pumpkins without a carving knife...

Elle wanted to carve a sugar pumpkin... I coudn't find out carving knife, so a typical face carving couldn't be performed, so instead we gutted it and took a drill with different size bits to it and it turned out kind of fun!

When you hold it up and turn around- it looks like a great disco ball! =)

My little workers

Here's Elle SCRUBBING her little table. It had so much paint on it from the fall party. I caught sight of her working at cleaning it out the window...

Christian is hammering away at a decorated pumpkin...

Elle scrubs and scrubs...

And scrubs..

He's checking the integrity of the hammer... ;)

I love that my kids have farm chores... and so do they!

And here they are having a bath after the long day! Ha! We gave dada a special foot rub in the tub of hot soapy water, while he relaxed on the couch and then that turned in to the kids wanting to have their bath in that tub downstairs... It is so funny what kids think is exciting.... 'oooo... a bath, in a tub we can hardely fit in, down in a big open room, with none of our bathtoys or cushy bathmat.... oooo..... how exciting!' =)

Fall Party 2012!

Such a beautiful fall day- perfect weather, wonderful guests, very fun memories!

Candy hunt in the straw

Targets for apple sling shot

I love it when people make themselves at home... =) Sleepy sister in law

Kids free to be kids

Just some of the amazing picture frames the kids painted to take with them

maybe someday we'll have a real pony for them to ride. =)

Pressing cider

 

I failed to get photo's of Levi's (cousin) amazing self made bow which he used to try and shoot apples out of the air! AMAZING!  Not to mention, all of the incredible food everyone brought, and the kids going in and trying to pet the sheep... Thank you to all who made the effort to come out and enjoy this day with us- we had a blast!

Cider Press

We got a cider press! I have been wanting on of these for years! So fun for all ages. We have made about 30 gallons so far, all from apples from neighbors trees that would have otherwise just been wasted on the ground. Some of these pictures were taken at our fall party- very fun. The hogs, chickens and sheep all love to eat the pulp that is left so none is wasted. All that sugar sweet fruit helps fatten up the critters (and humans) for the winter.

Glow Sticks in the Bath!

SO much fun! 100 glow sticks for $7 at Michaels craft store. I put about 8 in the bath for the kids and turned off the light... they were SO excited! My kids already like bath time, but this might be a real fun trick for those who have kids who do not like baths (as long as they are not scared of the dark...). Seriously a huge hit! (As glow sticks always are...)

The weekend at Steven's Pass

Unfortunately I don't have any photo's. (I hope to get some from my mom as she took all the photo's over the weekend). But in an effort to track what goes on in our little world for my kids to look back on... I wanted to get this down.
We had an amazing weekend up at Steven's Pass. In about 36 hours it snowed 3 (yes THREE) FEET! It was so beautiful. The kids had so much fun sledding, we went skiing/snowboarding, and snow tubing... which is now by far my favorite "sledding" option. We drooled over all of the snow mobilers and all vowed to rent those next year. The powder was incredible. My younger brother and I even jumped out of the 3rd story window! We thought we might (and I secretly hoped) sink completly under the snow and have to tunnel our way out, but low, we only sunk a few feet. So fun though!
One of the neighboring places set off fireworks (huge ones, like at shows) and I have to say that was AMAZING. I have never seen fireworks in the snow before and it was so beautiful. All of the colors reflecting off the snow, twinkling everywhere... it was remarkable.
The kids did great. Elle really came in to her own with the sledding, was happy to go down by herself, she was ready to jump out the window with us, but I wasn't sure enough that she could jump out far enough to avoid the slop into the house- but still proud she was eager to go for it. She jumped at the opportunity to ride with me down a rediculously steep hill off the side of the road. (I know, I know, some moms are proud when their kids stay clean and avoid dangers- I am proud when they want to be adventuresome and fearless.) =)

Rabbits... in a baby swing...

OH MY!

This is Cuddely.... she is VERY patient and long suffering... and therefore subjected to anything my little ones dream up for her to "enjoy". =) In the back is Jumpy... I could hardly believe she stood for this... but then... she is not having to straddle the swing...

See the hat Elle is wearing around her neck... that was her "baby" carrier 2 minutes before this photo... she had the rabbits in there, around her neck.

I think Cuddly actually liked it... a little... maybe?...

Elle did anyway.

Christian too..

Jumpy is so fluffy, she takes up the whole basket and completly covers Cuddly.

Skirt and snow boots... a perfect testiment to the day's weather... Love that girl...

snow days

We had what many are calling a "Snowpocolips" about 2 weeks ago. We got about 20 inches of snow in the course of 2 days. In Western Washington, that is quite an accomplishment for Mother Nature. Following the snow was crazy freezing rain and tempatures that resulted in EVERYTHING freezing, all the tiny little branches had a half an inch of ice around them, leaves were covered with ice, etc... it was beautiful... and very deadly for many trees, branches and plants. I remember a storm like that when I was in high school 15 years ago, but since then, I have seen nothing like it and I don't think I have ever seen so much snow here in my life. The kids had a lot of fun and it was never much less than 30 degrees so other than easily cold little hands, it wasn't too cold out. Of course with young ones, it tends to be 20 minutes of getting them dressed to play in the snow and then about 15 minutes of play before being ready to come in. Elle stayed out longer, but Christian was done for about 10-15 minutes... also the snow was up to his waist, so it was quite difficult for him to walk in. So fun! All of the photo's are from the first time out, only a few inches had fallen. After that my hands were too full with sleds, Christian and snow balls to have a camera...

I love Elle's snowman... notice the big smile she "drew" on it... and of course I love her artistic hair due and the fact that "she" needed a "neckolace" (the big leaf). =)

I love our property!