Penn State Chics Dig Nerds

We had a nice Thanksgiving at home with family visiting us.  Mom, Dad, Mamma, Pap, Aunt Lois, Uncle John, and Justin all came to spend the late afternoon/evening with us.  We had an activity with the kids where I made a tree.  Then, they thought of things they were thankful for.  I wrote them down on a leaf and then the kids stuck them on the tree.  Over the last few weeks we had been working on a book that started off as part of our preschool.  But, then I decided it was a lot easier to wait until evening and have extra help from Jesse.  Brady has been doing a lot better with cutting lately, but sometimes he just gets sidetracked and starts randomly cutting and snipping.  I got this book idea from http://thoughtsofesme.blogspot.com/2010/11/tale-of-thanskgiving.html   We just changed up a few minor things for our books. The book covers - Brady got carried away drawing legs. Natalee's page one and two.  She loves to do craft pro...

Natalee and Brady have been wanting to go up to camp for a campfire all summer/fall long.  We finally had the opportunity to go up for a campfire on last Sunday afternoon.  We went up after the Penn State women's basketball game-- where Natalee won a Student Book Store gift card for being the Penn State fan of the game.  When I asked her what she was going to buy with it, she immediately responded, "A pink Penn State t-shirt!" We made mountain pies, of course. Natalee enjoyed walking on top of the foundation walls of the new camp.  Of course, we went for rides on the four wheeler.... Brady kept saying, "Faster, faster!"

Natalee and I had a girls night out.  Our main purpose was to cash in her gift card and buy her pink Penn State t-shirt.  We got that first.  Then, we went to Chick-fil-A for dinner.  All I have to say is that our homemade pizza that we usually eat on Fridays is much better!  Natalee wanted to go to the PSU volleyball game.  I wasn't particularly looking forward to sitting in the bleachers... but, oh well.  PSU won easily 3-0 over Indiana.

While we were in Belleville earlier this week, it was a beautiful afternoon to rake leaves and have fun in the pile. I thought they looked like farmers holding their pitch f orks.  Brady lasted longer in the leaves than Natalee did. Here he comes again!

Today we made some autumn/Thanksgiving cookies.  In this household, we use any excuse to make some cookies! We mixed up the dough last night. The kids used their rolling pins to roll out our cookie dough.  We have some new autumn themed cookie cutters: apple, oak leaf, maple leaf, acorn, pumpkin, and turkey. Somehow Brady ended up with flour in his hair.  Even though he was doing a really good job with the rolling, cutting, and decorating, he had to change his clothes afterward :) We found some pumpkin and leaf sprinkles in the pantry cupboard.  So, I made a glaze to spread on the cookies using paint brushes (which have been reserved for our baking purposes only).   Then, they put the sprinkles on top of the glaze.  I must say that this activity went much more smoothly than it did even at Valentines Day last year.  We did not end up with half of the sprinkles poured into the glaze.  And, since we did not have raisins or M&M's in...

 Last night, at the Penn State Lady Lions basketball game, Natalee got her face painted.  The lady was really nice and stayed a little longer than she was supposed to.  I was so glad because she would have been really disappointed.  Brady was already disappointed because the balloon lady would not make him a balloon anymore.  Who knew they were only making them through the first half of game?!?  Even though we were out there before half-time started, I guess they decided we were too late!  I think she did some of the neatest face painting that I've ever seen.  Her designs were beautiful.  Brady was going to get his done, too, but he changed his mind at the last second.  I know his dad would have been proud of him if he would have had it painted-- he had chosen one off of the girls photos.  He was determined that he wanted to get a ladybug on his face!  I was actually glad because I did not really care for the boys choices as ...

We are continuing to have fun running and jumping in the leaves.  We have been enjoying some beautiful afternoon weather.  I think perhaps that November has been nicer than October so far!  In fact, it has been difficult to take pictures because it is so sunny in spots under our tree where our leaves are. I almost caught the perfect picture here.  He slid down the slide, stopped himself, stood up, and jumped into the leaves :)  We like to slide down backwards, on our bellies, on our backs, sideways, and every other which way.