Kingston laughs

I think everyone needs a baby to cheer them up sometimes. You might need to bookmark this one so you can watch it when you're having "one of those days" in the future.

Autumn Craft fun

My kids, like most kids I know, love crafts. Any crafts. If I call it a craft, they are almost guaranteed to love it. I've thought about renaming their chores "crafts" with the possibility they will do them more happily, but my kids are craft lovers, not idiots.

Turkey Head.

I bought some simple prepackaged crafts last year from Joann Fabrics when they marked them down after the holiday. I love how simple they are for me to pull out for the kids. I sat down with them, but I didn't really have to help much at all. It's also evidence that my kids (aside from the new baby of course) are getting older! I remember when craft time meant I got to do three separate craft projects (at least with as much "helping" as I did it sure seemed that way). It was really satisfying to watch the kids do these on their own.

Even Britta was able to stick on the pieces herself. Part of me wished this particular project was a bit more involved. The rest of me realized the project was quick enough that none of the kids lost interest half way through.

I am hoping this will help get some momentum going with crafts.  Sometimes it's hard for me to remember to sit down and get them out for the kids to do. I prefer the homemade ones over the little kits, but the kits take a lot less effort to get set up. The less work for me, the more likely I will be to get them out.

I love crafts around the holidays! We have a trip coming up where we're going to spend a week in a cabin. I am planning a ton of crafts for the kids to do while we are there. They will be in craft heaven!

Horseback Riding

None of the kids have ever had a single riding lesson! I was pleased there were no injuries. 

It was hard to pull them away from their new friends though.

Gotta love Costco.

A Krispy Kremey Halloween

Krispy Kreme is so cool. On Halloween they had a promotion where if you wore your costume into the shop they would give you a free Halloween donut.

I'm all about free Krispy Kreme. After Maddy's french class I took the kids in to claim their reward for being awesome and wearing their costumes all day long.

Kingston wore his lion pants (the jacket was too darn hot), so the lady behind the counter offered him one, too. I promptly accepted the offer and consumed the donut myself. I figured since he gets his sugar purely from nursing, that was the most direct way for him to enjoy it.

It was a fun time. I love how taking the kids to do the little extra things makes me feel like a good mom. Even if the trip did contribute to the massive amounts of sugar they consumed on October 31st. It's all about the experience.