climbing

we've also enjoyed climbing our big tree... well, some of us climb.  I don't do heights.

fall fun with pumpkins

we enjoyed a great time at Butler's for their Pumpkin Days!
[had to post, since I'm actually in a photo!  Thanks, Dienny!]

snow in October

couldn't believe they were calling for snow in October here in Maryland.

And that it actually came and is sticking on the ground!

what throws me for a loop is the colorful leaves and the snow

snow on the hosta

another MD earthquake

we were fine in the earthquake... nothing happened here except the house shaking. 
We were all trying to nap (it was 1:53pm).
Billy came in my room asking, "What was that, Mommy?  Were you bouncing downstairs on the trampoline?"

TOO funny, since

1. I don't bounce
2. the trampoline is in his room, where he was supposed to be napping/resting

found outside

fighting boys who needed helmets (and snacks)

and this HUGE, bright green caterpillar. Compare him to my finger, and you will get the idea for how big it is. Anyone know what kind of moth or butterfly this will become? We didn't keep it...

camping photos

we had a wonderful time camping, with the boys going in the lake in their pajamas most mornings, not wanting to wait for us to help them into their bathing suits...

the boys loved helping with the triplets and seeing the bald eagle right by our campsite... (so cool since we had studied the bald eagle this spring)
One night, Charlie kept running his dump truck under the girls while they were eating dinner. I did not have enough energy to make him stop, but Granny put an end to it :)

here's what the van looked like, when we were unpacking, trying to find things like bathing suits upon arrival... it had been filled to the roof :)

the spring moon

not sure which of these is the clearest, but they are my favorites of the 20 or so I took the other night when it was a fullish moon. Haven't been successful before. Should use the tripod next time and maybe get something spectacular--for me any way.

digging

We just need to be outside, Mom.

We have to dig.

*snow*day*

here we are... my boys

and the snow :) [well, the little bit of ice and snow that measured 1/2 inch. Pictures of the "real" snow that came 10+hours later are to come.]

clouds

I taught a lesson on clouds today, starting with the book It Looked Like Spilt Milk, then showed Billy a poster from Enchanted Learning about clouds and their names and then we glued cotton balls, pulled out thin or in big puffs, onto cardboard [used the inside of an empty cereal box, just used the largest sides as our surface].

Charlie did his own cloud creation--he liked to put cotton on drops of glue.

Followed up with a weather journal entry, and then cloudy cracker snack--graham crackers with PB and marshmallow fluff.

oh stink

These stink bugs are all over the place. Apparently, they are here from China. And they are coming in the house and flying all over--like ladybugs used to do. Here they are in between the thermometer and the outside glass of our window... first it was one, then two, three, four, then seven, now six.

Also, they are just beginning mating season, I heard at Bible Study this week.

the four seasons trees

Four Seasons Tree
I made this for use with The Seasons Of Arnold's Appple Tree.  Going to use it for science and art all wrapped up with a read aloud.  Maybe one tree per page for a large art project; could easily re-do this!

fall

found one lone red leaf on the deck when we went out Sept 15... the sign of things to come

playground fun

We've been enjoying some playgrounds with Daddy on the weekends. This photo was taken in May on my cell phone. Today we went to IHOP for dinner and stopped at a different school playground on the way home. Love watching the boys play with Daddy outside!

Boat Fishing

De's great friend Sean has a boat.
They go fishing each summer on a Guy's Fishing Trip.
They have fun.
They caught fish this year.
Here's proof :)

[The number of fingers De is showing is the number sequence of fish he caught.]

Sean is holding/wrestling De's fish. It was 4.5 pounds. Sean took him home and ate him for dinner.

Sugarloaf

We climbed Sugarloaf Mountain today... in 45 minutes, me and two boys. Billy didn't want to stop at all, but just kept climbing and Charlie only wanted to be carried about 1/2 way up and then maybe 3/4 of the way down.

"What a fun, great day, Mommy," according to Billy.

LOVE this 70 degree weather we are having!

Hiking pictures here: http://mustakas.shutterfly.com/

snow bound morning

I have found some wonderful recipes recently at the

Heavenly Homemaker's blog, and decided this morning was the perfect time to make her donuts... (De and Billy were very excited about the prospect of donuts too)

So, with coffee and donuts I sat infront of a fire [which De had decided to make], and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast treat, before going out to shovel :)

Saw this hanging over the back gutter as I spoke on the phone with my sister in sunny, 70 degree Florida!

Autumn

We went to the local Renaissance Festival with friends and had a wonderful time together though it was an overcast day. Billy loved yelling at/encouraging the "feat of strength" participants. Charlie had a good time at home with my aunt and uncle.

In October we also got to pick a pumpkin at my aunt's house and both boys enjoyed holding and touching the smooth rind. I can't believe Thanksgiving will soon be here!