Getting Crafty

Let's just ignore the awful backlighting of our kitchen in the afternoon and focus on the fact that I somehow invented two crafts for my kids to make just by going to my craft box! Because that is nothing short of a miracle. 

We made these candy corn people. 

And we made craft foam jack-o-lantern pumpkins. 

Given that I don't really let her use scissors much I was pleasantly surprised by her cutting skills. I mean, she was able to cut, not on the line but she still did all by herself and was happy with it. It's really more about the process than the final product when you craft right? 

And you know what? We had fun together and I am happy we can do that. Any time I can do something with these two that they remember fondly as "fun" that's pretty much a win right? Have a great Thursday!

Mo Soccer

The past two weeks M's soccer games have been canceled. We've had so much rain, like flash flood quantities of rain and the Mississippi is so high that roads are closed that the fields are just soup. I am sad for her, but I kind of don't really mind. Isn't that terrible?

So on Saturday instead of going to the soccer game, Husband took the kids to Barnes and Noble for their storytime. All the Barnes and Nobles do this on Saturday, it's amazing. They read a story and then they do an activity related to the story. Usually a coloring sheet or something. And this past Saturday was Unlimited Squirrels: I Lost My Tooth by Mo Willems.

C was going to go anyway, and M was so excited to join him! And Barnes and Noble outdid themselves!

They read the story, did the coloring sheet, handed out hats, stickers, cookies and a little toy. (The toy was unrelated to Mo Willems.) As fate would have it, C has his first wiggly tooth right now so the book is especially timely. We, of course, have had the book since it's release on October 2, but for my kids, there's no such thing as too much Mo! 

So it worked out that there was no game because both kids had a great time. I had time to myself to write my review. Bless. It was bliss. 

Totally Random Friday

Oh my goodness, I am ready for Friday! Tonight I go see a show (The Crucible) which is my last paid show for October. And I know what you're thinking, we're not that far into October, but last Friday I saw a show (Henry VIII) and I squeezed in a show on Tuesday of this week. (The Laramie Project.) So there's been a lot of work writing and not a lot of blog writing. Sorry!

Last weekend I panicked because I saw the forecast and buckled down an bought the kids their winter coats. And it's a good thing I did because it snowed this morning. Just about a half hour of spitting snow but clearly, it wasn't overkill to order coats. (They arrived on Tuesday luckily.) I had to turn the heat on today. I try to wait as long as possible but I was thwarted. October 12 seems early.

We used to take an art class on Friday mornings but this year they didn't have enough people sign up so it got canceled. But my kids were disappointed by that. C because being in Kindergarten meant he couldn't go at all. And M because she likes going on "adventures" special with me. Admittedly, I really loved the class too so since Wednesdays are early out days (the school day is an hour shorter)  I decided we could do "at home art" on Wednesdays. Not like a full class, but one or two projects or activities. This week we did Play-Doh and a fall leaves Q-Tip painting.

They turned out cute and we had a nice afternoon eating up that extra hour.

In other news, I've found some funny things on the internet. And I will share one of them with you.

Last night after the kids went to bed I made banana muffins for breakfast. Then I cleaned. I don't really know what got into me, but I cleaned the living room and playroom and got it neat, tidy and vacuumed. Then ran the dishwasher and folded laundry.

And when we woke up this morning... a clean house. It was the best. 10/10 would recommend.

Okay everyone, have a great weekend.

Today

Today was school picture day for my kiddos!

I hope they both smiled sweetly for the photographer. 

After preschool, some friends were going to the park to play and have lunch so M and I joined them. Today is in the 80s but it is supposed to thunderstorm this evening and cold weather will be upon us by the end of the week! 40s! It was so lovely to get outside in the sunshine. 

But look at this beautiful tree! The fall crashed with the summer and there's something very poetic about one tree being within two seasons. 

I wish you all a wonderful Tuesday. 

My Week With My Girl

Holy Cow this week went fast!! I will tell you a little about my week with my best gal.

We became ladies who lunch!

At the fanciest joint in town! It was a real treat for her to go inside. Check out that illegal cheese I had them add to the "hamburger." I still think that move was dumb. 

Yesterday was super crisp but GORGEOUS. M was invited to a party for her friend. I feel like the unicorn masks hide the identity of the kids enough for me to post this picture from the party. It was the sweetest party at a park, they made unicorn masks, ate lunch and cupcakes and played on the playground. It was perfect. This isn't the whole group but it was darling!

At preschool this week they worked on the letter C! M loves cats! 

Check out her new jammies! 

I don't know if you can tell but there are cats on the knees and the shirt days "Feline Sleepy." I can't stand how grown up she looks in these jammies. Practically a teenager. 

She is so smart! She's really taken off with writing her name and other words. She asked me how to spell water yesterday and then she wrote it! Slow down, kid. But really, life is good. And we are ready for a weekend!

Cross your fingers that soccer isn't awful tomorrow. (So either let it be dry or thunderstorming, because playing in the non-thunder rain seems less than fun.)

October!

Holy October Batman!

We had a soccer game on Saturday. M's poor team. It keeps raining on Tuesday so they barely practice. And the team is pretty small with only 10 kids. (6 play at a time.) And two kids honest to goodness flat out refuse to play combined with at least someone missing on game days... makes for a long game where most kids play the whole game. They get so tired! And we are not a super aggressive team to start with so, yeah. Good thing it's a learning experience!

Yesterday was a pancake breakfast after church and then there was a big group picnic. It was a dreary day but it felt very British. Boots and sweaters, a bonfire, good food made it so the kids had a bunch of fun. They got to dig potatoes out of the ground, see horses, go for a tractor ride... it was a blast and the kids slept so well!!

And now it's October!

I have no shame when I tell you I've been listening to Christmas music a lot lately. It's so fun! And I am not in full blown skip over the other holidays, it's just that Christmas music makes me feel cheerful. But we will switch to our Halloween playlist here I am sure.

And I have no pictures to share... so...

here are some pumpkins. Because it's October.

I Am Woman

I am woman, hear me roar! Yes, like the old school Helen Reddy song. Today I finished a book. A good book.

It's been a long time since I've read a book that I've thoroughly appreciated. I read a lot. But lately, nothing has been that amazing. Or they've been well written but not really my cup of tea you know? This one was a Resse Witherspoon book club pick and I let it sit... because... it's called

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal and that title is not exactly me. But it is so funny, and sweet. It's intriguing and it's about women. There are a bunch of Punjabi widows who do wind up writing some stories but definitely think PG-13 romance in that it's more suggestive than dirty. But the book is about so much more than the widow's stories. And I really enjoyed it.

Then M and I went to get gas and fill up my tire with air. And we hit the grocery store for cupcake liners so we could make my pumpkin muffins! Today fall has really hit, C wore pants to school! The perfect day for pumpkin chip muffins and they turned out beautifully.

Then... M and I went to O'Reilly Auto Parts, and thanks to Google and YouTube I walked in knowing exactly what I needed. (It should be noted that O'Reilly is really, honestly and truly, the closest business to my house so this whole journey took about 10 minutes total, driveway to driveway.) We came home and then, again thanks to YouTube, I changed the rear turn signal bulb in my car all by myself! As someone who really appreciates turn signals, I am relieved that I accomplished it and that when we go to school pick up it will be working!

I am obviously celebrating my mad skills by enjoying a muffin before we have to go pick up C from school. Oh! And I ran the dishwasher so... I'm feeling pretty good about how today has gone if you wanna know.

I am feeling strong! And invincible! And I apologize if I got that song in your head but it's been a while since I've truly felt like I could do anything.

Have a phenomenal Wednesday.