Well the lovely weather is continuing. So out the twins went during naptime today. There were apples to collect, toys  to sort and sun to enjoy… and apparently a sandbox full of muddy water to take FULL advantage of! The joy of having boys.

Ken and Zander worked on learning subtraction so he is now caught up with where Gavin is math wise. We ordered our rods today so we can work on counting past 20 with clear visual aids. Right now all we have are twenty little snap together blocks which work wonderfully, but not past ONE child counting and adding or subtracting two and from 20. It feels like a huge accomplishment though, getting them to understand adding and subtracting.

Subtracting like a Pro (Zander)

Gavin spent some time doing one of his favourite things – drawing whatever he wants with the markers and scribbler Nana and Baba bought him. This time he drew a cookie making machine and something to go up on the wall by Daddy’s desk.

I finished the Baptism invites we need to mail out to the people without internet. Now all that is left is Ken walking to the post box. Oh and planning out the party… I have to decide on a cake, decorations, etc etc. Nothing major but it has to be done!

Our facilitator is here Wednesday… I have to spend some time writing out our plan for the year… it is at least a starting point and of course cleaning as much as I can so we at least look somewhat tidy. My main focus with the boys is reading and numbers… I want to move from simple adding and subtracting and counting to scaled and eventually money… and of course ABC’s and reading. I have Canada and US as a focus and of course the dinosaurs. Lots and lots of art and crafts and running around outside and of course science… Science is something Ken tends to do with the boys, we want to do a lovely focus on snow, ice and water this winter. Maybe go back over the body and focus more on complex ideas. I am trying to balance them learning with not pushing too hard as with Zander especially, you push and he shuts down.

Right  now I am on the hunt for the missing dress. One of Trinity’s old ones – size 0-3 months, she wore it right before her baptism (the Sunday before) and I swear it hung in our closet FOREVER and now… no clue. Amazing how I can think I know where everything is and then one thing is just not there. BUT we are seeing the end of the clutter to sort through so that is something.

Since we got hugely busy Friday night until today our poor leaves went crisp so Ken and the kids went for a brief walk to collect a new set of leaves.

And then we did our leaf stamp craft. First you paint the leaf, then flip it over and press it on your note paper, cover it with a piece of scrap paper and rub… pull off leaf and there you go!

Of course this meant we moved on to just painting… using our fall colours of course.

Mom and Mike stopped by with Harley in tow tonight to drop off a few things she found for me. Diapers – though not the Sprinkles kind we have for Echo to start with, a cloth diaper with the liners sewn in… I am sure they will come in handy, as well as some large Sprinkles liners (in girly colours!), a pair of much needed pants for the twins AND a furry rug for Emanuel’s room. Talk about spoiled!

Still no word on the van repairs but we are keeping optimistic. Ken figures we should know what is wrong by tomorrow.

We removed the safety guard on Emanuel’s bed tonight. With the furry rug mom got for us to put in front of his bed (his old one is in Trinity’s room) and how well he sleeps I am not overly worried about him falling out. One more big boy big step!

We even apparently have two little baby fish! Not sure when that happened but they seem to be doing well… at least they haven’t been eaten today!

So for the rest of my evening I have to start working on making a Math Office (more about that tomorrow). Watch some of the new Sherlock Holmes series (British of course) and spend more time with our Baby Girl. Bliss.

Naptime