Christmas program rehearsal

Christmas company--First Round

Jonathan's parents and brother came for a visit this past weekend.  We packed a lot into only a few days.  Saturday we had rehearsal for the children's Christmas program at church, and then did it at a local nursing home.  We also cut down our tree, and Jonathan and I had the staff Christmas party that evening.  Sunday was the actual program at church, and then Lois and I attended a women's Christmas tea in the afternoon.  Monday we exchanged gifts and decorated the tree.  Tuesday we went to see a lights display up in Springfield, after going out for dinner.  We also found time to get a family picture taken, and the men decorated the outside of the house with lights.  Benjamin said next time everyone should stay until it's actually Christmas, because then we could see them longer!

Just my size!

Found the tree!

Playing on the iPhones.

Cardinals gear!

Decorating the tree

Impressive lights display!  We've been up to see it several times, and it never disappoints!

Gift from the church's early childhood center

Story and a Song

Benjamin made this book in school.

Paul wanted to be on video, too.

Snuggle time

Lately, there have been some days when Paul doesn't think he needs a nap.  Occasionally he can make it without a nap and without things turning ugly by the end of the day.  Last Monday was one of those days he walked out of his room after 10 minutes and told us his nap was done.  I convinced him to snuggle with Daddy on the couch, and they both got a little nap in.

Fall to Winter

Weathering the Storm

We are thankful to have come through the hurricane with no damage to our house or the church.  We were without power from Monday afternoon to Tuesday evening--about 29 hours.  Not too bad, according to other reports of continuing power outages.  Benjamin missed three days of school.  

I put this label on the toilet to remind the boys not to flush.  We had two flushes and a few hand washes in the tank before the water ran out.

Snack time!

Candle-light dinner

Halloween

We went to the truck-or-treat in town on Friday evening.  It was SO crowded this year--maybe everyone is afraid they won't be able to go on Halloween because of the hurricane coming.  Paul was a dinosaur and Benjamin was a paper plate monster of his own creation.  

Jonathan got creative this year, and made a cat face.  The boys thought this might scare away the mice that usually nibble on our jack-o-lantern.  Bella recognized it as a cat immediately when we were skyping.  Jonathan said it made his day!

Hay ride with the group from the early childhood center.

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is a re-creation of a seaport town in the 1870's.  There's so much to see--the village, the ships, children's museum, animals.  We'd never taken the boys, and they had a great time.

Love their facial expressions!  Paul looks so happy that his brother just fell overboard!

Benjamin's Questions

Benjamin has always been full of questions, but lately some of them have been a little more deep.  Here's a sampling of some of the things that have come out of his mouth lately:

• I hope I always believe in Jesus, don't you?
• What happens to the people who don't believe in Jesus?
• Will I be old enough to take care of myself when you die Mommy?
• I hope Daddy doesn't get hit by a car and die.
• What happened to Judas after he betrayed Jesus?
• Why do I have to go to school everyday?  
• I wish I could stay home and live with you forever!  (Might have to look back on this one when he's a teenager!)
• Who will teach me how to drive?
• Uncle David asked me what I was doing in school.  I responded that I am learning my letters and how to sit quietly and raise my hand when I have something to say.  (Seriously, he used the word "responded!")
• What happens if I miss the bus?
• Does God make tornadoes happen?
• When is the world going to end?
• What if we had a fire in our house, and there was a tornado outside?
• And there are the incessant questions when I'm cooking.  Ever since Jonathan accidently put an electric kettle on a stove this summer at a cabin, Benjamin wants to know if everything is okay while I'm cooking.  Doesn't help that they just went over fire safety in school! Wherever could he have gotten "worry genes" from?!  No one on either side of the family ever worries!  (Nor are we sarcastic!)

Fortunately, we have not gotten this question yet:  "Where do babies come from?"

Coloring and tents

Benjamin has really been into coloring lately, which, of course, means Paul has been coloring a lot too.  Benjamin loves to use markers because they don't ever use them at school.  Paul learned how to write the letter "P" recently, so he spends a lot of his coloring time making P's.  "Line down, and a bubble."  

The boys made tents for themselves the other day.  They constructed them with very little help from me.

Apple picking

We feel fortunate to have apple orchards 20 minutes from us.  Unlike other family members, we don't have to drive hours to another state to pick our apples.  =)

Waterfall

Benjamin didn't have school Monday, so we took a drive with an older couple from church.  Our destination was a state park with a waterfall on the western side of the state.  We had some lunch at a barbeque place, and then the younger folks hiked up to the top of the waterfall.  As you can see, some of the trees have started turning, but not all of them yet.  It also wasn't sunny, so the colors we did see weren't as brilliant.  We also drove over some old covered bridges, two of the few you can actually still drive over.

Troublesome Trucks

It's not really a good day if you can't get a little dirty!

These were taken a couple weeks ago.  We haven't been outside much lately with sickness sweeping through the family!  I think Benjamin is learning more in kindergarten than how to catch germs, but the verdict is still out.  We're hoping for a healthier October!

No training wheels

Last Tuesday morning, Benjamin wanted me to take off his training wheels.  I managed to get them off, and we had about 15 minutes of unsteadiness and me holding on to him, before he just took off by himself.  By the end of the day he was even turning corners.  I was very impressed, since I know it took me significantly longer to learn to ride my bike!

Back to school math equation

5 days of kindergarten + 4 days of preschool = 2 boys with pink eye

Our first camping "trip"

To say farewell to summer and warm nights, we tried out camping in our backyard on Friday.  We set up the tent, got our sleeping bags, lit the campfire, roasted s'mores, and told ghost stories.  The boys were so excited and loved it!  I think we might be ready for the real thing next summer.  (As long as it's not too hot or cold, we have running water, and it doesn't rain...but that's just me!)

Two-wheeler!

Paul taught himself how to ride Benjamin's bike a few weeks ago.

Benjamin's first day of kindergarten

Paul coming home, Benjamin leaving

On the "practice" bus ride the day before school started

Paul's first day of preschool

Before

After