Santa Visit

This morning we got up to go see Santa.  Yes, it's early, but I got a coupon for the big picture package for less than the little package, the only catch was you had to use it before Nov 30.  I saw these cute ideas on Pinterest of doing chalk drawings and putting a Christmas Tree on a play car.  These are my renditions of those ideas.  They may end up being our Christmas Card this year. 

Then we went to see The Big Elf.  Hailey had been saying all week that she would sit on his lap and would not cry.  This was her saying this!  Not me feeding it to her.  So I thought for sure it would go fine.  I did not dress, apply makeup or do my hair.  I thought she would have fun.  Paige went right up to him and sat on his lap and began chatting away.  She is of the stage of  1 million and 1 questions, so she talked his ear off.  But Hailey was still very hesitant.  I ended up having to be in the picture with her on my lap.  She even told Brian, "Paige sat on Santa's lap and I sat on Mama's lap."  Paige asked for a Rainbow Dash My Little Pony (ONE instance of watching the cartoon My Little Pony and it stuck with her!  This is why they DO NOT watch much TV), a puzzle and candy.  Hailey asked for a My Little Pony and candy.  I think Santa can fit the bill. 

Thanksgiving Day 2012

 

This Thanksgiving was spent at home.  I prepared the day before by doing a punch of prep cooking which made the actual day much more enjoyable as I didn't have to spend it all in the kitchen.  We allowed the girls to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV.  They both really liked it and it kept their attention.  I could have done without some of the commercials, but it was a fun treat for them.  I also kept up with our new tradition introduced last year of decorating gingerbread houses.  I cheated a bit this year and bought the kit that had huge cookies.  I will definitely buy the houses again next year.  The flat dimension was not as much fun as the 3D.  Dinner turned out great and I didn't overcook the turkey!  My mom joined us after work and brought apple pie and yummy jello salad.  It was a wonderful day.  

 

Couch cushions on the floor to watch the parade.

Paige doing her gingerbread

Brian carving the turkey

Nanny & Paige at the table. 

Feast for the Birdies

 

As part of learning time on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we strung popcorn and cranberries for the birdies to have a feast too.  Obviously it's very good hand/eye teaching, as well as using their 3 finger grip.  Plus it had a nature aspect to it in that in some of our books we are reading we are learning that food is scarce in the winter months, especially for birds.  They enjoyed it and both were actually very good at using the needle to string each piece.  

 

 

Hailey, still in her blue tutu!

Paige

Finished product

Ready to hang in the tree.

Sweet Hailey

American Heritage Festival

 

A dear friend of mine recommended the American Heritage Festival to us this year.  It is put on by the homeschoolers in the state and is a living history of different events in America.  They had Revolutionary War soldiers, a pioneer school house, candle dipping, iron forging, WWII soldiers, Native Americans and so much more.  They did reenactments of battles too.  The girls don't really care for loud sounds so we moved on after the first ammunition exchange.  They loved the pioneer school house and practiced writing quite a bit using the pen and ink well.  In each "booth" there were people dressed in proper attire for their era and they were a living history who told all about their story and life.  It was a great day and we spent probably two more hours there than I thought we would.  We will definitely return next year and take Brian.   

 

Here is a link to their website:  http://www.americanheritagefestival.com/

 

Pioneer school house

British troops marching to battle

Paige dipping a candle.  (That's a process!)

Civil War era woman spinning wool. 
The girls loved this because they understand wool and sheep from Waldorf.

Sacajawea

Paige with a Confederate solider

 

Pose with the British soldier

Abe Lincoln

watching iron forging

I HAD to buy them prairie hats. 

Martinmus 2012

 



Two Fridays ago the girl's Waldorf school celebrated Martinmus.  It is a festival about St. Martin and  to celebrate and keep safe your inner light as we go into the cold, dark months. 

Here is a link to the web page which also has a brochure about the festival:  http://www.arizonawaldorf.org/archives/3736

 

We made lanterns at school and then had a Lantern Walk at the school.  It was so beautiful.  My pictures do not do the beauty of the event justice.  Obviously because we live int he desert, the dust level is high and my camera keeps picking up the dust in the air at night.  They had a maze of lanterns all around campus which we walked around holding our own lanterns.  At various spots long the path there were student singers from the school singing a beautiful song called Walking with my Lantern.  Here is a link to how that song sounds:  http://www.arizonawaldorf.org/archives/2464

 

It was a nice way to spend a Friday night as a family.  The girls loved it...and so did we.   

 

Our lanterns

Paige, she really did have fun!

Hailey, holidng Dada's hand

Walking with Dada along the path of lanterns

 

 

Scissors

 

The other day for learning time, I planned a cutting with scissors exercise.  This was Hailey's first attempt and Paige is doing great and still trying to master cutting a spiral.  I was so pleased with how Hailey held her scissors correctly and cut a straight line.  She then proceeded to cut several triangles too.  (Note:  Hailey has NOT had off her blue tutu since Halloween.)  They were also repeatedly reminded that we only cut paper with scissors.  

 

Our Special Boy

 

Our first baby, and oh boy, was he treated like a baby, is still so special to us.  He's 9 years old now and one a ton of meds to keep his immunoarthritis under control along with his pancreatitis.  I took a pic of all the meds he takes.  I actually have a week pill box with AM & PM pills for him to take at his meals.  But with all these meds, one would never know he has this diagnosis.  He runs and plays with the girls.  Jumps on the table for food.  Dives for ducks in the pool still.  So, despite taking ALL these meds, his quality of life is good.  We get his blood work done every 4-6 months to keep up on how he is doing.  His organs are slowing starting to fail, but we are making him as comfortable as possible and he loves life.  We love our Woolly Bugger!  

 

 

Chickens? Where?

Just a cute memory that I want to write down before I forget.  I was preparing chicken in the kitchen and the girls were out swimming.  I could see them from the window.  I saw Hailey slip in the pool unintentionally, she knows how to swim, but I think she was a bit startled.  I went out to help her out of the pool and grabbed the chicken too.  I set it on the coffee table outside to help Hailey.  Woolly followed and, of course, went right for the chicken.  Brian came out to get Woolly away from the chicken and the girls asked why.  Brian replied, "Don't you see the chicken?"  They said, "Where?  Where?"  Looking all around the yard.  They were looking for a REAL chicken!  Hooray, Waldof is working!  They are seeing nature from beginning to end and getting it.  Time and money well spent.   

60?! She's 60?!

 

My mom had a milestone birthday this year.  She is definitly a very young 60 years.  We went to dinner for Mexican food (with the girls!) and then came back to our house for cupcakes and presents.  We got her a Pandora bracelet that she has been wanting for a few years now.  It'll be nice to add charms to it as occasions arise.  

 

Why is this upside down? 
Cupcakes form teh new Sweet Daddy's Cupcakes that we got in town. 
Yum! 

Cute pics

 

Just a dew cute pics to share from the week:

 

They were fairies, named Magic and Flower,
looking through a toy catalog for their Santa List.

The first born with her Dada.

Being so nice sharing candy.

Building a spider web.  Yeah, that Santa List is small this year. 
Toys?  Nah..blankets and pillows work fine too.

More Schnepf Farms...

 

I think Ive mentioned the peacocks at Schnepf Farms before.  The girls love them.  This time, because they are so used to being around birds, they were really into it.  I picked some grass/weeds for them to feed the peacocks and they loved it.  Just like at school. They are really pretty birds. 

 

Then we went over to the petting zoo.  It makes my heart so happy to see them not afraid of animals and willing to touch, feed and care for them.  These were tiny baby goats.  The girls were so excited to pet this little black one. 

Because they are in the garden all the time too at school, they felt compelled to arrange the pumpkins at the farm too.  Busy work for little hands.  Wonderful. 

Their pumpkin pile.  I hope the farmer was happy! 

Intel Schnepf Farms Event

 

Intel rented out Scnepf Farms for the weekend with everything paid for, including rides, animals, food.  It was a great day out at the farm.  But of course, it's one of my favorite places to go in the area.  I got some cute Thanksgiving pics of the girls.  I'll let the pics talk for themselves.  

 

The corm maze was in the shape of the Intel logo this year.
 Ie, from the air you would see Intel in the corn field.

Dada and his girls.

A pic of Mama! My knees are driving me nuts!
I cannot get enough lotion on the them.
Constantly on the floor with them, they are sooo dry. Ugh!

Yes, I allowed throwing hay. 
Really, what could be more fun on a farm, than throwing hay?

Paige getting Hailey.

Hailey getting Paige.