Autumnal Equinox (Mabon)

This year the weather was pretty dismal so we didn't get out for a hike or anything after school. It looks like tomorrow we may get to do that, it's finally suppose to dry out a bit.
We took the kernels off some ears of Indian corn and soaked them to soften them to be able to string garlands/necklaces. They took a LONG time to soften at all so that project will be attempted later this afternoon.
We also made (are making) dream pillows. We put some herbs inside pillow forms and the kids each picked out their favorite piece of fabric that they dyed this summer to make a cover. We sewed the covers together last night/this morning and I just have to finish the last seams later. Everyone is looking forward to good dreams tonight!

Maya's dance class

I took some pictures this week (they asked that we not try to take them the first week as the girls adjusted to going into class without a parent.)
She loves it and "practices" at home. They do ballet for the majority of the class then do just a few minutes of tap at the end.

And now, finally...

this blog is caught up to the present time. We are settling into our new fall routine and enjoying the fall weather - well maybe not today because it is soaking wet outside but most days we've been enjoying the fall weather. Lots of sandbox playing and bike riding.

Little Dragon

Alex got to choose one class or activity to do this fall and he decided he wanted to go back to Tae Kwon Do classes. So he started that again last week. He is old enough now to be a Little Dragon (before he was a Little Ninja) so that meant a new uniform and starting over with a white belt.
He's had two classes so far and is really enjoying it.

First day of school - 1st Grade!

Not a great picture this year! We were in a hurry and Alex was super excited - hard to get him to stand still! He's in the same class as last year, same teachers (it's a K-2 class) so there was a lot familiar for him. So far he's come home happy and excited every day. Most mornings he doesn't want to get up but he usually perks up once he is upright for a few minutes.

More Labor Day weekend - Mayfield Pond

Beautiful day for a hike!

Maya turned 3 this Labor Day weekend

I can't believe Maya is 3! She had a fun birthday.... I think her favorite part was taking her birthday money (in her pink princess purse of course) to the store to choose some toys. She, like Alex, is a good bargain shopper. She got a big tea set, a pony and a toy cell phone (insert eye rolling here) and still had money left to put in her bank account.
She is not going to preschool this year but we are doing a few organized group type activities. This week we started doing the preschool program offered through the nature center on tuesday mornings. She calls it her nature school. I was very impressed that she sat on the rugs all by herself with the other kids and actually participated and answered questions!
Then wednesday she started dance class. She has been talking about it for months and it was everything she was hoping it would be! She told me on her own that she did not want to do the "mommy and me" class, she wanted the big girls class with just the kids and the teacher. And she did great, I don't think she even looked out the window to see if I was watching. She practiced all afternoon yesterday and can't wait to go back.

Galveston!

After Ben got home from work on Thursday the 26th I took off and drove to Green Bay to meet my mom and get up early friday morning to fly to Houston. We had two connections (3 planes) and then rented a car and drove out to Galveston. We were going down for a wedding on sunday - a friend of mine's wedding, we have been friends since early elementary school.
I'm not going to go into a day by day detail - we had a great time, loved getting to visit with everyone and tried to make the most of our downtime and get some exploring in.
Alex wanted me to "take pictures of everything!" so I tried my best.
It was sad to see how much damage was still left from Hurricane Ike. So many people had to just walk away from what was left so there are damaged buildings just left or some are completely gone.

August 14th - Buckley Old Engine Show

I really think a more accurate name for this event would be the Buckley Old Tractor show. We have heard of this since we moved here and never gone before. Why we chose this year when it was sweltering hot I have no idea. But Alex loved it. They do have an old steam engine and train and also some very old steam powered farm and lumber yard equipment but the bulk of the event is the classic tractors and the enormous flee market. We were completely unprepared for the size of this thing. Ben and I are not in a hurry to go back but we'll probably have to make sure Alex doesn't hear it mentioned next year because he will want to go. He sat and watched (and enjoyed) over 2 hours of classic tractors (all which really do not look that different IMO) drive past.
Maya and I did not last that long through the parade, we had to go exploring. There was some very good people watching - although it was terribly sweaty and a little stinky people watching. The flee market had something like 600 stalls. I think we only made it through 2 rows. After the booth that sold enormous bloomers (for decoration? that hard to find gift for the large relative who has everything?) we called it a day.

August 11th - Alex turned 6

It seemed his birthday came so fast after we got home! He had a couple friends over and they seemed to have the most fun just playing and running around, although we did play a few organized games - pin the tail on the donkey and bingo.