mema, thanks!), we played games, we did puzzles and built block towers (photos from Lex may be posted soon). I made it to 5:30pm before pulling out my to-do list to write down a few things for next week. I even went so far as to REST during quiet time. We haven’t even had quiet time in ages, what with the kids both being in school in the afternoons now and our string of super busy weekends, but today we all had a nice quiet time. I brewed a cup of lemon tea and plopped my butt on the couch for a cozy date with Real Simple magazine. It was niiiiiiccceeeee……

Tomorrow I’m hoping for more of the same, but it will be punctured by a few chores. We have to go dishwasher shopping in the morning and meet a new babysitter in the afternoon. Both things that need doing (our dishwasher is currently running with the aid of a paper clip! Seriously! Darn technology! But that’s for another post, another day) Otherwise I hope we can do more relaxin’ and less maxin’ for one more day.

Cocktails and Crafts

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Tessa

Inspired by a local blogger’s Cocktails and Crafts parties, my friend and I decided to see if we could get a group going as well. Tonight was our inaugural party.

I was thinking about making ghost feet pictures (like this), but the idea of eight little kids with painted feet running lose in my house didn’t sound appealing. The paint would be washable, of course, but it still sounded risky. Instead we made two tissue paper crafts.

Ghosts and pumpkins

We had lots of fun, including mummy pizzas and warm apple cider (with a little something extra in it for the grownups) and oatmeal cookies.

Eve and I practiced making these crafts earlier in the week, so when it came time tonight she was happy to lead the effort. She helped dole out the supplies and did her best to explain the directions. Most of the kids participated, but a few couldn’t tear themselves away from the vast array of trucks in our living room.

In the end my living room was a disaster, the kids were exhausted, and we were all excited to do it again next month! At someone else’s house! :) We had a really fun group tonight and we have the November party on the calendar, so I hope we can make this a regular thing.

Chaos, in a good way :)

Linked up to the Happiness Is… blog hop at Rub Some Dirt On It

More from today

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Tessa

Alan is reading bedtime stories so I’m going to take a quick minute to post a few more pictures from today. Can’t leave you with lo-qual cell phone pictures for too long!

Loooong socks!

Eve and her daddy

I'm regularly impressed with the amount of detail that goes in Lego cities. Look at the diving guy right in front? Several other guys have legs raised as though they are mid-step.

See the boat in front, docked. The guy on the boat is stepping off. The horses in the background have water to drink (Eve's doing). So much detail!

A too-close picture of my sweet boy.

Eve, coloring at the WW meeting (where I did not make Lifetime, but I did not gain either!). We ran errands all day in the rain and she was a trouper! She can be such a sweet little friend to have along.

Eve pulled her socks mostly off so they were long and floppy, then she ran around the house yelling "floppy socks, floppy socks!" I ran after her with the camera, but she wouldn't pose for a picture. Lex decided to help by taking her down!

"Quick mom, take a picture!" he yelled. We all had fun :)

Our final CSA share for the season. Lots of winter squashes. The bag in the back is full of onions and shallots and garlic and the like. Now to do something with all that food....

Colors

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Tessa

Eve’s class at school is learning colors and to that end they are supposed to wear certain colors on certain days. Today is black day and she insisted on ALL black! She wore her black pants and shoes, Lex’s black shirt and hat, and Alan’s black socks, pulled all they way up! They go well above her knees! She’s so funny. She wouldn’t smile for a picture, but she behaved perfectly during our super busy morning of meetings and errands, so I’ll take the crazy face. :-o