Fall Preschool

I'm only posting my theme-related preschool activities. We do have literacy and math activities everyday that are not theme-related. I may start posting more about that in January.

The weather is cooling down and this is what our early mornings have looked like lately

Natalie is clipping clothespins on a cup. She has lost a bit of interest in any structured, sit-down activities so I've made sure to get out things for her to just play with and things I can talk to her about (colors, shapes, her babies, blocks, things to scoop and transfer, etc.) And she still participates in all the singing, games, poems, etc.

Cyrena is matching more short vowel pigs while her sister is trying to mess her up

We made pumpkin patches! First we read a book about how pumpkins grow then we used our dot paints and made pumpkins all over our paper...

Then drew vines to connect all the pumpkins-so cute and fun!

I scattered leaves all over the floor and we sang a leaf collecting song while we picked them up and put them in the basket. Both girls loved it and we did it several times.

Cyrena matched up leaf addition problems with the acorn answers. These were just +1 problems (3+1, 14+1, etc.) She loves adding so this was great for her. I found it here.

The girls matched up leaves as well. This was hard because they looked pretty similar. I found it here.

Cyrena practiced counting by 10's. Found here.

The girls painted fall trees with q-tips.

Here Cyrena is determining ''which is different'' on these fall-themed cards. 3 of the pictures are the same and one is a bit different. I laminated these and put them on a ring so she could just flip through and mark the different one with a marker. She liked this a lot, I found it here.

We played Roll a Fall Tree with a die. Sorry, I don't remember where I found this.

I didn't get pictures of everything we did, but maybe this will give you some ideas!

Older, Wiser, and More Fun

David's birthday was earlier this month. Usually David and I don't do much for each others birthdays as far as presents are concerned. We will sometimes get something small but always give a nice card and spend time together. And by something small I refer to the year I bought myself a $3 salad spinner. And sometimes we end up getting him some new clothes (a yearly event that is torture for him). See, my birthday's in the summer right after we've usually taken a trip and his is right at the beginning of the holiday season so at both time's cash is tighter. And it's not like we really NEED anything, you know?

ANYWAY, this year I decided enough was enough and my sweet husband deserved a gift that was FUN and well thought out. I came up with...a GUITAR. Yep, you heard me. When we were dating, David would borrow his roommates guitar and play for me. And ever since, whenever we've been around someone with a guitar he would pick up it and play with it. Yet he's never had his own.

Since we moved, he is home earlier from work and has more free time. It was time for a new hobby and this is what I picked for him. Haha. :) The girls were SO excited and I can't believe they kept it a secret! I told David right up front (before he even knew what it was) that he could take it back and I would not be offended since it was something I hadn't discussed with him. When he first opened it, he wasn't so sure he wanted it. He didn't know if he would stick with it enough to justify having it. However, in the next 10 minutes, after picking it up, tuning it, etc. he was hooked. There was no going back and he's been playing it everyday since; memorizing chords, playing hymns, and learning Christmas songs and lullabies for the girls. Too fun, and I'm so happy for him.

We went to Joe's Farm Grill for a tasty birthday dinner!

Operation Christmas Child

In keeping with our tradition we started last year, we filled some shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We spent one FHE shopping and planning and then the next Monday we filled our shoeboxes. The girls were so excited to put (pile) everything in. We decided to do 2 girls, ages 2-4. We bought dress-up clothes, toys, hard candy, crayons, notebooks, playdoh, hair accessories and more. Then the girls filled out sheets about themselves (while eating candy canes) to put in the boxes. I found these sheets on OCC's website. They were really cute and fun to do since Cyrena could do the writing on hers.

This year was especially fun because Cyrena understands it a little more. It will be interesting to see her understanding deepen each year. We watched a couple of promo videos so she could see some of the kids getting their boxes previous years. That really helped her. Now she has seen where some of the kids live and what they look like. Now she prays that they can have a better place to live. We told her even if they don't have a nice home to live in, receiving our boxes will help them feel happy!

If you want to fill boxes, there's still time! They're collecting until November 22.

Fall Portraits

When we went to the train park, we arrived a bit early so I could take advantage of the area for some pictures of the girls. I had a LOT of luck (my camera and the lighting cooperated which doesn't always happen). I ended up with some good ones. Natalie was DONE by the end--ready to play-- so I didn't really get a good one of the 2 of them together...but they were still cute and candid.

Now keep in mind I have absolutely no fancy editing skills or software, they are pretty much straight from the camera-don't judge!

See Natalie's tears??

Watching for their friends to arrive

Halloween Dean Turns 2

That's right, our little Natalie is officially 2. It seems like she's been 2 for awhile, she's growing up too fast.

I made candy corn cupcakes and we headed over to the train park to meet up with our friends!

Waiting for the train...Daddy having a nibble of her yumminess

She was so happy to be with Daddy on the train!

Cyrena was so happy to be reunited with her friends Logan, Ki, and El--it had been awhile!

And Natalie loves Gavin

The kids: Logan, Natalie, Ki, El, Cyrena and Gavin (Jane is in the bottom corner)

Enjoying her tasty cupcakes...the frosting was divine.

Me and my girls...I love them! But really, could I look any bigger next to them??

Waiting for the train, trip 2

David was a trooper and rode with all the kids both times so the moms didn't have to waste tickets on themselves. He's my hero!

The next day was her actual birthday. She opened up adorable gloves, necklace and birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Taylor. We gave her a bunch of Snap 'N Style dolls that we found on Craigslist...they're adorable!

She also got a cute baby and bottle from Grandma and Grandpa Lemmert

And some really cute and comfy pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Dean!

We had a special ice cream dessert that she had a few bites of and then just played with. The doorbell kept ringing with trick-or-treaters which was WAY more exciting than dessert!

A few things about our Natalie:

*calls Cyrena "Nani" (Nah-nee)
*gives amazing spontaneous hugs and kisses to each of us, along with sound effects: "mmmmmwaaaa"
*struts around like she owns the place
*could spend all day in the swing at the park
*refuses to hold our hands to cross the street or in parking lots (scary!)
*in the morning it looks like she spent all night ratting her hair
*loves to dance and sing
*lives for making us laugh--a true entertainer
*likes to dress-up and say "pretty!"
*has the phrase "I tell Mommy!" down pat
*sucks her thumb when she's cuddling with her blanket
*calls a seat "baboo" I have no idea where that came from
*loves to wear Cyrena's shoes
*an early riser....6:30, excuse me??
*favorite foods: goldfish crackers, pizza, berries, milk, spaghetti, eggs, ketchup, hot dogs, carrots, candy, Cheerios, raisins
*has an ultra screechy silly voice she uses when she's excited
*is always 'wiping' and 'powdering' her stuffed animals and telling them to poop in the potty--if only she'd take her own advice

We really can't get enough of her!

stats:
weight: 27 lbs (50th percentile)
height: 34 1/4 (75th percentile)
head: 19 1/2 inches (95th percentile)

Tricks and Treats

We had so much Halloween fun and now we're exhausted (at least David and I are). Here are the highlights.

A few days before Halloween I dressed the girls up and went to Fry's. It was a good excuse to get some pictures in good lighting without the stress of rushing off to a party!

Our beautiful fairy girl

She was born in the wrong century...she's a true cowgirl (at least in theory)

We carved pumpkins Friday

The girls were so excited to see them all lit up!

Saturday night was our trunk-or-treat. We had a great dinner in the large ramada near the church then a bunch of games and of course trick-or-treating

Natalie LOVED trick-or-treating. She was so great at saying "trick-or-treat" and then "thank you" Everyone loved her.

For both girls, the most fun was handing out candy that night and then again at home on Sunday.

Pics from Natalie's birthday to come soon!