And so we have the weekend… and after a horribly stress inducing second half of the week, a welcome reprieve. We had a Saturday to remember with friends and leaves and games and… FAMILY PHOTOS! Yup, Fydo and Kristen came out with us to a local (and rather pretty) leaf filled park and took pictures for us. I most definitely have camera envy!! We played in the leaves, tried to sit Echo in them (no go apparently she absolutely DESPISES leaves… good to know!), played in the nearby park (no pictures sorry) and enjoyed the rather crisp fall air. We got some absolutely lovely photos out of the experience and the kids had a blast in the leaves. 

Miss Trinity has learned where the most fun is to be had and when Kristen and I were nominated to make a grocery run for dinner (to which they treated us – thank you so much you two!) she was quick to fuss about coming with. Well a booster in the back of the car later and we were off to Superstore where she ALSO went to the potty in the store! What a big girl! In fact, all weekend she had only one incident, we put a pull up on her for bedtime and she pooped… she was devastated! We are not holding it against her dress tally as she came as quick as she could to tell us but after a slurpee, pizza and other junk foods it is hard when you are a new trainer.

We ended Saturday with boardgames and Sean joining us. A new game first that was a 4 player so I sat out and sewed on beaks on my owls and then Settlers. Echo joined in on that one and attempted a coup by throwing her toy through the board! So much fun and a much needed dose of games, company and companionship I needed after my ick week ending.

Sean stayed the night and the girls and I saw our boys off for Sunday School Sunday morning. We tidied, played and then… then the popcorn baby was joined by popcorn blondie… apparently popcorn is a major bonding point in this family!

After Sunday School there was time to tidy and eat and then FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS… oh and FAMILY too! What a needed reprieve from being home as a family… First it was Karyn and Victoria who came in time to drive Zander and I out on a VERY special errand – we had to go get a Halloween costume while they were 40% off at Superstore! A 3 day sale that ended on Sunday… I won’t disclose the costume but I got it for less than the container of laundry soap I also had to pick up! When we got back the number of visitors had grown by 3 with the arrival of Esther (oh yes REALLY!!!), Grandma AND Grandpa Mike! Grandma and Grandpa Mike came bearing gifts, including some school storage (yay!).

AND two workbooks – a Kindergarten one AND a Preschool one! The little ones were absolutely in raptures and drug Aunty Esther over to get started. Trinity mostly follows the instructions and is loving every minute of it! I am VERY blessed to have kids who complain when I say we CAN’T do schoolwork… it took some convincing to get them to understand that I needed to clean the table FIRST. They can certainly exhaust a person with their enthusiasm at the end of a long day. But it is a wonderful exhaustion.

We ordered pizza as a group after Grandma and Grandpa headed out for home (Mike wanted to go out and do a ride on the bike)… Echo did the potato wedges and the kids were over the moon. I managed to eat a couple pieces of pizza, go out for a wonderful walk with ALL the kids, Victoria, Karyn and Esther for slurpees (they suckered Aunty Esther BIG TIME) and feel much better by the end of the evening.

That left my evening cleared up to work on wings and owls… one done by 10 and I was done in though… long week, not enough sleep and VERY happy kids to see all these Aunties, an Uncle AND one set of Grandparents! They have been rather grandparent spoiled what with all the Skyping with Grandpa Reinsch… I am hoping the trend continues! I am loving being in better contact with my dad.

Monday was a wee bit overwhelming with the sheer level of energy the younger two of our big 4 had for their new books. It is a bit of an uphill battle to explain how we have to TAKE TURNS having Mommy one on one learning time, but it is a great one to have. They WANT to learn, to try and to do… that makes it all the more exciting. Though I do admit to some losing of patience AND headaches on my end!

We read another chapter of Stuart Little today… we are up to chapter 10! I asked for suggestions with my local egroup and plan on doing some mouse related research and maybe finding some short stories about OTHER mice. We do have the Disney movie to watch at the end of our story courtesy of Cousin Veronika and her Adam… I want to do more with this book than I did with Trumpet of the Swan and this is no longer a summer read! In fact, Karyn found out that the downtown branch of our city library has a pj wearing storytime Tuesday nights so next week I think I will send Ken, Trinity and Emanuel which would leave the twins and me some game time!

We did finish our Family Tree – you can make your own according to these instructions. We went Grandparents, parents and then kids… I love how it turned out and there is room to add some more extended family later! They were VERY proud of their work and we seem to have somewhat of an understanding as to which sets of grandparents directly belong to which parent.

Quiet time was badly timed with the waking up of Echo so she went and played animals with the twins… with strict instructions that she could PLAY but not EAT the toys… we used sheets and towels for terrain and until Echo went monster giant baby on the landscape it was rather organized and amazing to look upon! 

Ken gave me an evening break by sending me to the basement to lay on the couch and watch tv (Murder She Wrote on Netflix) while he and the kids had a daddy evening. I am told Legos were played!!! My evening is left up to do crafting, blogging and tidying… I am happy to report I am eating more again BUT Trinity had a potty accident at bedtime… we are soooo close… not a pee accident to be seen and I am VERY pleased. One more poop on the potty and I have to go buy her a Hello Kitty dress! I am really looking forward to that purchase! 

I have finished a couple H’owl’oween owls… even had an interested party on a 3rd! It feels good to make things people actually want! I am determined to make October GREAT.