Field Trips

While in Cincinnati, we took several indoor field trips to hot spots around the city.  We saw the holiday lights display on Black Friday at Union Terminal then played for a while at the Children's Museum.  We accidentally bumped into Santa and Mrs. Claus on our way out of Union Terminal as well!

Grandma Kathy and I took the kids to Krohn Conservatory one morning as well, to see the beautiful botanical displays they have set up for the holidays.  There are trains that run through, around and over the flowers and many mock-ups of Cincinnati landmarks.  The buildings, bridges and steamboat are made out of twigs, sticks, and other plant matter.  Very cool!  We saw a similar display at the Botanical Gardens in DC last Christmas too.

Thanksgiving in Ohio, Part 3

Thanksgiving at Grandpa's looked a lot like this.  He and Alex playing checkers and chess both on the ipad and with the chess set.  We were so glad to get to see Patti following her hip replacement and keep her company for a bit while she recovers.  We enjoyed a nice lunch and an afternoon of games.

Thanksgiving in Ohio, Part 2

We were staying at Grandma Eileen's house this trip and she always has some sort of fun craft project to work on.  This trip it was foam animal puppets on craft sticks.  I think we brought 25 home, easily.  We spent Thanksgiving snuggling my cousin's new baby, Liam, and the kids enjoyed getting to play with Aiden too.  Aunt Nicci also turned 30 so there was plenty of celebrating to go around!

Thanksgiving in Ohio, Part 1

The kids were over the moon excited to see snow in Ohio at Thanksgiving!  We forgot boots and snow pants.  Luckily there is a Once Upon a Child nearby so the kids were able to suit up and go play a few times during the trip.  Abby helped Grandma Kathy cook dinner while Alex challenged Chuck to a game of chess.  Gigi enjoyed snuggling and playing games with the kiddos too. 

Sipping and Painting

Have you heard of these places where you all sit around and drink wine, then paint a canvas to look just like the instructor's?  This was so much fun.  I'm glad we went as a group for Carrie's birthday, as this isn't the kind of place you'd go solo.  Amazingly enough, despite my complete lack of painting skills, my canvas kind of sort of turned out as it should.  We looked around the room and somehow everyone managed to nail the assignment.  Everyone had their own variation on the theme, and those who sat next to each other had strikingly similar paintings.

Abby's Thanksgiving Feast

 

Abby's sweet little preschool hosted a Thanksgiving Feast the week before Thanksgiving.  Since they have a full kitchen on the lower level, they are able to cook a full turkey lunch with all the trimmings.  Abby's favorite was the cranberry sauce, as we predicted it would be.  She was so happy to share a meal with her classmates and have the parents there to serve the food.  

The "Feast" offered for sale at the elementary school was far less appealing, but Abby and I joined Alex for lunch that day anyway.  I am so thankful that he never ever asks to buy lunch. 

Happy Birthday Mommy!

My sweet babies gave me a lovely new camera for my 33rd (gasp!) birthday in November.  I am easing into it, but so far love the results!  I had a wonderful birthday dinner here at the house with Jackie and friends before indulging in my favorite Funfetti cake (truth).  These two sure do know how to show Mom a good time!

Operation Christmas Child

Along with about 15 other youth at the church, Alex and his buddy Sammy participated in the packaging and wrapping of 75 Christmas gifts for Operation Christmas Child.  Each box contained a few hygiene items, toys, and a stuffed animal.  The boxes went from our church to ministries in countries around the globe.  Amazing to think how one small shoe box can change the life of a child, even for a short time.

Donuts with Dad!

Abby was thrilled to welcome Brad for breakfast at the preschool!  

Trick or Treat

The kids went as Anakin Skywalker and Princess Leia from Star Wars for Halloween this year.  They trick or treated with friends for about 2 hours before turning in for the night.  It rained a little but for the most part the weather was very pleasant.  Gotta love not needing to wear your winter coat under your costume here!  This is the first year that Abby didn't need pulled in the wagon the whole time.  She walked 99% of the way with her brother and friends.  What a trooper!

Pumpkin-Palooza

Little Princess Leia had a pumpkin themed open house at her school on the morning of Halloween.  Pumpkin-Palooza consisted of 30 little activities in the Discovery Center at school.  We rotated through face painting, pumpkin bowling, spoon races, and the ever popular "will it sink or will it float?" table.  She is so happy at this school and we love that!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Lots of leaf jumping

Trying beef vegetable soup for dinner...one of these days the kids will catch on that soup season is the best time of the year!

Scooter, the guard cat

She was insistent that we have one boy and one girl scarecrow.

Nature Quest

Abby is a decorating machine around here!

The den leader mummy-wrap contest at the fall camp out last weekend.  Brad is a good sport.  It was pretty chilly at night and Alex even commented that he slept in his winter hat!

Cox Farms

Abby and I spent a super fun Monday morning at Cox Farms with friends, the Mikkelsens, who were in visiting from TX.  We also met up with the Jakubs and Pettreys, for lots of swinging, sliding, tractor-riding fun!  Cox is a great fall destination for the younger crowd with ample slide options, animals to see, a fantastic hayride and yummy food to try.  I'm so glad we were able to see everyone and visit this pumpkin farm on a weekday, rather than a hectic weekend day!

Schoolwork

Alex's homework has jumped from not much to off the chain this year.  We have projects, worksheets, flashcards, writing assignments, reading, and online coursework.  He enjoys what they do in class but doing homework is like pulling teeth.  This was his Whale Shark habitat diorama project.  Neither Brad nor I was enthused about a diorama project, nor was Alex, but we muddled through.  I think he did a fantastic job, meeting all of the requirements and doing his research thoroughly.  Phew, glad that's done!

Field Trip to the Quarry!

Abby's class at school is called the "Busy Builders", so when the notice for a field trip came home to go to the Vulcan Quarry, I wasn't surprised.  The quarry charters a small bus for the kiddos to ride down into the quarry and they get to watch out the windows as the trucks do their thing.  Apparently this quarry was established in the 80s and there is enough rock left to continue mining the quarry for 85 more years!  It was very interesting, even for the parents to watch the large chunks get loaded into dump trucks for the ride up to the top of the quarry and then unloaded into crushers.  The rock eventually is used in road construction work.  Abby loved the fact that there was a female dump truck driver and the manager giving the tour said she is the only female...but the best driver he has!