Falling in

At dinner tonight, Calvin asked us "What would happen if you didn't have children?"  Being the smarty-pants that I am, I quickly answered "Well, you would never have grandchildren."  But then Thomas and I both looked at each other and explained to Calvin and Suzana how boring our lives would be if we didn't have children.  No one to hug, no one to bake cookies for (even though they said I could still make cookies for Daddy), no one to each lunch with.  I am extremely curious what prompted my son to ask this question.  I hope we made it clear to both of the children that our lives would be miserable without them, despite the fact that I complain about picking up their coats off the floor, whine about their inability to listen or follow directions some days, and that Thomas and I fantasize about being able to get up and having slow mornings on our own terms without having to fix breakfast for the natives or fend them off to play on their own while we finish our coffee and paper.  

For sure, leaf raking is one chore that is so much more incredible satisfying with children around.  We had a perfect afternoon here, so after the requisite after-school apple cider refreshment, we head out to the front yard:

My big boy LOVES raking.  

My girl loves her new pink chap-stick that Calvin bought for her today (but she calls it lipstick) and she held it in her hand THE ENTIRE time we were outside raking.

Then, she pretended her rake was a horse.

Then, they ran and jumped....

Then, I sucked 'em up.

While they moved on to homework on the front step.  Check out that cool new secret agent watch on Suzana's wrist.  They each got one at Wendys today and are ultra excited about them even though they don't really know what a secret agent is.  

One last disclaimer:  While I am a woman of many skills and talents, most of these outside chores I leave for Thomas.  He has more time for it while I am ironing underwear and cooking gourmet meals.  But I do enjoy it immensely when given the opportunity.  I am just saying, he is doing most of the leaf work, not me, which is certainly not reflected in these pictures.  

New bike

It is not pink, but it is all hers:

When my mother-in-law was here a few weeks ago, she was telling me all about these little 2-wheeled bikes without training wheels that all the little European children ride everywhere.  I didn't really get what she was talking about, but when I dropped off some junk for a local rummage sale the following week, Calvin spied this little wooden bike and said "Look, Mommy!  This is a bike like Omi was talking about."  I really couldn't believe it.  Obviously, his young, fresh, imaginative brain had understood right away what Omi was describing, while my cob-webbed, detailed filled brain, just couldn't process the descriptive information.  I worked at the sale and kept my eye on the bike and at the end of my shift, paid for it and brought it home.  We couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to her, and Suzana is quite pleased with it.  

fests! Part 2

Twas the night before Halloween, and we went with the Schmidt family up to their church for a the big Autumn party that they put on every year.  Unfortunately, it was raining, but we still had  a fun time.  I didn't take a lot of pictures because I was busy chasing children and navigating through people, but here is some of Calvin playing putt-putt.
I was proud of stuffy-nosed Calvin for waiting in line so patiently.  Of course, when we got to the inflatable obstacle course, he totally cut in line and zoomed through.  Then he and Suzana did some serious bouncing.  When he woke up the next morning, he was whining that his legs hurt.  Uh, yeah, that is what happens son when you have been lying around all week trying to recuperate, and then you suddenly decide to use all of your muscles again.  Did I mention that he took a three hour nap on Saturday?  
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fests! Part 1

We have been busy with all sorts of festivities the past few weeks, and I haven't had the time (or energy) to post anything.  

First, there was the 2nd annual Autumn Festival at Wesselmen Woods.  For any of you tri-stater who haven't gone, I suggest you put it on your calendar for next year. There were serious crafts that my children loved, face painting, lectures, snacks, smores, campfire, night hikes, hay rides.  It was really a great time.  

Gum ball spiders.  When we got home, they put them on Thomas' pillow to surprise him when he got home from his concert.  He was totally grossed out.

Suzana got a ghost painted on her face.

Hay Ride!  Which we all loved.  I don't know how many years it had been...

More crafts, of course.

The Night Hike.  We couldn't see anything.  I am surprised that the children still have bones in their hands, as I was squeezing them so tightly.  

Bugs

I need to be more thankful more frequently that my children are healthy, vivacious, energetic children.  Calvin was sick last week...the sickest he has been in several years, with a temperature that reached 103 at times.  It had been so long since he had been this sick, that I forgot how to deal with a sick Calvin.  He was so lethargic and quiet and mostly just wanted to lay around. He didn't want to help me in the kitchen.  He didn't ask me 10,000 times "What are we doing next?".  I kept both kids home on Thursday because I didn't want to chance that Suzana would pass on something to her pre-school friends and I vowed to do get no housework done.  Since I let them watch more TV than usual in an effort to promote rest, I started on some sewing projects, but frankly, I got really bored as the day progressed.  Suzana and I fled to Wal-mart after Thomas got home, and it felt like I had escaped prison, and I don't even like Wal-mart.  When I went to bed that night, I wasn't nearly as exhausted as I usually am, because I just sat around with the children all day.  

Okay, maybe I am exaggerating just a wee bit.  After all, there was some serious craft time, inspired by the sick boy:  crayon shavings, inspired by craft time at the library a few weeks ago.

I kept Calvin home on Thursday too, just for an extra dose of rest, but Suzana got to go to pre-school...wouldn't want her to miss her Halloween party.  And, Calvin returned to school on Friday, in time for his party AND the H1N1 flu mist, which promptly caused him (I suspect) to be hit with a head cold for the weekend.  

As soon as he is healthy, Calvin is back to his old tricks, and an exasperated me wonders why I wanted him to get better so quickly.  But, in my heart, I know I would really rather have this loud singing, trick-playing, question asking, sister tormenting, independent little boy that God gave me.  I missed him.

Pumpkins and Ghosts

To say the least, we had a crazy week.  Having Halloween at the end of it was a special treat for all of us.  Our Saturday was filled with normal stuff highlighted by traditional Halloween festivities. That extra hour on Sunday morning sure is nice.   

We carved pumpkins right before lunch.  Don't let this picture fool you:  it is posed.  The children thought that touching all the pumpkin guts was too disgusting for them, so good 'ole Mom had to do the dirty work.

Daddy did most of the cutting.

The children did the designing.

Pumpkin Facial.

Following an early dinner, our friends, Erin and Jeremy came over with their boys, Trever and baby Evan, and we trick-or-treated.

Mommy and the cutest ghosts ever.

From Left:  Calvin, Suzana,  Trevor (His construction company is now taking bids for new houses)

Back home:  I had to do some ghost surgery while we were out so that the littlest ghost could see better.  Next year, she's going as a nun.

Suzana loves baby Evan and Erin REALLY needed her help to give Evan his bottle.

This picture is actually from Friday.  On our way to a play date, I stopped for some much needed coffee and when I got back to the car, these ghosts scared me.  Happy Halloween!  More pictures soon to come from the past week.  I can't seem to keep up with myself.  

The Visit

We were so thrilled last weekend to host Omi and Papa as well as Aunt Elinor and Aunt Joan. We hadn't seen Omi and Papa since August and we hadn't seen Elinor and Joan for 2 1/2 years. Elinor and Joan drove from NYC to meet Gisela and Paul in Columbus and then all four drove down here for a quick, fun-filled, action-packed weekend.  I think I am still recovering.  Those Josenhans' know how to party.  

They played cards.

Went on walks

Read books.

Finished NY Times crossword puzzles.  (yes, multiple ones)

Collected acorns (you'll have to take my word for it because I didn't snap a picture.  This is an annual favorite activity of Calvin and Omi.  Let us know if you want to start your own oak tree).

Made apple fritters.

Watched puppet shows.

Ate apple pie.  And yes, if anyone else comes to visit me, I will make you one too.  Can't you smell it now?  

Thanks for a great weekend, Gisela, Paul, Elinor and Joan.  Hopefully, one day soon, we'll be brave enough to bring the children to NYC.