Painted Pumpkins

I love crafts!  I really have not had the time to do any crafts for the last, oh, almost three years, but I see the light at the end of the no-time-for-crafts tunnel.  "K" and I recently painted some small pumpkins and gourds, as a fall craft project.  We had a fun time!  After they dried, I placed them on the window sills and next to some of my plants.

We used acrylic paint (not washable) and sponges to paint our pumpkins.  We wore old t-shirts, and I covered our work space with paper.  It worked very well!  Check out our pumpkin art!  I recommend giving it a try yourself!

Pumpkin Painting

In honor of the fall season, and Mr. Fixit having to work, I trekked to Eastside Westside Market with the boys.  We were in search of a "great, big pumpkin," according to "K!"  We did, indeed, select a big pumpkin -- but I thought some little ones would be really fun for "K" to paint. So, he picked out some little pumpkins too.

Since "L" took a longer than normal nap this day - we took advantage of the time, and painted our pumpkins!  "K's" favorite color choice was blue.  So, pumpkins are in the process of getting a little costume themselves!

Bucket of Balls

'Tis the season for hedge balls.  And, if you are a small boy, they are fun to gather!  These hedge balls happen to be from last season though.  They made it through the winter and summer.  They are quite small and black now - yuck - but, obviously desirable to toddlers!  "K" gathered them, and "L" enjoys transferring them from bucket to bucket.

Meanwhile, "K" was entertained with an assortment of tools: shovels, rakes, hammer, screwdrivers and more, as Mr. Fixit was constructing the front deck step.  Free entertainment offered daily here!

Deck Dude

We (Mr. Fixit) has been meaning to finish the entrance to the kitchen part of our house, which, people have naturally chosen as our "main" entrance.  So, it needed a bit of work to make it a bit easier to access.  Mr. Fixit began constructing a large deck step.  This happens to be the "in process" step. As you can see, it is quite level!

The day we came home, "K" would not even come in for supper.  He was busily "working" the entire time the rest of us ate.  Thankfully, Mr. Fixit unplugged the saw removed all of the dangerous equipment.  "K" practiced lining up screws, measuring with the measuring tape and checking to see how level the project was.  We give it two thumbs up!!

Zoo Vizit

Recently, the boys' "school," scheduled a time for the local zoo to drop by - with some animal guests, of course.  My work schedule allowed me to be present for the special visit.  It was quite the site to see a room filled with infants, toddlers and two-year-olds and the teen zoo educator.  She indicated she normally works with adult groups =)

Well, the room was bustling with activity, and the kids loved seeing and touching a snake, tortoise, ferret, snow leopard pelt, and scorpion.  It was quite the sight!  The zoo docent did a marvelous job, considering the chaos that pretty much always abounds with small children.  Hopefully, she will come again soon!

Duet

It is really amazing how much "L" copies off his big bro.  If "K" tries it, well, "L" will not miss a beat.  He wants to try it too!  This is proving to be an adventure in the toy department.  We simply do not have two of very many things!!  However, I thought the piano bench was big enough for two boys to play.

The playing "together" aspect lasted all of 30 seconds.  Well, maybe 40 seconds, but seriously, we did not even make it to one minute!!  So, we (basically me) made the executive decision to take turns at the piano.  I do not think we are ready to offer a concert just yet, but "L" did master not falling off the bench.  A great first step, right?

Piano Man

One of the most fun things to do, while visiting Grandma, is to play the piano!  "K" and "L" love sitting on the bench and exploring this large, musical instrument.  They both are not good at sharing the keyboard, and the music that is played, well, it could use a bit of work!  However, it is still fun to watch them explore.

All of Mr. Fixit's sisters learned to play the piano, while Mr. Fixit and his brothers all learned to play guitar.  I think that is a truly remarkable thing, and hope that these little guys will enjoy playing an instrument some day too.  That is one thing that I wish I could have done as a child.  So, play us a tune, Mr. Piano Man!!

Combine Ride

On a recent visit to Uncle "F's" farm, it was soybean harvest time, so Uncle "F" was prepping this machine for the field.  "K" was mesmerized by the massiveness of this machine.  Uncle "F" took a little time to give the little guys rides.  "K" is still talking about this event!  Check out that John Deere!!

I snapped a photo as they approached me.  "K" was in the jump seat, and "L" got to sit on Uncle "F's" lap.  I am sure he was a great steerer!!

We really wanted to make it back for corn harvest, but the scheduling just did not work this year.  So, corn harvest is on our plan for next year.  Just think a combine and a "big truck" ride, all in one day.   I am sure "K" will talk a mile a minute about that experience!!

Grandma Time

"K" has figured out who Grandma is, and that, well, she will give him candy!  He even expressed this enroute on a recent Sunday visit.  So, we decided to snap a photo of the wiggly boys and Grandma "F!"  "L" was not really interested in sitting still, but after a few shots, this one turned out to be the best.

We try to have a Sunday lunch with Grandma once a month.  The little boys are not happy travelers, most of the time, so the event does help them become a bit more patient while riding in the car.  On second thought, maybe it is a lesson in patience for Mr. Fixit and I!

We enjoyed a delicious lunch and a nice visit.  Thank you Grandma for all the goodies!

Pepper Pose

The child care center has a garden, however, I am not entirely certain that much reached maturity!  Many little hands had fun "picking" the produce as soon as it was discovered.  "K" loved picking tomatoes at home, so I can only imagine the fun he had picking them at "school!"

"K" is holding a pepper in this photo.  It is a tiny banana pepper, and likely would have enjoyed growing just a bit longer before harvest.  However, "K" is proudly sharing his pepper with Miss "E" during some outdoor play.  I love fresh produce!  I always miss the summer treats in the middle of winter.  So, I am trying to savor the tastes now!

Mom & Boys

Mr. Fixit decided that I should be in a picture on the rock pile, with the boys.  I told him that it would really be a better backdrop for Dad and boys, but he insisted.  So, here is our picture!  I think Mr. Fixit did quite well!  The boys really enjoyed climbing the rock pile and moving the rocks.  Shovels ready?

Birthday Shirt

"L" received some very cute shirts for his birthday, and since he is doing a fabulous job of growing - he is wearing most of that wardrobe right now!  Check out this cute, one-piece shirt.  I love one-piece shirts!  They stay tucked in, and work well when you really do not want to put a pair of shorts on.  Yeah!

I also love the color orange!  Orange is bright, cheery and looks fantastic next to the boys' skin.  My favorite color is green, but I honestly, and truly think that orange is one of the best fashion colors for these little guys.  Fall is the perfect time to wear orange!

Lid & Container Memory

Several other experienced Mom friends of mine, recommended that it is best to have a drawer or cabinet where toddlers can have free reign.  Why, you might ask?  Well, it gives them a place that they can play that is safe, and keeps them out of the places where you would rather not have them! 

"L" loves this drawer!  For awhile, he was content in hauling the contents out, and then tossing them back in.  However, now he insists upon sitting inside the drawer to "work."  It really is quite entertaining!  He is mesmerized by trying to match lids and bottoms.  Generally, he does not do too bad.  This will keep him busy for about 20 minutes, which allows me to get dishes washed after dinner!

Milk Label

We now are a house of two milks - again - for the next year!  "L" is on whole milk, and will be due to the extra fat within this milk.  It is great for baby brain development ;)  There is also milk that "K" and I drink.  Having two milks is perplexing to Mr. Fixit.  How does one keep track?!?

So, I have labeled the milks.  I will forever have to do this -- did I mention for a year -- until we are once again a one milk house.  It is a good thing that it is school supply season.  I think that I might just need to purchase a new package of fun colored permanent markers for this occasion, don't you think? ;)

Hay Season

This was the perfect summer for hay.  We were blessed with lots of rain during the typical hot times of the summer, so the hay was quite happy!  Earlier in September, the pasture bordering our property was mowed, raked and baled.  The boys loved observing this process!

This is the first step of hay cutting: actually mowing it.  It works similar to a regular lawnmower, but on a much larger scale.  One difference, is that the hay is cut into long pieces.  This makes it much easier to bale.

After the hay has been cut, usually the next day, the hay is raked.  A large rake-like implement is attached to the tractor to achieve this.  The rake piles the hay nicely, and makes it much easier to pick up when baling occurs.  Which, you have probably guessed is the next step!

To bale the hale, a baler implement is attached to the tractor.  The hay is scooped into the baler, and wound tightly into a cylinder.  Once the bale is completed, a mesh wrap is applied, by the baler, and the bale is pushed out onto the ground.  Later, they will be collected and moved to a storage area for winter feeding.

One point to note: it has to be dry to cut, and especially bale hay.  Baling wet hay will cause it to mold, and then, it will not be edible for the livestock.  So, here is lunch, for those winter months.  Yum!