Call Day #91, 10/31/14

 Oliver spent the morning playing with his trains in his room. It kept him occupied both before and during the American Girl meeting that we hosted this morning. Trains are his latest favorite thing and he has a word for them that no one would understand, "duh duh." It used to be "duh duh DOO" for chugga chugga choo but got shortened.

Kids doing a craft to go along with the books we read.

It was a packed house! We had 19 kids and 5 moms.

Claire having fun making her skirt big over the heat vent, with a ballet pose.

Getting dressed for trick-or-treating. Oliver checks out his costume, a cowboy outfit that was Erik's when he was little.

Nanny helping get the princesses ready.

Serious cowboy.

Oliver's version of a smile.

Rapunzel, cowboy, and Snow White.

Ringing a doorbell.

Some people in the neighborhood get really into Halloween! We made sure to visit some friends nearby. Yes, Erik, that is your boss as a penguin.

Is Eleanor peeking in the window?

Nanny joined us in walking around the neighborhood.

Oliver was happy in the stroller for the first half of the evening. Then, he wanted to get out and join in. He insisted on carrying his bucket himself and going to each door with Eleanor and Claire. For some reason, whether because it was dark or because of the bucket, he kept tripping and falling. Still, he happily kept at it til we made it home.

Oliver enjoyed some cookies when we got home and the girls each picked a tootsie pop to enjoy.

Eleanor and Claire enjoyed handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters who came to our door, and Oliver had a good seat to watch it all.

Call Day #90, 10/17/14

We spent the morning at a Colonial Days event. They had toys like those of the period. Claire gravitated toward the dolls (of course!).

We toured the old house on the property and heard about their hard work to keep enough food on hand.

Oliver didn't like listening to the talk in the house and hung out on the back porch. He became the center of attention for the high school kids.

Even high-fiving them!

Claire found a stump to sit on and wanted a silly picture.

We watched cider being made from apples.

A demonstration of how to fire a canon.

Watched a musket be loaded and fired.

Saw the blacksmith at work.

Then had our picnic lunch. Oliver is quite happy with a juicebox of any sort.

The girls wanted to climb the nearby rock.

We bought some candy sticks at the gift shop.

 It was a nice day and I lay on our picnic blanket while the girls ran around. Soon, I had this guy sitting on me.

Up close.

After rest time at home the girls watched a video. While I was making dinner, I heard a loud thump from the living room and a real cry. Claire was bleeding a lot and had a gash above her eye. By the time I stopped the bleeding, I found what Oliver had been up to--cereal on the floor and a pile on the high chair.

We visited Daddy at work who confirmed the need for stitches.

Thinking about when/where to get stitches.

After asking a neighbor to watch the girls for a few minutes and having a friend from shepherding group take Eleanor and Oliver to church (where the four of us would have been going this evening anyway), Claire and I headed to urgent care. Daddy's colleagues were nice enough to send him to join us there. Claire was a champ holding still and getting stitches.

We made it to church in time for the last 5 min of shepherding group. Claire was clearly not slowed down by her injury.

Back at home finishing up the dinner we grabbed on the way to church. When asked what dinner she'd like post-stitches, she picked a cheeseburger and smoothie. 

Call Day #89, 10/12/14

Eleanor found a new way to come down the stairs for breakfast. Claire copied. Oliver watched.

 

Oliver always wants a drink from the water fountain at church. He doesn't need too much help since there's a step, just someone to push the button for him.

Oliver likes to draw. The best part is when he shows off his drawing and says "oooh" because that's what everyone else says when they look at his efforts.

Post-quiet time apples and a longer video than normal because it's Sunday Funday. :)

Make-your-own pizzas for dinner. Can you make out the faces they made?

Sundaes for dessert.

Oliver in some of his favorite pajamas, throwing a ball to Eleanor. He can point to each type of ball when asked. The boy loves to play with them, and it is not uncommon for him to start or end his day asking for a ball. He asks for them in the morning and sometimes takes one to bed at night.

Call Day #88, 10/5/14

After church this morning, we went to lunch with Nanny and Papa. Looking at the fish tank in the restaurant.

Oliver took over Nanny's tea cup and enjoyed sips of hot tea with his spoon.

After nap, the girls were eager to watch a video. (If they go to bed well and are quiet in the morning, they earn a video for the next day.)

We went to a monthly evening service at church tonight. Afterward, Nanny reminded us it was supposed to be Sunday Funday and suggested milkshakes. Ice cream for dinner!

Call Day #87, 10/3/14

Playing with water while the bigger kids do school on the porch.

Finishing up a chapter of science, reviewing definitions of many new words. They've learned a lot! (And, it's chemistry, so I've had fun seeing them discuss advanced concepts.)

Sharing a water bucket.

Claire had a date with Nanny this morning so Eleanor, Oliver, and I spent the morning together. Eleanor helped set the agenda which mostly revolved around getting supplies to "boo" our neighbors (neighborhood tradition where a basket of goodies is left on your step and you, in turn, do the same to two other families in the neighborhood). Along the way, we spotted a fire truck in the Sam's parking lot. Oliver has seen them in books and on his pajamas but not in person until today.

All my kids think the balls out front of Target are great.

Oliver's first trip to a pet store. He loved that the birds had a ball to play with! That's what he's pointing to.

Zig-zagging through carts at Sam's.

We had lunch and a milkshake before heading home.

Oliver likes to do this series of silly faces/things with eyes because it gets laughs from his sisters. First, look up and look serious.

Close eyes.

Frown.

He was clearly performing for the camera.

Going out to eat is important and special to her in a way that it just isn't for Claire. (Takes after her Daddy.)

Sorting things and packing boo baskets. She really wanted to deliver them tonight and had a hard time waiting til tomorrow.

Nanny joined us for dinner since Papa was working late. Eleanor and Claire wanted to show her all of the fun science songs they've been enjoying. Who knew there were so many songs about the Periodic Table?