Fall at the Arboretum (#1)

Every other Friday we are a part of a Charlotte Mason preschool enrichment co-op. I am actually one of the teachers. On an off Friday a group of us met at the Arboretum for a fun day of nature study. It was the day before the pumpkin festival started so the place was already decorated for fall but we were not able to go to the pumpkin patch.

Robert, Katherine, Eleanor, Laurie Jane, Amelia and Sheridan

Caroline was sad for some reason and Katherine tried to cheer her up with "peek a boo".






Laurie Jane, Caroline and Elizabeth enjoyed looking at the fish.

Home Makeover

Sam has been out of town A LOT this summer and fall. It got really old. One week I decided to do a home project while he was gone and paint the new playroom. About a month prior I had moved Caroline into a toddler bed in Katherine's room so that we could make Caroline's room into a playroom.

Even though we had two girls, the baby room was blue. Every time I mentioned to Sam that I wanted to make that room a playroom and redecorate, he would say, "Just though I don't have to paint the room." Well, I decided that he did not really care a much about the color changing as he did not having something else for his "to do" list.

So, I bought all of my supplies while he was still in town and prepared myself to do a big job in one week. After he left I spent every evening and some days painting the new playroom pink.

Katherine and Caroline both helped a little. My friend Tara came over 2 different nights and helped a lot.

I love the end result. I still have to hang more decorative stuff on the wall to finish it out but even with empty walls I love it.
We are going with a fairy garden theme.
I bought this great IKEA storage shelf off Craigslist. It has been a huge help with the toys.

When Sam came home, he had no clue. I told him that I had a surprise for him in the playroom. He thought it was going to be that I took down the crib. I did that and a while lot more.

Cinderella at work

In Katherine's preschool, they are supposed to do extra chores to earn money to donate for kid sin need. So, one day Katherine really wanted to help. We started in the bathroom. This is when she realized she had to stick the brush in the potty.

She really enjoyed mopping...
especially when she discovered that you could easily do an arabesque while mopping.

Ballet

Katherine has been taking ballet at the rec center for the past year. This year her teacher decided to do a mommy and me class for 2 year olds. Finally, it was Caroline's turn to take ballet, just like big sister. The great thing is that Katherine can join us too. So, she really has 2 ballet classes back to back.
I had to throw this picture in. This is Caroline's classmate, a boy. He wants to be like big sister when she gets ready for ballet so he gets ready as well - in pink leotard, tutu, tights and ballet shoes.

First Day of School 2010

I was so ready for school to start this year due to the crazy summer we had with Sam traveling for most of it. Finally the big day came. Daddy was out of town so it was a mad dash to get everyone out the door on time. It was also raining so we were not able to take the traditional photos by the front door.

Caroline was not excited to go to school and she cried at drop off. Apparently it did not last long.

Katherine was excited about going to pre-k but not so excited to post for a teacher.
Both girls have done really well this year and are really enjoying school.

At the camp

I thought I was done posting about our trip to California 2 months ago but tonight when I was getting pictures off of our small camera, there were more from our trip. Caroline has flown 2-3 times before but this is the first time that she remembers. Katherine is a pro.
We went to Mount Herman camp outside of Santa Cruz. It was beautiful and the weather was a welcome break to the 100+ days back home.
In the mornings we would often take the family on a short hike at camp.

The kids had fun throwing rocks into the pond.


Ally loves to be upside down so this is a common family photo.
There was a really high suspension bridge. This picture does not show how high it was.
We got one photo of the entire group. Of course the kids did not cooperate. Katherine is sticking out her tongue and it looks like Caroline's finger is in her nose.
Katherine enjoyed crazy hair night at kids camp.
On the way back we flew first class. It was NICE. We bought our tickets using miles and it was the same to go first class as coach. I am sure that the rest of first class was not too excited about our family disturbing the peace.

Last days in CA

We had a great time at Mount Hermon Family Camp. We heard great teachers every day. While the grown ups were hearing DTS professors, the kids were in day camp. On the last day Katherine's class came in to sing and say their Bible verse. Of course she just stood there but she was cute.

A friend from high school, Amy, was also at camp with her family. It was fun to reconnect.

There were beautiful flowers and all week I intended to use them as a backdrop for a photo but by this time a certain 2 year old did not want to cooperate so I only got pictures of Katherine.
We dropped my parents off at the airport and had a few hours to kill in San Jose before our flight (first class by the way with miles). We went to a children's museum and had a lot of fun.