It is October! My how time is flying by. We have 5 1/2 weeks until Baby is due to join us on the outside world. One one hand I can't believe it is only 5 weeks away and on the other hand...I really can't believe I am going to be this pregnant for 5 more weeks. Past experience tells me it could be even longer...
In the mean time, as we wait for this baby, we are plugging along with school. We are trying to get as much fun and learning in as possible because of the inevitable slow down in "academics" that may occur as we adjust to and learn about having a newborn in the house (life skills!).
Continuing with our colorful art lessons we made collages that used primary, secondary and tertiary colors and had to make them appear to blend into one another. I just love color. Have I mentioned that before? I thank God that he made things colorful.
In history we have recently done a brief study of Ancient Egypt. We had fun learning about Amenhotep, Nefertiti, King Tut and Ramses The Great. To reinforce the geography of Egypt we made a map out of cake and frosting.
We labeled out "map" with post it notes on toothpicks.
They were all very proud of their work.
And the greatest part about it was, it was also Hannah's 10th birthday that day so it doubled as a birthday cake! They wanted to light the post it notes on fire for her to blow out but we decided that wasn't a wise decision and they all got a brief lesson in fire safety as well.
Last week I had a few extra students when my nieces Madi and Annika came to visit for a few days. I didn't hesitate to put them to work...
But our work time was short lived because we had a delightfully fun day of pumpkin picking planned! My mom and my sister Angela came up and we all spent the day frolicking among the pumpkins at a local farm. We were planning to go apple picking too but, sadly, the orchard was closed that day. We had been planning to go to the Big E, which has been a family tradition for us for years, but our current economy just wouldn't allow for it in our family budget so we decided on this fun (and more economical) alternative. We all missed the Big E this year but Bella put it best when she said "It doesn't matter where we go as long as we're together." I just love that girl.
The next day the orchard was open again so we went to pick some apples. It was a beautiful, humid, summer-like day and we had a great time trouncing through the orchard testing the different varieties of it's lovely fruit. We picked about 20lbs of apples and they were gone in less than a week! I guess that means we'll have to go picking again...
As our days are getting shorter and cooler we have begun to spend a little more time inside. Inevitably I begin to hear these two questions more often "Can we play the Wii" and "Can we watch a movie". I don't really like these questions and most of the time my answer to them is "no". It is said with the encouragement to find something creative to do instead. Isaac decided to build this volcano. He started it last winter but we never finished it. Jason helped him to add the paper-mache type pieces. After letting it dry overnight he was able to paint it and then had to let it dry again before he could erupt it. Erupting a volcano you have made is a very gratifying experience. They erupted it many times and it is currently drying out for another day of eruptions.
Another creative activity going on is the building of an 18 wheeler. Jason and the boys have been working on it for a few weeks. They are almost done and it is looking great! They have big plans to build lots of wooden toys in their "workshop" this winter.
This week we went on an interesting field trip to our local dump! We learned a lot while we were there. Our trash plant is actually a Waste to Energy plant and it converts 90% of the trash from our city into electricity and steam. I had no idea my city was so efficient with it's trash.
The highlight of the trip was seeing all of the trash, watching the trucks dump it and seeing rats climbing all over it. Ian was rather disappointed that we didn't get to see the big claw pick up the trash to put it in the combustion chamber but he still thinks it would be cool to work there someday as a "claw operator". I was amazed at all of the high-tech equipment required to run the plant efficiently and safely. It was a very informative field trip for all of us!
Now, for the event you have all been waiting for... Yesterday was finally the Big Day for Barbie and Ken. The girls had been planning this wedding since the summer as you can see on previous blogs. I had mentioned that the plans were all set, all we were missing were the Barbies. Shortly after posting that blog, a large package arrived in the mail from my Aunt Kathy who had mailed Isabella all of the old Barbies that I used to play with when I was a child visiting her house! They were vintage Barbies back then! Bella was so excited to have this plethora of Barbies and clothes and to finish the wedding details. She and Hannah set to work and yesterday, amidst a beautiful sunny fall day, the gala event went off without a hitch.
Barbie was stunning, as always. (How many timed do you think she has been married anyway lol).
The happy couple.
The bridal party.
The extravagant reception.
Barbie and Ken after feeding each other cake. They got a little messy. Ken lost his head a few times too but he was able to pull himself back together...
Isaac as employed as a photographer for the event.
Ian glared scornfully at the event as it occupied his sword fighting companions for a whole recess.
Plans for the next few weeks include getting ready for baby, getting ready for baby and getting ready for baby...oh, and schoolwork, of course. My mom is having a shower for me this weekend and it is time to take all of the equipment that I am going to borrow from my sister and begin to set it all up! Hard to believe this house will be adorned with swings, bouncy seats, baby blankets, cloth diapers, etc....I still have no idea where to put it all!
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