November 1-3

Where in the world did October go? We are through with Halloween and onto the next big holiday – THANKSGIVING. Which is a much bigger deal than in Canada… and a different month all together. It is quite the trick to go from an event like Halloween and then back to school on a Friday no less.

We had a timely mail delivery of two of our magazine subscriptions to read during our reading time.

And of course we took a moment to enjoy the glory that is fall in our backyard. These trees were chosen (and planted when they first built the house) specifically for the fall season!

We had time for painting with watercolours (Thomas the Tank Engine)…

And a Halloween activity for Trinity.

We had a new countdown to the 5th and Aunty Karyn’s visit… that had us making Christmas cards on Saturday for all the people who live near her so that we could send off our early Christmas presents and save the shipping costs for mailing later!

We also had our Home Depot craft session – BOATS! 

We also finished our lovely ghostly footprints to go into our Halloween book. I love the individuality!

That evening it was finally time to eat our other mailed gift from Gammie – our cupcakes in a kit – a Hello Kitty Halloween themed. They went over VERY well.

We rounded off our weekend with first Sunday School (as usual) and THEN a beautiful afternoon out in the sunshine… a good stiff wind earlier in the day brought down a bounty of brightly coloured leaves.

So what better to do than rake them into a pile and jump and play in them… and THEN clean them up into the bags to be taken out with the trash this week?

Enjoy the pictures… I did take a few…

The inclusion of Echo

September 26

With Thursday came the long awaited and often rescheduled FAMILY DAY… That’s right Ken took the day off and we managed to duck and run early and get our family time on. But first, Trinity’s hair finally had to let go of the Grandma French Braids… FLUFFY!

With the fresh trim and then where the braids stop you can totally see how nice and straight it is at the bottom across!

Reminds me of when I had my crimper when I was little

We finally were able to do one of the trips I had been hoping to make earlier in the year – Lake Harriet and the tiny door in a tree of Mr. Little Guy.

Sadly he was already gone for the fall to his castle elsewhere but we enjoyed hunting it down!

Ken looked up location before we left. I am glad, I enjoyed the walk so much I forgot to look for it!

This is also the beginning of Echo’s odyssey onto the paths

The walk was lovely and since it was a week day… not busy. So we were able to enjoy the path without inconveniencing many other people.

Sometimes I wonder if the wind doesn’t just want to play with her hair!

There were boats tethered in the lake that I am still curious how people get to… but they looked lovely and made the most amazing bell like sounds as they swayed back and forth.

It was just the perfect afternoon for a nice walk.

The kids loved the ducks. Ken and I thought is absolutely hilarious that the sign below was there… then like 6 feet away on a bridge out of sight of said sign a bunch of moms with their individual kids (seriously does no one have large families and enjoy this park??? I had a bundle of little ones under school age way back when) FEEDING DUCKS!!!! 

Watching them together

There were so many pretty and interesting areas along the path. We walked around half of the circuit around the lake.

I love unusual trees!

Pose the kids

The houses along the street side were amazing

I am not sure I would want to maintain the levels of this garden!

You can see the building where we started here…

The lake made a great backdrop for some quick photos. 

Further proof the twins are VERY different even as they have identical features… Zander…

Gavin

My 3 chuckle heads

And then that evening we got a start on Trinity’s Halloween costume… her princess hat.

Oh and stopped in at Victoria’s Secret to use coupons. That eye shadow cost me just over 2.00!

I think we really needed this time out as a family that was not around errands and shopping… I wish we could do this more but for some reason STUFF KEEPS BREAKING at work! Thankfully not on Ken’s fault but he fixes… and we postpone, reschedule or cancel.

And now for the rest of my pictures. Sorry this entry is so huge but lots for a blog entry not enough for a true overflow.

She rides in style

I love the little people showing you where to walk…

Echo and Zander

Again with the wind

Emanuel watching the boats

Ending a week that begun with so much excitement and visitors is always a bit of a tough one for the kids. Ken and I took some extra time late last night to catch up on the newest season of Haven and have some together time. We have not had much these past two weeks with company over and Ken working so much. So I was up WAY past my bedtime and Ken was kind enough to let me sleep in. Though I woke up to Gavin and Ken having a VERY intense discussion about the necessity of trying to get someone into worse trouble over something  they had already had a time out in. While Zander seems to be rather unworried about getting into trouble for doing as he pleases sometimes (though improving by leaps and bounds), Gavin tends to start chatting himself up in comparison as being so well behaved and generally good. Neither behaviour is very helpful most of the time and so we are trying to work with both of them to realize a middle ground. 

Now back to those boats I mentioned at the end of the previous entry… well while Cousin Veronika and I were waiting for Karyn to get off work the kids were getting rather bored. So I told them to go through our craft supplies and make something, anything that they like. Gavin found a pie plate and decided he was going to make a boat. Well that had Zander interested so he decided to do the same using popsicle sticks and masking tape (interesting choice on his binding agent). Emanuel wanted one too so we tried popsicle sticks with hot glue to attach them (properly decorated of course). This morning Trinity also wanted a boat so we knocked one together that matches Emanuel’s.

The boats

We talked about how it had to be able to float and how there was a possibility that the tape on Zander’s would not work – after all what happens to masking tape when it is wet? And how boats often have masts and sails and how the sail is a triangle. Gavin included pictures of some necessary boat things on the inside of his – a captain, the ship’s wheel and of course a life preserver. Zander named his boat – ON – because everyone had to get ON it. 

Close up of Gavin's

Outside and ready to test our boats

That leaves the most important question – CAN THEY FLOAT? A very serious debate between Gavin and Zander as Gavin was SURE Zander’s wouldn’t work. The end result was that Zander’s tape DID fail… it just took a while… of course Gavin’s pie plate did the best and we did realize that felt sails were NOT the best choice but it was fun! 

Cousin Veronika was there to lend her expertise.

We are planning on taking what we have learned and make NEW boats tomorrow or perhaps later in the week depending on what supplies we can find here at home. 

I snuck Echo out in her new dress (from Victoria) to take another set of pictures in the front yard. I am still trying different clothing and days to try and get her 1 year photo. Of course the box of the photos that go on the wall has still not been hunted down but Ken is optimistic. That is the last step to settling in really – getting those photos back up on the wall! 

So happy!

Tonight was a fun night – game night! BOARDgame night. Kristen and Fydo brought their game Betrayal at House on the Hill and after Veronika finished her hair appointment we played Settlers… with Fat Sheep!! Sheep and wood jokes did ensue. Talk about a terrific ending to a week. Friends, popcorn, slurpees and gaming. 

Fat Sheep and Settlers

Settlers with friends and family

Now to face the weekend – paintballing bachelor party for Ken and church on the Sunday. Then the final countdown to the wedding (next Saturday) and a VERY busy week. Don’t forget Monday is GENETIC TESTING (Ken called to confirm). 

Hmm not sure about this face but CUTE