L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge---orange edition

There is no explaination needed for this photo!!!

Happy Autumn everyone!!

Head on over to Home is where You Start From for more "orange" photos.

From the Backyard--Happy Autumn

I sat on the hill in the backyard and snapped a few pictures....autumn is slipping by fast (there is a hard freeze warning for the area farmers tonight)...and the freeze will start the leaves falling quickly off the branches....you've got to get the pictures while you can.

It is an extra special blessing to get photos on a day with a crystal clear blue sky.

Kimmy and her black walnut pipe.

Pretty soon Kimmy will be sledding down this hill, not just rolling!

The back field tree line.

God's paintbrush is amazing.

A few amazing colors to brighten the inside of the house......

and capture with a crayon.....

Happy autumn from "the little house" backyard.....

It's fire prevention month

We had a great field trip to the Rome fire department this morning.

The firemen did a great job educating both the kids and the parents in fire safety and prevention.
The fully suited up fireman. The kids were taught to come to the fireman if they are in danger, even though he looks quite scary.
Everyone did a good job with this, execpt Kimmy, who remained in a hiding spot under my legs.
We need to work on the fear with her.
Luke getting suited up.
There is nothing cuter that a little guy in a big fireman coat.

Then it was time for a puppet show.

The puppet show special guests were.......

Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street.

Everyone loved this part of the day!!

After the fire station, Grandma H. treated us to a fun lunch at McDonalds.....the McDonalds WITH a playland.

We were the only ones in the playland area for quite a while which was great.....there was a lot of loud energy use taking place.

(I need this playland at my house....in a soundproof room of course.)

Thanks everyone for a great day!!

Wordless Wednesday-Post-it note Halloween costume

Indian corn jewelry

I remember doing this every year when I was little.

We gathered the indian corn and then we would make jewelry.

I can still remember how sore my fingers would get shucking the corn and then stinging it for bracelets and necklaces.

Well, this year, my finger didn't get sore at all.

I had so many little helpers, the corn was shucked in no time at all.

The colors are just gorgeous this year. (I think they are probably just as beautiful every year, but every year I am in awe of the beauty of this colorful corn.)

This years corn was VERY dry, so we used a hammer and large needle to hammer holes through the kernels. This was very helpful in speeding up the stringing process.

Basically, we made beads out of the corn kernels

Mark and Amy hammering away. Gracie, string her bracelet.

I bought stretchy beading thread. Perfect for this project. Having the holes already made sped this up so much, I was very pleased.

Gorgeous!!

My beautiful crafter, and beautiful model.

Makes My Monday---Down on the Farm

Heading out to visit the barn with friend Mary-Kate.

That's a big pig.....

Chomping on a pumpin.

A special piggy treat.

She even enjoyed an ear of corn.

Gathering the eggs

Oreo the cow

Our bounty from the farm.....

Makes My Monday, and the kids Monday also.

Check out more Makes My Monday posts at Twinfatuation.

It's October!!

So now our calendar time board has been changed a little bit.
I have added the poem "Five Little Pumpkins" to our board. I have magnets on the back of the pieces so that they can "act"out the poem.
Both kids really enjoy this.

I made printables of the 4 seasons so we can review these daily.

Pumpkins will fill in the dates of October.

We have some special birthdays in October...I have birthday cakes ready for these days.
I am very, very pleased at how well calendar time is working in out homeshool.

The kids both look forward to it everyday.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soulemama for all to find and see.