Letter M

This week was brought to you by the letter M. We made M crafts and played M games even made M cupcakes.

Crafts: glued macaroni on a letter M, mouse, and monkey.

Games: monkeys jumping on the bed, looking for things that start with M on our walks to the park (we found mailbox, motorcycle, motor home, motor boat, mailman), looking for the letter M on signs.

Food: Mickey Mouse cupcakes.

Will made a W, because M is just an upside down W.

Christmas

So I know Christmas is months away, but both Will and Madelyn are very excited and talking about Christmas all the time.

On any given day you can hear us singing Christmas carols, discussing what kind of food the reindeer like, where Santa lives or what kind of cookies Santa will like the most. It is also decided that Santa like chocolate milk the best.

Tonight Will said maybe we could make carrot cookies for Santa then he could share with the reindeer. I said I didn't know if Santa liked carrot cookies. Will's response. Well maybe he should try them you never know what you might like if you try it, right Mom. That's right buddy! Just keep remembering that!

Until Christmas rest assured I have not begun my shopping and we definitely are going to be encouraging the kids to donate some toys before Christmas comes this year.

Exploding Sidewalk Chalk

Nothing say fun like something exploding. Kids loved this, next time I will add more vinegar and baking soda to speed up process!

No Water

Our water is off this afternoon as they are fixing a waterline. We seen the leak this morning while out for a walk. What a great opportunity to discuss how fortunate we are to have running water. 

I think I totally blew the kids minds when we were discussing what not having running water. Here are some examples:

- Will said you would have to carry water to flush the toilet. So I explain there were no flush toilets, what a concept, only outside toilets. 

- Another tough concept, no washing machine or dryer.

- I blew William's mind with the concept of no dishwasher. That would be a lot of dishes to wash, like 200!

- Finally, the concept of having to carry dirty water back out and it not just going down the drain into the sewer was interesting to the kids. I was impressed that Will said you would not want to put the dirty water back down the well, maybe dump it somewhere else like the trees, or next time you would have dirty water to wash with. Good thinking buddy!

Of course within 15 minutes of the water being off both kids had to poop, so now we have no more flushes left for the afternoon and poop sitting in the toilet (sorry if too much information). On the plus side I can't do any more laundry so once I fold the one load from yesterday and make the two beds that I already washed this morning I am done with laundry for the day! 

Parkinson's Super Walk

This year we participated in the Parkinson's Super Walk with the Gatrell Family. It was a great time had by all and we raised almost $2000  as a team for Parkinson's. 

 People were encouraged to dress like superheroes.  The kids dressed up!

For anyone that does not know Chris' Grandma Gatrell had Parkison's so the cause is near to all our hearts. 

Hopefully we will make this an annual event next year I maybe a bit more aggressive with fund raising!

Things Kids Say

Madelyn:

-daddy you broke my hair cut, I need a new one! After Chris washed her hair.

William

-mommy did you know on t.v. They say the first letter of my name three times in a row, all the time? 

Happy weekend!

Dressing Your Baby

How to tell the difference between a first, second and third child by their wardrobe.

Child #1: from 2 weeks on you dress in cute outfits because you read somewhere that this will help ensure your child keeps days nights separate. And really you have all the time in the day for wardrobe changes.

Child #2: after first month, you ensure baby is in a cute outfit when you leave the house, outside of that sleepers are fine.

Child #3: you have all the cute outfits washed ready to go, but who has time for that? They live in sleepers! Except for that one event where you put on a cute outfit and cursed at the little baby socks that kept falling off and trying to put on baby pants, conclude that next time a clean sleeper will work. Heck people should be happy all 3 of your children are clothed at the same time and semi clean...