A Fall Tradition: The Pumpkin Patch

The wind & storm had started the night before

Miss Mae looking for a pumpkin

We were able to take some time off on Friday to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. We knew the storm was coming and did not want to chance a string of rainy days. Thankfully Friday morning had some sunshine breaking through the clouds. It was windy but not raining. I think the wind made it that much more fun. Meli and love windy days!

We rode the wagon pulled by a tractor this time to the pumpkin patch area. Both Colin and Meli wanted BIG pumpkins this year. I wanted a white one. Meli was sweet and found a BIG white one so that we could share it!

Colin found his!

We probably should have eaten a bigger breakfast, because towards the end Meli was hungry and grumpy. When she gets like that she stays focused on something she did not get to do (usually because she says she did not want to) or something she did wrong.  Thankfully, these meltdowns happen a lot less frequently since starting school. This time she did not want to take a picture with the pumpkin....but then she wanted to very badly...as we were leaving. Most of the pics I took were before the meltdown. She got upset when it was just her turn. So I had several with her face not visible. This was mostly due to the strong wind and was very frustrating to her.

Colin was so sweet and offered to hold her hair.

Meli starting to lose it

I told her she could have one more shot...and here it is. Perfectly sums up her mood.

...and it is lost

I love the colors of fall!

My little sweetheart!

Such different personalities

"I am so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers" - Anne of Green Gables

                                                            ~ Love, Hugs &  Kisses ~
                                                                   The B Family

Childhood Moments: Raking Leaves

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

Raking leaves

One chore that can be so much fun is raking leaves. Although the fun can make the chore take so much longer, but it is totally worth it! Colin picked raking as one of his extra chores this month. (They have their set responsibilities - things that I do not qualify as chores because they are things that are their's. Like cleaning their room and putting their clothes away. Then they choose three chores that are things to help around the house.We have a mason jar with over-sized Popsicle sticks with chores written on them.) I am working on sewing a hanger to track these ( maybe a future post). 

I personally love leaves, so it usually ends up being a family chore. Plus, we have several trees, so poor Colin would be doing it all day.

Meli trying to sweep

It can be hard for me to let them do their task. Meli really wanted to sweep. She does not quite have the process down and it can take a long time. There are times I just want to get it done, but I know that I need to let them learn. 

Meli was having so much fun with the leaves. She tends to be a great worker in the beginning, then she is over it...but sometimes she will get motivated towards the end again. Colin is hard to get started. He will complain and be sluggish about it. Then he gets motivated when it is almost done. Wondering why everyone is leaving. 

This storm will be sure to make more leaves for us to rake! It is pouring so much right now.

He Sure is Chatty

Last week, we went to curriculum night at the kids' school. I thought it was a neat idea. We sat in each of their classrooms for 25 minutes or so, while the teacher went over their schedule and what they use for each subject. Colin's teacher had the best explanation of common core that I have heard. I know  a lot of parents complain about it, but I had not really seen anything as far as Colin's homework in the past. His teacher's explanation totally made sense for math. Part of the goal for it is something I already was trying to do with him. Trying to teach them that instead of doing 99 + 99 wit carrying/borrowing - in your head you could see that 100 + 100 - 2 would get you there faster and without paper. Of course, they will still teach them how to do the other way as well. As of now, I do not see the frustrating part, but he is only in 3rd grade. Maybe it will come at a later grade.

I got their a little early, so I thought I would ask how Colin was doing with his talking and staying on tasks. Two things (cause/effect situation there) that he struggles with. She kind of laughed and said "he sure is chatty". Yes, yes he is. She did not seem irritated by it (yet). So, that is good. I totally know that this was inherited from me. My mom says he does not quite have me beat (I cannot even imagine - my poor parents/grandparents)...but I did not have that issue in school until I got older since I was so shy. Colin so does not have that restraint. I am grateful for that. Even if it means our conference meetings will be all about his talking. Hey, there could be a lot worse behavioral issues to discuss. His teacher last year, who seriously needs to work on tact and a few other things. Thought he had ADHD or something similar. I am not convinced yet. I think it is hard to tell at his age.

The kids just came down to join me in the living room. They were awake, but playing in their room. I managed to sneak past them and get a few quiet moments. Colin has been down for 10 minutes and has narrated the whole cartoon so far. He sure is chatty. 

Oh, No! We are in Trouble!

The other week when we were asking Meli about her school day she told us a very interesting story. Apparently this girl, she could not remember her name, was being bad and got put in time out. Then she got spanked! Will and I of course said, "No, that does not happen at school" and Meli quickly replied, "It does at my school!".  It was amazing how even though we knew she was telling a story (or fib) since it was outrageously very unlikely - she was very believable! If it was a more reliable story, I would not have been able to tell she was not telling the truth. Oh my...We are in for it!

Even when she was younger, she would hide something behind her back. We knew it was there (we could see it) and she would say, "no, I don't have it" - by just her face, you could not tell. I am a little scared. Got to be honest here. She is such a wild, free spirit - I wish she was not a good liar. 

Kindergarten, Seriously?!?

I cannot believe our little princess has started Kindergarten!!!! It has been a little more emotional for me than I assumed it would be. She is just growing way too fast. 

She has been really enjoying riding the bus, doing homework with Colin, and packing her lunch. I am so glad that she seems to be adjusting well. She also started soccer (pics soon). I think she will have a great time playing with girls from her class.

I love seeing her personality blossom and her likes/interest expand! She is using so many big words (like duplicate)...her sense of humor goes beyond her years. I just love her so much!

Colin's Menu: Quesadillas

Colin's 

Colin chose to make quesadillas for his first meal planning adventure. I was very impressed with him. He used a sharp knife for the first time, had to put things on the burners (turn them on) and use a skillet for the tortillas.

This recipe was very simple. All you needed was tortillas, refried beans, cheese and any toppings you wanted. Colin decided to add black beans and corn as well. So we had all of the items that required warming up on the stove going on low, while Colin cut up all of the toppings. We did tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, avocados, and mushrooms. 

Then Colin had to take a tortilla, put refried beans on it, black beans and cheese. Then place it on the skillet with either a little butter on it or spray oil. He added the top tortilla before placing on it on the skillet. I helped him with the flipping. Colin was able to cut the tortillas as well.

Plain Jane - Meli

Mine (Will's was similar)

For dessert, Colin made pudding with a galore of toppings. I told them that they will not always be able to do these type of desserts. Thankfully these are the only two days we will do desserts. Still that adds up for the month!

Sundae pudding

On to 3rd grade

Our 3rd Grader

Colin had his first day of third grade today. I think this has been the hardest emotionally for me thus far. I think because Meli is our last one starting and 3rd grade is getting a lot older. I remember third grade and that just does not seem so little anymore. 

Our traditional little chalkboard we have used every year is packed in the garage still, so we had to improvise. I hope to find the other before tomorrow. Meli will start Kindergarten on Wednesday. Then she does not go again until Monday. They split the kids over two days and have both teachers spend time with both groups. Then they determine the best fit for each kid based on personality. Trying not to put all of the shy kids in one room, etc. We get to find out who her teacher is Friday.

Almost 9

Colin had a great first day! He seems very excited about 3rd grade! I am having a great time with his age. I love the books he wants to read on his own and ones that I can read to him. We have been reading the BFG and Junie B Jones. We had to take a break from the BFG since it got packed. Darn boxes! So, Meli picked Junie B Jones for her pick, then Colin gets to pick, and then I get to pick one. We will hopefully be starting the Harry Potter series here soon.

Meli Too

Meli wanted her name added and blue balloons. She is obsessed with the color blue. Everything has to be blue. She thinks your favorite color should be your eye color. Which happens to work for our family. Colin and I love green and Will likes blue. She got confused when she tried to tell Grammie that her favorite color has to be brown, which Grammie refused to say was her favorite color. 

Strangely though, Meli keeps telling me that yellow is my favorite color too. Not sure why she thinks that. I am guessing it is because I told her it was such a happy color.

Meli wanted to go with Colin

Our Big Boy

I am sure I will make Colin take more pictures tomorrow, when I have the chalkboard. Stay tuned!

Meli's Kitchen: Turkey Burger

Turkey burgers

This is the first week that we are having the kids separately plan their own dinner menu (including dessert) and cook it. Meli went first choosing turkey burger sliders with pears and green beans. Will decided to add Red Lobster biscuits (one of his fave). For dessert Meli chose marshmallows dipped in chocolate and ice cream cones dipped in chocolate with vanilla ice cream. She actually did a very good job. She got to crack an egg again. She added all of the seasonings and stirred the meat. She did not want to touch the meat, which I was OK with. So, I made the patties and put them on the grill. She picked out of the condiments and veggies. I was very impressed that she would pick things that she did not like, but knew that Colin or somebody else did. Meli is super picky, so I am hoping that this will help her want to try more things. Thankfully she seems to like something in every food group. Plus, she loves protein rich foods. She just has very simple taste. Nothing mixed. 

Very yummy

So first meal was a success!! Colin is up next. He chose cheese & bean quesadillas with a vanilla pudding.

Need to work on her presentation

I think we will like the two cookbooks for kids that we chose.

Both recipes came from the Cooking Class book

Sprinting Champs

The two videos are from several weeks ago. My dad was trying to wear out the kids' energy. It definitely worked. They were doing this forever before I came out. They were so tired after I video taped. I loved Colin's determination to beat his time and Meli's too. Plus, her face was so serious!

Two Little Chefs

We started a new thing with the kids, where once a week they each get to plan a meal and help cook it. Last week, we were rushed so they both helped me with one meal together. They both wanted to make breakfast for dinner. 

I was very surprised how they both did with cracking the eggs. Neither one made a mess what so ever. Colin's egg cracking method was a bit unconventional (I wish I would have thought to record his attempt) but it worked. 

They decided to make scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. I was not as hungry, so they were sweet and made me a small bowl of oatmeal.

I think that this will be very fun for the kids. It will also help to teach the importance of the major food groups and balancing that in a meal. I will also let them choose a  dessert (probably more on the healthy side) on their cooking days. I need to find a good kid's Cookbook.