Pumpkin Math

Liv's class at school did Pumpkin Math this year...and I really didn't know what I was getting into when we started. We had a total of five moms that each brought a different pumpkin--min was tall and skinny. We each had around five kids at our table--I had Liv, Whit, Mason, Ragan, and Antonia. This project was for both a math and science grade so before we carved it we had to predict it's weight, circumference, how many lines were on it, and how many seeds would be inside. After the pumpkin was weighed and measured and counted it was time to open it up. I brought a cheapy little set of tools with me and they were no match for my pumpkin. He was super thick and by the end I had scooped out several pounds of innards and 560 seeds. Seriously, 560 seeds--the kids at my table predicted around 50. After that mess was gone we had a pretty heated debate over the design of our pumpkin. In the end, all time allowed for were some traditional triangle eyes, nose and mouth. The kids were proud and I think we all got an A.

Family Carving Night

We waited until about a week before Halloween to carve up this year's selections. Josie chose Elmo and Liv chose a creepy fire face thing. I really wanted to do a monster alien thing, but I was overruled...maybe next year. Kevin is always in charge of cutting open the pumpkins and scooping and cleaning out the insides. He did get some help from Liv this year. After that was done, we were ready. Liv and I taped on the templates and got busy outlining. I love the little toolkits we get, with those the pumpkins always come out looking great and take just long enough to not lose Liv's concentration. Josie wanted to help too so she just poked random holes into the Elmo pumpkin while we told her how great she was doing. We got the pumpkins carved and lit by dark. In the end, we had to throw the pumpkins away the day before Halloween because they were rotting and attracting millions of bugs. Up next, Liv does Pumpkin Math at school and Pumpkin Shine...

Pumpkin Patch

Here we go with the deluge of Halloween posts....we'll start today with the pumpkin patch. I don't know why I get so excited about doing this every year, but I do. We do this, and family carving night as a yearly tradition. So, a few weeks before Halloween the girls picked out themed shirts and off we went. We spend a ton of time looking at the pumpkins, get faces painted, playing tag, taking

pictures, making our official pumpkin selections. This year we went with the Stewarts. Kevin is really the official pumpkin shopper, as he is known for his discriminating taste. Just look at his wife. We try to get a fat round one and a tall skinny pumpkin every year. This year the girl's also picked out baby pumpkins just to have as decorations. Next up...carving!

Building a Birdie House

So, several months ago Josie saw a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode that featured Goofy attempting to build a bird house for baby Red Bird. The popsicle sticks and cards both fell over but with the help of his friends and Toodles, Goofy was finally successful. There's a song that goes along with this and everything. Which I happened to sing a line of yesterday while lunching with Dani and Alan...was it appreciated? No, (Alan actually bolted out the back door before anyone could figure out he was at my table) but these are things that I do with my 2 year old all day. Back to my story....last weekend we were at Joann's getting some costume making supplies and we picked up a small wooden bird house for Josie, who was thrilled. Josie and I painted it this week, with glitter water colors no less. She had a ton of fun painting and as soon as the weather clears up her Daddy is gonna hang it up outside for the birdies...

Liv's School Play ~ The Drum

Liv does a musical every year at school, and this year the second graders were the first to perform this year. Their play was called the drum and follows a poor Indian boy as he helps people on his way to getting a drum...the one thing he wants for his birthday. We learn that being a good Samaritan not only helps other people but is rewarding for you. Anyway, Liv didn't have a stage part this year (her first time without, much to her dismay) so she was a part of the choir. She was to dress like a poor Indian (like from the country of India, not Native American) woman from the 1800s. She wore a skirt of mine that my mom sewed elastic into so it would fit and belted slouchy sweater. The scarf on her head was sorta last minute because I couldn't decide if it was more Indian woman or pirate. All the kids wore them, so Liv was glad she had one. Liv really belongs on a stage and put on quite the performance. We gave her flowers after her show and took 2,000 pictures of her on the stage. Josie was proud of her sister, and was the loudest cheerleader there. It was raining like crazy that night so thanks to Teddy and Grandma for trekking through the rain to support my girl!

Revel

Whew, long time no blog and now I'm so far behind that I'm feeling overwhelmed...nonetheless, here we go. The Revel is my favorite local festival, celebrating the arts. Not that my ladies did much art celebrating but the kid activities were fun too. We went several times during the week because this is the only time of the year that the kids get to go to a their sized grocery store and make sand art--so how could one visit possibly be enough, right? The grocery store is fully equipped with kid sized buggys and every food/home item imaginable. The big kids get a list and hunt down the groceries on the list and the little kids just see how many items they can fit in their buggy. When they're done they head to the cashiers to 'ring' them up. Josie insisted on doing the self checkout and rang up every item without the aid of the cashier. Such a big girl. Then we moved on to the sand art area. Liv has about half a dozen of these on the shelves, but this was Josie's first year to participate. Liv rushed through hers and Josie put the grains of sand in one at a time...very telling on their personalities. After a quick funnel cake break, the girls were ready for face paint. Josie has seen her sister get her face painted but has always opted to not join her. The Revel was her first time to try it and she did fine--she chose a purple flower and pointed it out to everyone she saw until bathtime later that night. Liv got lucky and got 2 pictures. I went back later for some Mommy time so I could actually check out the booths. I got a piece of pottery from my fave pottery people and some jelly. And I lunched with Teddy...blackened catfish on dirty rice--yes, please!

Already looking forward to next year's Revel!

Expect Delays

So, I'm using the husband's work laptop to tap this out quickly...our family laptop is dead and so it the charger. We'll get a new one soon enough, but for now--expect delays. And with all my friends joining the blogosphere (except you Teddy, and don't worry we've saved you a spot!) I am feeling some pressure to keep up with my posts. For now, a preview will have to do...coming soon: the Revel, Liv's school play and I'll start Halloween posts. See you soon!