a pretty pocahontas, gorgeous gift, and a cute cowboy

...is who i spent halloween with!!!

 take note of the un-happy cute cowboy...

 she didn't keep her "gift" on long--ended up being too hard to reach the oh-so-important candy bag!

this poor guy was exhausted and in no mood to be messed with

and this girl has had her costume laid out in her bedroom all week eagerly anticipating this night

we headed to winfield to celebrate grandpa bub's birthday at uncle pat and aunt jenna's house and then trick or treat afterwards.  all 3 kids feel asleep on the 20 minute drive.

the cowboy woke after 1 1/2 hours...and was still in no mood to be messed with.  he ditched the horse, gun, and hat before we even left and instead carried daddies "therapist" clipboard.

a few of the cousins getting ready to leave

calling it a night and heading back to check out the loot

 what a fun night!!

since we talked last...

*the girls have started practices for their christmas play at church
 
 
*we helped sam's sister and her family move from muscatine to cedar rapids



*i got sick with a horrible cough(which i still have), headache, and a very irritating back and neck ache


*the girls finished their last enrichment class til after the holidays
 
 
*we are going strong with school--lia has almost finished a year of math and sofie will be done by christmas


*lia had a fun fall party with all her first grade friends complete with a hay rack ride in the rain
 
 
*i spent time reflecting on all that was happening last year at this time with my grandpa


*remembered that last year during this week i was sitting in a hospital with a very sick kye
 
 
*attended and planned a family reunion for my grandpa's side of the family
 

*actually cleaned my house from top to bottom
 
 
*spent countless hours outside either in our backyard or at various parks


*made a very yummy chicken noodle soup that not only tasted wonderful but also lasted for several meals
 
 
*celebrated with my husband as he took a different job which will allow him more time at home---yahoooooo


*and earlier tonight got an awesome deal on a bunch of stuff at oldnavy.com

fall fotos

sitting at lunch the other day i had this crazy thought to take the kids out for a mini photo shoot...so i did!!  it was a beautiful day, however it was warmer outside than i thought and the poor kids ended up being dressed a little too warm.  they did great and didn't even complain about being hot, even when i noticed sweat on kye's forehead.

 

 how i wish kye's eye's were open

 

check out lia's face...

 love this one

 i think this one is my fave

 ahhh, lia!!!

i just love taking photos of my kids...dreaming of the day i get a decent camera!!!

back at it

after having a week's break from formal school we are gettin back into the swing of things.

our mornings are back to the normal bible, math, language, 5 in a row reading, and a few extras.  the kids seem excited to be back in our normal routine as am i.

however, our nature week was a complete blast!

monday--picnic and nature hike

tuesday--picnic and scavenger hunt and evening bonfire

wednesday--nature craft day

thursday and friday--our big camp-out complete with a few new bonfire foods, viewings of jupiter and thousands of stars through the telescope, 4-wheeling, canoeing, fishing, and sleeping in warm sleeping bags on a cold night with deflated air mattresses!!

saturday--our yearly visit to my hometown for the annual columbus day parade!

it was a super fun week!!

spending our week...

exploring

learning

 enjoying

observing

and

studying

nature

no

formal

school

just

nature

hikes

scavenger

hunts

catching

bugs

bonfires

picnic

lunches

mini

photo

shoots

 spending

 all

day

outside

loving

this

beautiful

fall

weather

 and

 

enjoying

 

our

simple

life