Play

I tried having a no TV week last week. Though we still watched a few episodes of Word World and Super Why, we watched considerably less TV than previous weeks. We tried to focus in on Play!! In honor of Play Week, here are some pics.

Out of the hat box...










Stella is very into creating masterpieces out of her toys. Here are a few of her recent creations...


She's so proud!

I love how she's so methodical. Each block gets it's own little creature. She spends so much time making them just how she wants them.


My favorite part of this is how the princess are the gore (girl) are lying down, so as to extend the "line" of the masterpiece.

I was impressed with this one! All the blocks are so evenly spaced and so nicely lined up. Seriously?? I didn't know 2 yr olds did this kind of stuff.


Ok, so the blocks are all even facing the same way! No red or blue letters showing here! Just the wood side.

Chicken is driving. All the little people are riding. She's so purposeful.



What fun... I'm excited about another week of Play with my sweet, creative, crazy girls!

Getaway '09

We try to take "just us" getaways every so often. Jeremy's parents were gracious enough to take the girls while we gotaway for a few days in Branson, MO.

I'm afraid I may be a 74 yr old in a 29 yr old's body because I discovered my LOVE for Branson! Seriously, I was all about it. Maybe it's because there's a patriotic themed segment to every show. Maybe it's because they use many opportunities to tell people about Jesus. Maybe it's because this is where my hubby and I usually retreat. I don't know why, but I may as well buy myself a red, white, and blue sequin flag cap and call it. I LOVE BRANSON!!

I don't have many pics b/c one of us gets mocked for being picture happy, and the other doesn't take pics. So...

us. on the Branson Belle.



The largest zucchini I've ever seen.


God bless Branson.

Pumpkin Patch - Round 2

You may remember our pumpking patch experience from last year. Well, we went again this year, too. We went on Halloween so there was no one there. We had the place to ourselves and it was nice!

We had several knee-highs with us and among them we had...


a goat


a frog.
she said she wanted to be a RED frog.
we tried to go the tropical theme route, but...well...
check out the "webbed" feet.


a cookie monster


a bat
though you can't really see his ears or his webbed arm-wings in this pic


a ladybug
and many others.

You may also recall the "jumping horse". Well, for those of you who listened to Stella tell and retell the story of being scared of the "jumping horse" for the past year, here it is!!! ...In all of it's horsey glory! I think it's actually more of a dragon of sorts??




Inside the belly of the "Jumping Horse"...


After the Jumping Horse, we had a hayride out to the pumpkin patch. We found some goodies out here! Each kiddo got to pick a little pumpkin and take it home. mmmm...those will be pumpkin pie in a few days.






a few pics of the Love familia out at the patch...







and us...





Fun times. We're living the dream. Living life with our best friends, raising our kids together... can't get much better than this. Thank you, Lord. We're grateful.

Miss Dot and friends

We have some new friends and we're SO glad about it! The girls especially love Miss Dot and Mr. Dick. Miss Dot accompanied us to the park a few weeks back. Dick couldn't come because he was having MAN day with some friends. We missed him, but we were glad for some time with Miss Dot!

It was a beautiful day! The leaves were falling and turning colors... it was so pretty! ...and needless to say, the girls enjoyed themselves!


Miss Dot was great at helping with the girls. I totally appreciate that!



...but of course, Stella was pretty insistent that SHE get Miss Dot for the majority of the time. Miss Dot was a gracious play mate! Stella wanted to try out each and EVERY swing so she would swing in one for 10 seconds, then on to the next one. Did I mention that Miss Dot was a gracious play mate?



Miss Dot is as tidy as Grandma Judy, so I had no worries of Stella's shoes getting muddy from the puddles!

Beanie got a little Miss Dot to herself as well... they had a nice little walk around the park.



I tried to get a few pics of the sisters, but that doesn't usually go too well. This wasn't any uncommon occurrence.






More snapshots from the day...








After the park, Miss Dot took us to McDonalds and bought us lunch! I don't have any pics so you'll just have to take my word for it. It was a fun morning. Thanks, Miss Dot!

Stella's rendition on the keys

Now... Stella's turn.