Castle Chronicles

autumn has begun to look and feel a bit like winter.  a couple large snowstorms passed through co, much to the amusement of c.  the girls missed the largest of the storms by flying to ia a few days in advance.  girls visited family on both sides, played outside when the weather allowed and created interactive toy universes inside. the goal of our visit was to meet the newest addition to the siefkas family. baby t doesn't interact much yet, but the girls loved doting on him anyway.  we returned to co in time for thanksgiving with grandpa and grandma p.  we then celebrated c's 5th birthday, and are now beginning preparations for Christmas. 1st real snow day a was not amused Airplane to IA! being silly with baby t and grandpa s loving baby t (and grandma d) "driving" the train at holiday lake a few minutes outside in a break from ia precipitation jumping in leaves before ia's 1st snow eating spaghetti all by herself ...

#12 and 13 accomplished, nice long hike without kids! guys game night, no kids? trying to ice skate at a friend's birthday party Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike Passing out comic books at the zoo designing a pumpkin carving said pumpkin writing "stories" all by one's self october proved to be an extra busy month, with many activities involving pumpkins and costumes. the girls visited a pumpkin patch, attended pumpkin decorating parties and costume parties and birthday parties while m attempted to create some occasional learning opportunities.  sometimes we wonder about this homeschool choice.  then c randomly shows us something that proves she is learning, and we rally to continue along this ever evolving "school" path. now, we prepare for a girl trip to ia.  let the packing begin.

september has come and is now almost gone, and this is my first post of the month.  i guess life's been a little busy we've started an arts based homeschool pre-k for c.  georgia o'keeffe was the artist for september, and we even took a field trip to the fine arts center with friends for a travelling exhibit featuring some of georgia's work (which prohibited photography of course, but the girls loved it). experimenting with color lunch at the arts center many moons ago, m took c to see the hot air balloons while j and a slept in. m's favorite c's favorite most fun to watch we've played at parks, climbed trees, gone on hikes, made lots of art, read even more books, and have even managed to sleep a few hours here and there. sometimes they have fun adventure girl  adventure girl's sidekick fall aspens  oh, and one of us has discovered an amazing love of dirt... lots of baths have been required

we're settling into home pre-k, trying to find our rhythm and a schedule that leaves lots of time for chores and play.  we're exploring charlotte mason methods and the writing road to reading (because c is showing interest and unfortunately teaching herself some poor handwriting habits).  we read a lot.  we practice letter sounds.  we play.  we go to the library.  we went to the zoo (just the 3 of us)! alligator, eat 'em up making a treat for an entertaining gibbon hanging with a bear playing in an empty "airplane" chilling with an elephant amazed by everything  we had fun at our annual church picnic.  we all played and exhausted ourselves.  the weather was lovely.  the food was good.  the fellowship and play were "the best yet" according to our pastor.  although we're pretty sure he says that every year. eating the cantaloupe all gone tired, who me?  couldn't be! and now, we pr...