better than her momma

On a heavy laundry day when I was ready to give up, succumb to the pile in front of me and take a nap... my oldest asked if she could help me by folding the kitchen towels.  I eagerly accepted her proposal and to my delighted surprise found this.  I was so delighted I had to take a picture.  You see when I fold it's one to two folds max and then they are thrown into the drawer.  Grace gave me so much more and look how nice and neat it looks.  She totally surprised her Mom.  She may also have just taken over this responsibility :).  We'll see how that flies, she may regret doing such a great job.

 

carving

Tonight was carving night since tomorrow night will be busy and full of treating with the neighbors. In past years most of the work has been done by Art and I.  This year the girls were really into it and it was a welcome sight.  They dug in, literally. 

 

After the initial "Ewww" and "Gross" they both enjoyed getting in up to their elbows.

 

Look at that face.  Funny.

 

Art stood back and let them enjoy.

 

And here's me, documenting the occasion.  Actually, Grace documenting me, documenting the occasion.

 

 

The finished product.  This is the year of the bat :).

 

We're ready for Halloween!

october

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

 

 - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

 

fall photo shoot

We took a walk in our yard and got some great Fall shots of my girls and the color around us.  They didn't want to do this at first but after the first few poses they were totally into it. That's my girls! :D

 

I love Fall and I love these models.

by the glow...

of the ipod touch...

Grace has really been good about the rules we set with her ipod touch.  She doesn't text after 7:30 p.m. unless it's Kapaw Rex :).  She plays her games with a time limit she puts on herself.  She shares it with her sister.  She's particular on what her itunes gift cards go towards which is responsible of her. 

 

Tonight we went out, had a campfire in the pit, roasted some marshmallows, made smores - a fun family night.  Grace brought her ipod touch.  So while we were admiring the stars and the moon, enjoying a perfect Fall night, she was glowing with it.  She was reminded to put it away and enjoy our time together instead.  She did it with little grumbling :). 

 

Technology is a good thing and for her age group, small doses are perfect.  Lucky for us she agrees :).

morning routine

When school started we started with a new plan for our mornings.  We have a routine we follow, 8 steps the girls agreed upon to get us out the door and ready for school.  So far there has been less "nagging" on my part.  The girls know the routine now and know when they've missed something.  I do have to still give them reminders at times but overall things are routine.

 

Like......

 

Grace primping and doing her own hair (while dancing to Toby Mac).  This one was not on the list initially but she's shown she can be responsible with it.  It has been hard to turn this one over to her because what her mom sees as her hair "done," she does not.  Most mornings I'm okay with it as long as it is out of her face :).

 

 

Sarah making her and Grace's water for the day.  Most days she's ready before her sister and helps by making both.   She's  sweet to think of her sister and Grace gives her a big thank you each time.

The breakfast menu being the same each day is working too.  I've got it down and it's super easy when it's planned.  The girls have it memorized as well :).  They look forward to Wednesday and Friday (waffles and pancakes).  Of course!

 

 

camping

So we went camping this past weekend.  We drove down to a state park near my parents so we could camp and get to see my dad for his birthday.  Lucky for us it was close to my parents.

 

There are the only two pictures I got of the whole trip.  Now let me explain why...

 

When planning this weekend, two weeks ago we prayed for wonderful fall weather. One week out everything looked great.  As we got closer it all changed.  Drastic cold temps in the night mixed with rain became our fate.

 

We arrived Thursday night, it was about 56 degrees, not bad for a campfire and snuggling in the tent.

 

In the night it dropped about 16 degrees and we woke up to a temperature of 40 degrees. Oh and rain!  Don't forget the rain.  Around 8:30 we ate a very cold breakfast of pumpkin muffins, what felt like frozen bananas, yogurt and orange juice.  Going down it brought chills to my spine.  We were cold and stuck in the tent with an anxious dog.  Not a good mixture.

 

I texted my parents and asked if they wanted some weary, tired, cold and wet campers.  They excitedly said YES!  We packed things up, jumped in the car and spent the next night with them in the warmth of their home.  We're glad we did because it got down in the 30's that night. 

 

Where did Fall go?

 

Anyway, here are the pictures.  My only excuse for not taking more is that it was too cold to take my hands out from under the covers. 

 

This was Grace making a chicken shadow puppet on the tent divider :) which gave them "their own room" which they loved.

 

The girls, snuggled, freezing the next morning, waiting out the rain while watching the ipad.  The campground had wi-fi (hallelujah!).  It kept them busy as we waited, and waited, and waited (you get the point).....

 



What camping we did was fun and we will do it again.  We knew our limitations and when to say it's time to pack up and move on.  The girls were troopers despite the weather which showed us how much they love family camping.  They're ready to go back.  I'm thinking Spring ;D.