Friday, October 30, 2009


Happy Halloween







Melted a bag of chocolate chips, dipped some preztel rods in the chocolate and sprinkled with jimmies. (yes, we call them jimmies here.)  Arranged them nicely in cute takeout boxes that I got at CVS and sent them to school with the girls today.  First got the idea from Beki (last year at Christmas maybe?) and although I'm sure she didn't invent them, I wouldn't have thought of it, so thanks Beki!



Monday, October 26, 2009

october
{a month of living and learning}







October.  My favorite month.  This year, a month so full of life and learning that it has flown by- with a hardly a word from me here.  What have we been up to?  I have been blessed with the opportunity to volunteer in the littles' classrooms several days a week.    John's business is entering it's busy season, so his days are longer and more physically difficult.  Then, for the girls, there's soccer- practice and games, taking the PSAT, winter play try-outs (Gianna's a Who!), attending school sporting events, MCAS practice classes, and spending time with their friends.  As a family, we have attended John's nephew's football games, decorated our home and front yard for the season, tried to keep the accumulating fallen leaves and acorns down to a bare minimum in our yard, spent afternoons hosting family and friend gatherings, and made our annual visit to  The Halloween Outlet - for holiday spooking and buying the girls' costumes.

We've also learned a lot this month...



Fire Safety


and how our local firefighters operate.


That the  squirrels in this neighborhood
eat any pumpkins placed outdoors...






leaving me to sweep up the mess!

Also

Mackenna is excited to be learning how to spell,

Shaye has been writing on her blog* again,
{and if you skip on over and leave her a comment-
it would totally make her day  month year! Thanks!!}
and
Gianna is now learning her lines for the winter play.



I turned another year older at the beginning of this month, and am trying to remember
that time is precious and goes by so quickly-
and to
cherish the every day moments of life as they happen.



What have you been up to?

Monday, October 12, 2009

NO COOK! homemade play dough




The last rainy morning we had, the littles(ages 7 and 5) were thrilled to find a recipe online for play dough they could make completely by themselves.  It 's simple to make...


You only need:

  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 c. salt
  • 1 TBSP cooking oil
  • 1 c. cold water
  • 2 drops of food coloring


Then  just:
  • Combine flour and salt, add the other three ingredients and mix until combined.
  • Knead well.


And that's it!


Friday, October 9, 2009

a Halloween treat



One thing that Shaye enjoys doing in her spare time is "publishing books".  Soft copies that are  often given to friends and family as gifts.  This week, she has written a little story about two sisters' trick-or-treating experience.  But the best part is the charming "About the Author" that she wrote for the back cover, specifically so she could sell this book. For $2.99. And it's totally worth it just to read the "About the Author".  This girl never ceases to amaze me.  She is taking orders  (to keep printing costs down, she is printing the books in black and white and then individually illustrating each story by hand) and is already hard at work on her first two copies.  ***A huge thanks to all of our friends and family who ordered copies!  She's hard at work and has enough to keep her busy through the end of the month.***