Fall... Flu's... and Daddy's Birthday!

 It's just so quiet with Clara at school!  We have to figure out how to play with each other since her little buddy is gone for the morning... I wish the sun was still shining so we could play outside, but we have figured out how to pass the time inside quite well...

 

 And if were not at home... Were running errands... which, if you know me... It is what I'm best at ;-)  And Natalie has her favorite little spot. Trader Joe's! She gets to push her own cart, since her sister isn't there to hash that one out, and get stickers!  This is usually where they end up.

  

And while with Nana, she plays dress up.... 

 pick tomatoes, flowers, and talk about the birds with Papa!

  

Painting is a favorite for both the girls... I just have to have the patients for the mess....

 

 Yes.... this is the mess I'm talking about ;-)  By the end of her painting, this is what she looks like!

 Clara has to REALLY try to get messy... this one was an intentional swipe to the nose ;-)

 We are still working on that potty TRAINING!

 As the sun shone down for the day, we had one last meal with our huckleberries!

 Introducing.... Clara, the creative dancer!

Once again... She is really growing in her social skills!  She loves it, and participates with a smile! Clara is in the black tutu...

Here is a little snip it of her in class...

I'm hoping we catch a break from the flu bug for awhile... We have had both girls down with vomitting, and now terrible sinus colds!  Tis' the season!

 And a glimpse of a rainbow!  They were so excited!  We had to get out and take a picture ;-)

 Ice cream for a fun treat after dinner since our tummies are feeling better!  They deserve it!!!  Not one puke didn't make it in a bowl, sink, or toilet.  I think I should pat myself on the back for that one, HA!

 They are some happy little girls!

 Little miss stinker!

 Some good friends to help celebrate Chad's 39th Birthday....

And a little sun break on Daddy's Birthday!  We had to get out and get some fresh air... It seems like it's been a couple weeks since we got to play outside!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy DaDdY!!!!!  They were so excited to tell Daddy Happy Birthday... They collected a stick and some leaves for him :-)

Wait, Were they not accepted? Or did they change there mind...Hmmm....

Chad got a great birthday wish from the Ledermans.... So here they are listening to them sing!

Now can we open presents???????

Natalie isn't waiting for anyone to tell her it's ok...!

Clara picked out this very appropriate Whoopee cushion for Daddy!

And the girls made him a special gift... A stepping stone with their hand prints on it!

Happy Birthday Big Daddy Chaddy!!! I think next year, he said he want's to spend it alone... HA!

BOOOOO!!!!!

Back to School!

I guess I should have written "First day of the last year of pre-school!"  SCARY!!!  She can read, write words, numbers and is enjoying addition and subtraction.  Such a little smarty pants!

And while Pipster was at school... Natalie had a little silly time.  She was being  "Mommy" in this picture... I guess she thinks I look a little silly :-)

And trying to master puzzles like Sis!  We missed you Pip!

Last post of summer break!

We've done lots of fun things this summer... but most of our fun was just hanging out at home or with friends and family!  It will be nice when Natalie can stand a car trip consisting of more than 30 minutes and doesn't have to take naps... Well... I'm not in a rush for the nap thing to be over with, but I am ready for her to tolerate car rides!

 On this quiet morning... and our first morning of real fall feeling weather, we made some bracelets... I must say, these kids have some good fine motor skills... They must get that from there Mom...HA!

 Some nights, after dinner, we have movie and popcorn... They ask every night! Tonight... they were dogs... so Daddy was tossin' popcorn left and right for them to eat up off the ground... I hope I vacuumed within that day or two!

 We were looking for something to do to pass some time the other morning so I suprised them with a little trip out to Poulsbo to pick out some fun cookie cutters.  Natalie picked out an ice cream cone and Clara picked out a Cat!

 "Natalie, please stop eating your sprinkles, you have to put them on your cookie to eat later".... Ya... Like she listened!

 TA-DA!!!!  My little baker!

 And as I was taking a picture of Clara.... She decides it's a good time to just quick, dump the bowl of sprinkles into her mouth! My little Challenge :-)

 Finally!  Time to eat our cookies!

 As Clara meticulously decides what part of the animal she is going to neatly eat...

 Natlie dives in... Nose first...

 to eat off all those fun little sprinkles!  Why not!?!?!?

 It was almost Nap time for Nat and Clara was pretending she was at school reading her an I Spy book.... It is so neat to see Clara just open up a book and read it now... She was actually sent to her room yesterday and after a few minutes had passed, I went up to talk to her.  I found her on her bed reading an Olivia book out loud.  I had to sneak back behind the hall door to listen in for a few... It made me smile after a frustrating moment(s)!

 And off to the Zoo we went with Grammy!  Thanks Grammy for the wonderful day!!!  We had lots of fun...

 Thank goodness someone has some height in our family... Grammy was the bird whisperer!!!  We had have had some bummed out kiddos if it were up to me to get the birds!

 I don't think she knew what to think! But she sure did love it!

 And so did Pip... She wanted so badly to catch one herself... Hopefully next time!

  Put me in the zoo!!!

We wen to Lions Field the other morning and had some fun on the zip line...