Thankful

I found an idea on Pinterest of having a vase of branches with a leaf on each branch. On each leaf, every day, you write one thing you are thankful for.  Then on Thanksgiving you can read them all.  After going to the craft store today, this is my adaptation of the idea.  The felt leaves are attached with little clothes pins so they can be removed to write our thought and reattached.  Wish me luck on implementing it! 

Trick or Treating 2012

 

After the Penny Faire, we came home and had afternoon naps and quite time.  Then we headed to Intel for trick or treating.  Brian's floor is HUGE and each staff gives out candy.  They had fun and it's a very safe way for the girls to trick or treat.

 

Intel is building a new building. 
This is a crane outside Brian's office. 
I thought this was a cool pose. 

 We then came home and Nanny was waiting for us with pizza made and ready to greet the trick or treaters.  She was dressed as a cute cat.  The girls were so happy to see her home.  Nanny stayed home to hand out candy while the 4 of us went out in the neighborhood to trick or treat.  The girls had a ton of fun and it was neat to see how neighbors had decorated their homes for Halloween...some were really scary!  But most were out on their driveways handing out candy.  Very nice and hospitable. 

Love this pic.

Dada pulling Hailey in the wagon and Paige walking. 

So excited to show Nanny all their candy. 

Waldorf Fairy Tale Penny Faire

For Halloween morning I took the girls to Waldorf, for the early childhood Fairy Tale Penny Faire.  This was just about the sweetest, most age appropriate thing I've been to for the girls. A Penny Faire where each game is based on a fairy tale and it cost 1 penny to play. Rapunzel, Jack Be Nimble, Troll Bridge, Castle with a Giant and Fishing Pond. Prizes were shiny rocks, shells, Fairy boats, gems, beads and nuts.  First we carved pumpkins then the games began.  They LOVED it and I got to observe how the preschool operates and how happy the kids are who attend.  Great morning.

 

Standing in front of their pumpkins.  They are the small ones.

Some of the other preschoolers.

Loved the green one.

Sooo Waldorf!  The girls observing a dragon fly that had landed on the top of the little tree. 
Yep, that's the chicken coup behind them. 
It opens to the early childhood playground and sometimes in the
mornings when we arrive, chickens are walking around in the play area. 

Sleeping giant's castle

Fishing pond

Hailey dropping in her penny to cross the troll bridge. 
The boy under is saying, "Who wishes to cross my bridge?"

Paige crossing the troll bridge

Carving Pumpkins

We carved our pumpkins tonight.  I almost forgot!  We have been so busy 'doing' Halloween that I almost forgot the most important decorations!  Hailey wanted a scary face and Paige wanted triangles.  For the big one we attempted to make it a girl and give her eyelashes. 

Here's a link to last year's carving...they are growing so fast! 

Hailey drawing the face

Paige drawing the face

She is so sweet!  Our Chickadee.

Along the walk of the house

Final product


Carmel Apples

The other morning Hailey asked to make an apple pie.  So yep, I went to the store and bought a bag full of Granny Smith apples.  There were so many in the bag that I also got some Carmel to make Carmel apples.  Some how, I was able to get only Hailey in the kitchen one afternoon after her nap.  Paige was busy playing in the play area.  So I had her help make the apples.  And yes, they turned out even better because she wore her Super Ballerina costume. 

Both eating them.  Paige dressed as a gymnist. 
That's what she was playing in the play area. 

Waldorf Halloween Carnival

 

On Saturday night the girls' Waldorf school had a Halloween Carnival.  The High School students put it on and manned all the games and activities.  All of the costumes had to be original (no cartoon characters, violence, etc).  They had games, a cake walk (that Hailey won!), food, horse rides, bonfires and much more fun.  It was Brian's first time on campus and the girls were very excited to show him around and most important for him to see the goats, geese, ducks, chickens, sheep and pig.  My mom was able to come with us which made is extra special for the girls.  They love her so much.  It was a really fun night.   

 

Ready to watch a puppet show

Decorating cookies with Nanny

Mama in the picture

A new fav of mine.

Paige playing bean bag toss

Hailey playing bean bag toss

Nanny, who held their magic wands all night. 

Super Ballerinas!

Hailey

Paige

 

The debut of the Halloween costumes finally got to occur last Saturday night.  After my attempt to make seahorse costumes, the backup plan turned into Super Ballerinas.  My mom and I added some sequins to some arm guards and socks and made crowns and magic wands, put a cape with a tutu and TaDa!!!!...Super Ballerinas.  The LOVE the costumes.  They especially like accessories, so this fit the bill perfectly.  They are really cute and love sharing their magical powers of creating unicorns, flowers, rainbows and sunshine.   Happy Halloween!

The Bumbebee

Just a sweet pic of my Bumblebee heading to school.  I LOVE Gymboree's clothes.  This is an outfit I got at a secret box sale probably for about $7.00 including the socks and hair ties.  Box Sale's ROCK!

Adobe Fall Fling

Paige's school does a fun Fall Fling each year where they have a few carnival games, crafts, food and one big event.  Along with wearing your favorite fall attire (no costumes) it was also Crazy Hair Day.  I found a cute idea of putting the plastic spider rings in their hair on Pinterest.  Me, being my sometimes frugal self, had kept the rings that they gathered Trick or Treating last year and used them.  It turned out really cute.  Last year the big event it was a Reptile display.  This year it was a fire truck!  Very cool.  Both girls got to attend along with me.  We had a really nice morning.  I feel so lucky that their schools do something special for holidays.  I have a few friends who have said their children's schools don't or can't celebrate.  That makes me feel sad for them.  We have had such fun at all our events.  Here are a few pics of the girls at Adobe. 

Hailey's hair 'do

Paige's 'do

Hailey face painting

 

Paige face painting

Paige playing games with her school friends

Hailey playing games and eating popcorn

Paige with her new teacher, Mrs. Hart

Both with Paige's current teacher, Mrs Hamilton who is
 due to go out on maternity leave any day!

Firefighter Paige

Mama in the picture putting out the fire

Holding the fire hose

October Swimming

We put a cover on the pool in order to extend our swim time.  We can usually swim through the end of October.  This was last Friday, Oct 22 and the girls were swimming at 5pm.  Yes, life in Arizona is awesome....and....they are two very lucky girls.

DZ Founder's Day

 

I will admit, I enjoy entertaining.  This is one interest that I inherited from my mom.  She does an over the top job of hosting parties.  We love Christmas time at her house.  Her decorations are BEAUTIFUL.  So I volunteered to host my sorority alumnae group at my house for our Founder's Day reception.  Ok, so I forgot that in October we reseed our lawn.  Which makes everything smell like manure and you can't walk on it.  Luckily my mom, does not do this to her lawn, so she allowed me to host the party at here house!  Yippee!  We had a ton of fun getting things organized and planning the event together.  She was a lot of help to me.  We had fresh flowers on all the tables and little touches of DZ throughout the house that I found on Pinterest.  It was a lovely party with several alum getting awards for 25, 35 and 75 years of membership.  The 75 year one was given to a woman who was 98 years old!  Wow. 

 

Pool side tables

Desset table

Pinterest

Pi Zetas from ASU reciting ceremony

The group!