Three Weeks to Go

Emma went to the doctor's today and I got to see the x-rays. Luckily the fracture and the bulge are not serious but still needing time to heal. So, she now has a hard cast (still pink!) on for the next three weeks...then we will bring her in and do x-rays again and hopefully be cast free. She is being a trooper but life has become a bit more difficult with normal tasks. I am hoping she doesn't keep hitting the baby in the head with her hard cast...whenever the baby decides to make her grand entrance.

Hunter Farms Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday Angelica and I went to a pumpkin patch with my friend and her son. She goes to this one every year and while it is a bit of a drive, it was definitely worth it. Hunter Farms was very beautiful and the kids loved it. They had animals to see including chickens, roosters, goats, llamas, emus, pigs, and even a reindeer. There was a huge hay maze and play area set up in the big barn and at the top of the haystack was a big tunnel slide to go down. Angelica and Eddie could have played on that alone all day! I had decided to leave Emma with my mom even though I knew she would have loved it....she just has some trouble with her arm and it was still only in a splint and I didn't want her to hurt it more. Next year! We took a covered wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and it was huge....lots of pumpkins to choose from. Angel walked all over the patch trying to decide on which one to get....my friend's rule for her kids is they can bring back whatever they can carry...I like that rule! Angelica actually decided to go with a smaller pumpkin so she could also carry one back for Emma....so sweet!!! They have a produce store there as well with lots of yummy fruits and veggies to buy. We lucked out with the weather too, it was a bit cold and foggy but dry! Then we went to a park on the way home and had a picnic lunch by the water. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and then we headed home....a fun day was had by all! I was kind of hoping the bumpy wagon ride would break my water, but no such luck!!

Fall

I love this season....the cooler weather, fires in the woodstove, gorgeous fall colors, the smells of leaves and pumpkins and autumn candles, the hot cider, soups, breads and getting out some decorations. We set up a hay scene on our porch each year and the girls love it this year....they love to go play with the scarecrows and pumpkins. So I posted below some pics of our fall decorations as I have been seeing lots of others, love to look at what people do!! And if you have any good fall recipes, please share!! I am looking forward to carving the pumpkins soon and roasting those seeds!

Preschool Days

I posted before about our ideas and curriculums I am trying to use for some fun preschool learning with Angelica. A friend of mine who has a son about Angel's age have also decided to do a school day together every two weeks. We are using the Handwriting Without Tears manual for helping with correct letter formation. My friend has cut out the letter pieces just like the program's wood ones out of cardboard for now and those help. We have met once already and done letters L and O....we are trying to tie them into certain things going on. So L was for Leaves for fall and O for orange and round like pumpkins. We do letter worksheets, the cardboard pieces, color the letters, and make them out of play-do. Then we do story time with books that I can find that tie into the letters, or theme for that week. We are incorporating the program and music I purchased from Making Music Praying Twice and I cannot wait to add some instruments and such to our collection and fun. Then we do a craft or two and have lunch together. We made tissue paper leaves last time and Angel loved it! Angel knows so many of her letters already but it is fun to practice and expound on them with friends and learn the correct formation as well. Yesterday we went to a pumpkin patch together (I will do a post on) and so next week we are going to get together to do letters P and B for pumpkins and birthday since it will be Eddie's birthday. So looking forward to paining our pumpkins they picked and making picture frames with a pumpkin patch picture and celebrating his birthday! Of course, this is hoping I will not have a baby before then....that would be a great B word!!!

Baby Update

Had an appointment this week and baby's head is DOWN, thank the Lord! I was worried with as active as this child has been and still is that this would not be the case. So that brought a lot of peace of mind. I am 50% effaced and 1.5cm dilated....so progress. Will keep you posted as I am feeling the time is getting close!! Can't wait to see her little face and we are still undecided big time on names!!!

Good Reads

This is a post that appeared on one of my favorite sites, Building Cathedrals. Click HERE to check it out, all about pros and cons and advice and opinions about celebrating Halloween, All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day etc. The post is great and all the comments are even better. For us, we enjoy celebrating both. We feel fortunate to live in a pretty good neighborhood and I have such fond memories of dressing up and going door to door with my pumpkin to receive goodies. It is even more fun now to have my girls wearing the costumes I wore when I was their age. The past couple of years we have always had some friends and my youngest sister over for soup and cider and they get ready and go trick or treating. Angel had a blast last year!! We do however realize the dangers out there, some worse for others and our plans might have to change along the years. On the other hand, we love to celebrate All Saints Day as well. How fun to learn more about them and dress up like your favorite etc. I am bummed as right now our church's All Saints Day party is held on Halloween so we have to choose which to go to, wish it was actually on All Saints Day. So we shall see and I am sure traditions will change but for now...keep your eyes peeled for a couple of very cute cats!!

Another GREAT read (in my opinion) is THIS LINK to an article and interview about the truths and myths and facts about the swine flu, vaccines etc. As many of you have read in my past posts about vaccinations (which are all on my sidebar under label vaccines) it is a topic we have heavily researched over the past couple of years and made lots of decisions about and continue to do so. I feel even more confident in our decision not to get the flu shot or H1N1 vaccine right now....and so glad to hear that the New York state supreme court put a hold on the mandate that all health care workers were forced to get the vaccine or get fired....finally some confirmation and support for informed consent and personal health decisions!!! Anyways, check it out, some good information and what you will not hear in most of our biased media that loves government regulation and providing only the extreme cases to us on the nightly news! Bottom line....do the research yourself and make decisions that are best for you and your family and do not penalize others for theirs!