I Couldn't Help Myself

This week I gave in - I decorated for Halloween! I just love, love, love this time of year. I've been chomping at the bit ever since we moved into our new place to start holiday decorating. I really tried to wait until October, but I couldn't resist. When the stores start putting out the candy and the costumes, I just want to join in the fun!

Ava and Norah were pretty excited about our decorated house too. I did most of it while they were napping, so they had a fun surprise when they woke up. They went from room to room, oohing and aahing at the pumpkins, the bats, the haunted houses, and the lights. Yes, I even have a black Halloween tree with orange lights. I think now I'll go take some pictures to share!

Okay, I've got the pics!

Here's our front porch


Now the hallway to the left as you enter the house:



Here's some shots of the living room:



And the dining room:



And the kitchen:



Our bathrooms are also decorated. I do plan on putting lights outside in the front and the back - and perhaps something hanging from our trees. Oh the possibilities!!

Animals at the Farm

Today for playgroup we went to a local farm. Ava and Norah were really excited the whole car ride up (it was about 35 minutes away). Once there, we saw some cows, horses, sheep, and bunnies. There were even some peacocks wandering about, although they didn't spread their tails.

The farm has an event every week called "Toddler Tuesday" where they show the kids how to shuck and crack corn, and then they feed it to the goats. I admit, I never knew what cracking corn entailed until this morning, LOL! You put the hard kernels into a funnel attached to a crank, and it grounds up the kernels.

Norah was a bit scared to feed the goats, but Ava gave it a go. I had some corn as well, and I showed her how to just put her open hand up to the goats, and they gobble it up! (Their lips kind of tickled). I think it startled Ava a bit, because once the goats took a bite of her corn, she immediately dropped it on the ground! But she said she enjoyed that, and then promptly asked if we were going home, LOL! During this whole procedure Norah was whining. I guess I don't have country kids.

Fun for Labor Day

Over Labor Day weekend my brother and his daughter Isabelle came for a visit. Ava was so excited to see her. They were fast friends, with Ava calling Isabelle her best friend by the time they left. It was so cute to see them play together.

We had loads of fun with them - our big adventure was touring the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. We saw all the different machines that it takes to make those tiny treats. Everyone who takes the tour has to wear one of those old-fashion wedge hats - I was amazed that my parents kept theirs on, LOL!

After the tour we went into the sweet shop to load up on our favorite Jelly Bellies. I love the watermelon flavor - right now Ava and Norah just love any of them. There was a tasting bar which featured new flavors, old favorites, and the reject pile. The reject pile includes vomit, booger, and dog food flavored beans. My brother actually tried one of those! I didn't have the courage to try one - just looking at them was somewhat revolting. I tried the chocolate mint ice cream flavor. It was good, but I'd rather have the ice cream.

Since Mason's birthday fell on Labor Day this year, we had a fun date night out sans kids. My parents kindly had our crew plus Isabelle for the night. It's amazing how peaceful dinner can be without the background noise!

Heart-stopping Moment

We know that life with kids is busy and hectic. We manage to contain the craziness. Yet on occassion that too can get away from us, and we are left with those few moments that 1) feel like an eternity and 2) make us feel like the worst parent on the planet.

Case in point: I was at Trader Joe's this morning, picking up a few items. Of course I had the whole crew with me - Keira buckled in her carseat in the front of the cart, Norah content to hold her plushie Sweetsong pony in the main part of the cart, and Ava walking next to me. We were just about done when I decided to pick up some pita chips and hummus for Mason (since that's one of his favorite snacks, and we haven't had it in a while). I was perusing the various kinds of pita chips. I knew I would end up getting the regular ones, but I wanted to check out the different flavors. After picking up a bag of cinnamon ones, then putting them back, that's when I heard it.


CRASH!!!


My back wasn't even turned away from them when it happened. Looking down, Ava was pinned under the cart screaming bloody murder, Keira's carseat had tumbled out but managed to land upright, and Norah was giggling, but still in the cart (sort-of). Apparently Ava had climbed on the side of the cart - but since TJ carts are a bit smaller than regular grocery store ones, and with the absense of my steady hand on the cart, her weight pulled it down.

There was a flurry of feet and hands, all helping me to right the cart and to make sure everyone was okay. I looked at Keira in her carseat, and she was sleeping! How she managed to sleep through that, I will never know. I guess it's a magical baby power. Norah was laughing and smiling. It was only Ava who was crying - and no wonder too, because the cart had fallen on her. She had a scrape on her leg and her elbow, but she didn't appear to have a concussion or a limp. An elderly TJ employee came by to offer some help - perhaps some lemonade for Ava or a package of frozen peas to put on her leg. Ava didn't want any of that (I think she was also a bit embarressed), but when the lady offered a balloon, well, what 4-year-old can resist that?

So balloons and stickers all around for everyone, we paid for our grocery items, and left. Of course I had my moment of feeling like the worst mommy in the world for not keeping my hands on the cart at ALL TIMES. But kids do bounce back - as evidence in the parking lot as Ava bounded towards the car chattering happily about her balloon.

Love that song and a Surprise

Tonight while I was feeding and rocking Keira right before I put her down for the evening, I decided to sing to her. I admit, I don't sing with my kids very often (usually because I think I am tone deaf, LOL!). But I thought a little song would be nice for her right before bed. I sang the Primary song "I Am a Child of God," and immediately her face lit up! She gave me the biggest smile, and cooed the whole time I sang. It just melted my heart.

She must either not mind my singing, or she must really like that song!


Ava also had a good evening - we found a special treat on our front porch. It was a giant chocolate chocolate-chip cookie, with a card addressed just to her. It was from her Sunbeam teachers, saying that they were glad she was in her class. She was very excited about the surprise treat, so here's a thank-you shout out to her teachers!

Smart in different ways

Since Ava now loves writing her name, we got her this dry-erase mat that has the alphabet you can trace on one side, and then pictures on the other side to play alphabet-related games. It's been helping her to write more than the two letters of her name, as well as practicing more control of a writing implement.

I got one for Norah as well, but for now she's just content to point out the letters and then just scribble over them. But, she knows her animals! She loves it when we pull out the animal flash cards - she can identify a kookabura, a howler monkey, and a manatee among other obscure animals. She also loves to play with her Noah's Ark felt book. She carries those felt animals around everywhere! I wouldn't be surprised if she became a vet, LOL!

It's fun to see how our girls learn and grow in different ways.

Crazy Coding!

You may notice that my blog has a new look. With the help of my husband (who knows html code waaaaaaaaaaay better than me), I was able to take the background that I created in Photoshop and customize my blog. He even helped me change the look of my header (from the dreaded all cap title to the dotted and thick border lines). The only drawback is that during the process the links to my friends' blogs were lost, so I need to add those back in.

I still want to change some things around, but I like the direction I'm taking. Who knew I would be able to understand html, let alone change it to suite my taste?