Week of October 12, 2014: Dinosaurs

What is it about dinosaurs that is so fascinating to children?  The kids all had so much fun learning about dinosaurs and fossils and playing with all their new ideas.  We had a sensory tub full of rocks and dinosaurs that all the kids enjoyed diving into.

 

Another big hit this week has been Jack.  The kids want him with them all the time.  He joined the big kids on the couch during Audrey's naptime. 

Katie and I made cupcakes and Audrey and Lillie cuddled with Jack under the kitchen table. 

We went on a dinosaur fossil hunt in our sandbox.  The girls found dinosaur skeletons using tools like paleontologists use.  Katie learned how fossils were formed this week through one of the books we read so she was excited about this activity.

Jack moved into his hutch and has been getting spoiled by the kids who bring him lots of fresh grass treats.

I found this printable on Schleigh's website...it's an actual size footprint of a triceratops.  The kids got to play around with some math ideas using this footprint.  They compared the size of their bodies to the footprint and the size of their footprint with the dino print. 

 Then they measured the print using legos and compared it to a measurement of their height with legos. 

Grandmother and Grandfather visited on Wednesday.

The girls colored on the dinosaur footprint the rest of the week. 

We start pumpkin week on Monday so the girls got a head start by looking at their pumpkins with magnifying glasses and flashlights.

This is an everyday occurrence around our house...the girls cuddled up with me or Daddy reading stories.  Love the expression on Katie's face...this is one of their favorite books that they really get into, "Monsters Love Colors".

Katie is getting to stay up later than Audrey now that she's older.  We have read and done some little activities with her after Audrey goes down.  One activity this week was matching teeny tiny pictures using a magnifying glass to a bigger picture.

It's been a little chilly in the mornings so the girls have been wearing their warm hats and sweatshirts.

Another everday occurrence...the girls playing together and enjoying each other's company.  (Until Audrey decides to smack Katie for no reason or big sister decides to boss around little sister!)

 Love our girls and their different personalities.  Audrey is such a goofy sweetheart and Katie is such a big helper!

Weeks of Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2014: Daddy on Vacation!

We have enjoyed a wonderful two weeks, part of which was spent with Daddy on vacation!  The weather has been beautiful and we have spent many, many hours outside.

 

Audrey playing the harmonica.

Katie soaking up the sun by the sandbox.


The girls and I have been spending most mornings outside with a break for lunch and nap, then it's back outside with Daddy in the afternoon.  The girls have been enjoying picking what is left of our zinnias and loading their buckets full of leaves that are falling from our sycamore tree.

Knox and Brex still visit twice a week.  All the kids decided to take some balloons outside on a windy day so they could watch them move in the wind.

Katie throws leaves from the top of her swingset.

The sandboxes are full of sand again and the kids have enjoyed them so much.

Katie worked hard to get this pile of leaves at the bottom of her slide so she could slide into them.

On Day 1 of Daddy's vacation we went to the grocery store.  Katie picked out a pumpkin to make a pumpkin pie.

Some mornings of Daddy's vacation were pretty cool so the girls put on their jackets for our outside time.

Daddy and his girls made lots of special breakfasts during the week.

We had our anniversary October 4 and had our traditional celebration.  We went to the park where Rich proposed, took pictures and then ate at Taco Bueno.  It has been 7 wonderful years as a family!

 This is the trail that leads to the bench where Rich proposed.

 Although this is not the original bench (it was removed last year) this is the spot.

We always get a picture of the girls and I between these two trees.

Such sweet little sisters.

 

 

Daddy worked hard on cleaning out the garage so he could work on some special projects this week.

The girls brought out some pvc pipe and rice to pour and play with in the driveway.

We found a very interesting caterpillar.

The girls tried to get Lillie to pull them in their sleigh haha!

We had Knox and Brex over for a few construction themed learning days.  Daddy read "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site".

 Audrey took a snooze in her swing while the big kids built with pvc pipe and poured sand.

 

 

We went to a delicious new donut shop in town.

We visited the local nursery to get some pansies.  While we were there a small kitten started following us around.  He would sneak into the plants and then jump out and grab the girls' legs.  The girls thought this was hilarious!

We put up a brand new mailbox with a small garden around it.

 

 

Audrey woke up early most days while Katie slept a little later.  She had fun playing with the tractors in the sensory tub.

One of Daddy's spur of the moment projects this week has been a rabbit hutch.  We are getting a rabbit so we can have a supply of manure for our vegetable garden and compost pile.  This is an experimental project for us so we are talking to the girls so they don't get too attached to the little guy. 

Katie is really learning how to be responsible.  One of her "chores" is cleaning out Beau's food and water dishes every morning.  After she gets them clean and dry Audrey gives Beau new food.

Katie also helped me make some banana bread.