THANKSGIVING! THAT'S WHAT HOLIDAY IT IS.

Quick Takes Today:

1)  The next holiday is Thanksgiving.  I know this for a fact, despite the fact that none of the stores have ANY decent selection of Turkey or Scarecrow bulletin boards.  That I need for the school party Monday.

2)  I also know this, despite the fact that the party is called a FALL party, and not a holiday/Thanksgiving party.  What was that thing Seinfeld had? Festivus?  Why don't we just introduce the 5 year olds to that?

3)  I'm actually pleased that I found out about the missing turkeys today, instead of Sunday night.  This is my version of planning ahead.  I get bonus points for spending umpteen hours on Pinterest 'researching' fall crafts.  And then another hour looking up fall GAMES after I realized that's what I signed up for.  And then another 30 minutes tonight reviewing BOTH crafts and games, when I realized that no one else had signed up for the craft slot.

4) Signup Genius is awesome.  Except when it isn't.  That's pretty much my philosophy on all technology.

5) When the weatherfolk say there's ARCTIC anything in the forecast, it makes me dream of a sandy white beach Christmas.  Hey, maybe that's where all the turkeys and scarecrows are?!

Vote- Fall Crafts?

Happy Fall!  Time for you to enlighten me with your worth-more-than-2-cents-opinion.   I need a fall craft for a group of 5 year olds, nothing religious, and it can't take more than 15 minutes or so..... so, please vote on one of these (see poll to the right!!)  OR send me another suggestion (comments or email).


Option 1:   Handprint Owls 
This is really cute.  http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/17575/handprint-owls
Materials:  Cut and paste, with construction paper.  Prep time:  a bit, since I'd need to pre-cut the smaller parts (beak, feet, eyes).

Option 2:  Hand/Arm/Fingerprint Trees.
I really like the idea of this on canvas, but probably would keep it simpler / cheaper.  Materials:  Paint and construction paper. Prep: minimal, since the kids do most of the work!  Cleanup would be a bit more!

Option 3: Apple Stamping 
Is there a version of this with mini pumpkins or gourds?? With this one, I like the idea of using paper bags, as it can be useful later too, and not just decoration. Materials:  fall veggies (apples, pumpkins, squash, corn?!), construction or other heavy paper, paint OR large stamp pads.   http://happyhooligans.ca/fall-colour-apple-stamping/

Now that I'm thinking about it, I could do any of these on a kids apron, or beige kitchen towel, or paper bag... or even laminate them into place mats to make them more versatile than just a paper craft.  Hmm- what would you LIKE your kid to bring home as a school craft??   Any ideas for take home crafts that that don't involve just paper or decoration?  Create your own toys? Storytelling rocks?  Magnets?  Anyone?

Apple of my Eye

We headed to a local orchard last weekend, to pick a half bushel of apples.  How many?  Er... a gigantic bag full?  Enough to eat some, bake a pie, make 6 pints of applesauce AND have a dozen left over - which will soon be turned into cider.   Soon-ish, anyway.

JimDad was on the hunt for the perfect apple:  big and red.  He would always spot the 'perfect' one near the top, and try to convince Kaden to climb / jump / fly up there to go grab one.

Wonder boy was much more comfortable with two feet on the ground.  He loved going under and through the trees, and at one point declared himself the "lower picker upper".   

He was also less concerned with finding a 'perfect' apple, as he was with grabbing ANY apple in his reach.  We did convince him not to grab the half rotted ones, and to try to find ones with more red than green.

It was fun all around.  Though it is getting chilly for our Florida blood, and so we probably shouldn't be headed out for field expeditions in shorts.  Slow learning curve we have sometimes!

Worth it, though.  Since we're here, we might as well embrace Fall !

Artsy Fartsy Fall

There's no getting around the season anymore- it's really Fall.  

Even when the sky is a pretty blue...

But a certain round of birthdays comes up

And if I can go outside with just one jacket on, 

it's time for a walk.

We took these shots wandering around my in-laws property.

 I was amazed at how different the trees were from our area (45 minutes away).

Inside the forest/woods, it seemed a lot less vibrant.

More damp and misty, though.

I was happy to get out before it got too dark...

There's a lot of stories about being in the woods at night.

None are encouraging.  I remembered why.

I know a lot of people love fall.  This year, we're still transitioning to life in PA.  

But I'm pretty sure I love visiting Fall.

Because living in Fall?

This Floridian is already cold!  

Mini Kaden Stories

Kaden was trying to climb onto the chair I was occupying. "Move over" he says, "You're in the way." ME? I asked, "You're the one being incorrigible." He reached the top, stood up straight and yelled "INNNCORRRRIBBBLLLEEE"

***
Since he misbehaved at dinner, he didn't get a third helping of peaches. I wasn't worried, since it was his THIRD helping. A little over an hour later, I hear the kitchen gate close and little feet walking across the tile. Then the pantry door open, a little rustling. Then nothing. I peek over the counter to see our boy sitting in the middle of the floor, eating cereal out of the box. Happily... and quietly. Guess he needed the third serving after all.

***
Whilst I was busy in the bathroom, Kaden (fully dressed) walked into the shower, closed the door and starting singing at the top of his lungs "I NEED A HERO..." Hey, I asked, is that Dad in the shower? Kaden opened the door and laughed "No, Mama, it's me" I faked a suprised look and said "Oh, it's Kaden acting like Daddy in the shower." He laughed again, closed the door, and resumed singing at the top of his lungs "It's KAAADENNNN, acting like DAAAADDY, singing about a HEEEEERO in the SHOOOOOWWWER"

***
When asked, he loves to water plants. Only he gets about a third of it on the plant, a third of it on the cement, and a third of it on himself. All on purpose.

***
He also loves to cook. Mostly this involves filling pots with water and mixing ingredients, with more care than the plants get. There's lots of smiling and "YUM, this looks GOOD" type of comments.

***
Kaden was telling me something that happened at school, and absentmindedly I said "Really?" to which he replied, "Really, REALLY"

Other current favorite phrases:
What happened?
Oh, that's my ____ (whatever he's looking at)
Hello!
I love YOU more.
That's funny.

***
With the exception of the phrases, which have been around a bit, everything else in this post happened within the last 48 hours. I left out the numerous time outs because, really really, they aren't that fun. But otherwise, the weather is beautiful and life is good! We love YOU more!

Fall Funk

I'm in a funk. Can't be helped: some relatives, near and far, are sick. I can't help much, if any. Kaden isn't sick, exactly, but also isn't sleeping thru the night because a post-nasal-drip cough. Last night, he added throwing up to the mix. Feel very sorry for him. Not for me, because he's only done that about 3 x in his whole little life. But for him, who clearly doesn't like projecting ANYTHING out of his mouth (save for the spitting phase he's entered, which is a whole nother post). Because, picture this: I'm holding him over the sink, he throws up a bit and then wails: "Mama, what's happening?" Oh, baby.

Also, the whole daycare/school thing is better for him, possibly. He's not crying at drop off, and today actually ran over to some friends to say hi and got a big hug in return. But when asked about his day, he tells me he cried when it was time to lay down. "And then I woke up okay." Er? His daily report says he slept "well" and his teach didn't say anything... so?

Also, we have an awesome weekend getaway coming up with the family, but can't focus on the fun because I have a ton of stuff that I need to get done (that pre-vacation scramble at home and work!!) AND there's a remote but still possible audit happening at work, and if you know me at all you know that keeping records is NOT my talent. In fact, today I went through 4 years of stuff and found that one whole year is MIA. So on the cover report, I put "misfiled". Which is what happened, because I KNOW I did this stuff, and made all the parents fill out their forms, but still: not a single form from that year was found.

But-- just to show you it's not all gloom and doom here-- October is right around the corner and it is *by far* my favorite month. At a drugstore the other day, Kaden and I went in to look for some stuff, and he spent most of the time staring at a 8 foot high animated black cat suspended from the ceiling. The rest of the time, he warned the other customers about it : "Kitty cat scary. Right there (pointing over)." Huh, maybe October won't be as fun as I think it will?

How do YOU celebrate Halloween with little ones around? With stuff like this or... ? options, please!