10.24.14: Halloween Festival

Tonight was the Halloween festival at school.  This was a great opportunity to begin all of our Halloween activities.  Daphne is Princess Celestia (my little pony), Stella is an artist, and Fiona is a witch.  Each girl designed their own costume telling me exactly what components were needed to make their costume complete.  Overall, three adorable little girls.

Stella in the apron that she painted.

 
Fiona determined the placement for each star on her dress and hat.

 Daphne was the most particular making sure we accurately reflected Princess Celestia from My Little Pony.  Princess Celestia had to have a purple jewel on her crown and necklace and the perfect cutie mark on her hip.

She selected blue, pink and teal for the mane and tail, but didn't want the hair covering her wings.  Princess Celestia is a unicorn after all.

10.20.14: Cousins visiting

Auntie Kelly flew all by herself with Cooper (2yo) and Nicholas (7mo) to spend the fall break with us. It was the girls' (and Brant's) first time meeting Nicholas.   At the airport we had plenty of helpers with the luggage.

 
 Stella, Fiona, Daphne, Cooper, Auntie Kelly and Nicholas at our favorite tree in the zoo.

 Somehow Auntie Kelly managed to entertain all five kids at the same time while I was cooking dinner.  I'm not sure she got much of a vacation while here, but we sure enjoyed having everyone together.

 Nicholas and Cooper playing together happily while their mama took a shower.

Uncle Brant holding Nicholas. Somehow Brant managed to get Nicholas to fall asleep in his arms (only to be woken up by a child soon after) a huge success.

10.15.14: Chameleons

Fiona, Daphne and Stella spent the afternoon in a special art class where they created their own interpretation of a chameleon in the jungle. These magnificent creations are now hanging proudly on the play room wall.

10.14.14: Raspberries

Stella and Daphne decided that they would give Fiona raspberries for the entire drive home.  The giggles were ridiculous.

10.11.14: Flowers for Auntie

Daphne, Fiona and Stella spent the afternoon picking flowers from our yard (filling this bowl completely) for Auntie Kelly when she arrived.  Given we were still a bit out from her arrival, we opted for a picture to show her what the girls had done.

10.10.14: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Today was dress-up day at school so Fiona dressed up as an astronomer, Daphne a paleontologist, and Stella as an artist.

10.4.14: Creativity

While Brant and I were busy doing chores, the girls decided to recreate text they found on their toy container 'Tinker Toy.'  I love it when Fiona, Stella and Daphne work together on a project.

In preparation for a play date we created an obstacle course in our living room.  It was quiet involved and culminated in a dance performance by all the kids.

9.21.14: More science

Today we completed Auntie Kelly's box o' science the girls (Stella, Daphne, Fiona) got for their birthday.  Today was my personal favorite....liquid chalk.  Combining baking soda, corn starch, food dye and water into a squirt bottle provided a whole new approach to decorating the driveway.  Then add to that the vinegar which makes the liquid chalk fizzle.....well I'm just not sure anything else could be as exciting.

Last week's project (Stella, Fiona, Daphne): Shaving cream + school glue + glitter = puff paint.  So many creations, so few places to hang them.

9.19.14: Fiona's surgery

Fiona has oral surgery today to have two extra teeth removed in the front of her mouth that were blocking her adult teeth.  We desperately tried to find a medical opinion telling us this surgery was optional and could wait but everyone agreed.  It was a really tough day and I was a complete mess, but she did really well.  When she was waking up, she smiled and said, " Why do you guys have two mouths, two noses and four eyes?"  It was enough to help me stop crying, for a few minutes.

How on earth are kids so resilient?

9.16.14: Homework....please

Stella, Fiona and Daphne were ready for school a little early this morning and instead of playing, decided that they wanted to do their weekly homework.  I wonder how long the excitement about doing homework will last - hopefully forever.

Daphne, Fiona and Stella waiting in the rain at the bus stop.  Who knew umbrellas could be so much fun.