Wednesday, October 30, 2013

All Lit Up

We lit up our pumpkin tonight... and it was so beautiful...











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Monday, October 28, 2013

ZOO trip

Seriously, as previously stated in a post, I LOVE field trips... they are probably my favorite thing about homeschooling. We learn, we play, we get together with friends... win win for everyone, Moms included.














We decided to go halfsies with a dear family, and get a pass for the year... more trips to the zoo are in our future. We already had such fond feelings about the zoo, but now with the idea that we can pretty much go anytime, and just stroll right in... makes it even more enjoyable... especially when you add friends to the mix.














Of course, the added exhibits cost extra... but, "Stingray Bay" was definitely worth it, for at least a one time shot. There were stingrays of all age and sizes, and loved being pet.















Oh the parakeets... they are always some of my favorites to visit...















True story... while I was busy photographing the "cute" bird that just so happened to land in the stroller on top of Marley... he decided to go ahead and nibble on my little baby.

I think she was more startled by it, than actually hurt by it... it totally interrupted her nap. 

They also have the BEST playground... it's HUGE and there's even a music element to it... guess what part is Charlotte's favorite part? 


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Thursday, October 24, 2013

'til next year

We had our first frost not too long ago, and that brought along the end to our garden. All the leaves on most of the plants shriveled up and turned black just a few days later, and the tomatoes stopped turning a beautiful shade of red... and just stayed... green. Although it's such a beautiful time of the year, with the changing of the leaves on the trees around us, it's kind of sad to say farewell to the garden. This was my "practice" year... figuring out what plants worked, what didn't... what to do next year, what not to do... and now I'm just so excited to get back in there next year. Especially because Marley will be old enough to crawl/toddle around. To prepare the garden, we pulled all the plants out, to compost. We cut down our strawberries, and covered the bed with hay. Although Charlotte would rather play in the dirt, she didn't mind helping with the hay, it was fun enough to keep her attention. 'Til next year sweet garden... 'til next year.









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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Celebrate Like A Viking

The hubby finally made it to his squadron, after months and months of training (he made it in there about 1.5 months ago)... and they're called, the VIKINGS. So, what do we do? We party like the Vikings...
















This Viking Festival was held at a park, so the kids had PLENTY to do. There was a huge playground, a jumpy house, tug o war games, drumsticks (meat to eat), pie in the face, and even a catapult (don't worry, we didn't shoot off children)... such a fun celebration. Charlotte LOVES being part of the Vikings... I think it's because we get to dress up.







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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Dear Marley Wren { 3 Months }

Dear Marley,

Oh, seriously... a quarter of your first year... done... seems so unfair, and so exciting at the same time. We're so sad that your little newborn self is slowly disappearing each and every day that passes... but we LOVE seeing you come out of that newborn shell.




















This month, you've entered the exploratory stage. You are so much more aware, eyes are always open and bright taking in your surroundings. Oh those eyes, they melt our hearts. They're totally Daddy's big eyes, and we love them. They're starting to change colors a bit. Instead of being a vibrant blue, they're turning into this strange blue hue with yellow speckles inside... could they be going green like your Mommy's? They just might be (secretly hoping.)

Your hands are CONSTANTLY in your mouth... and if it's not your hands, it's our fingers or your pacifier. But mostly, it's your fists. Sometimes we think you're trying to play a game, "How many fingers can fit in there?" Literally, your whole fist does. 


At your 2 month check, you were just about 10 lbs, and over 23 inches long. We know without a doubt that you're even bigger than that now. We'll find out next month at your 4 month check up... but something tells me we're ready to move up a diaper size. Speaking of diapers, this month is probably the last month we'll be using disposables... next month, your little bottom will be trying out cloth diapers... we'll see how that goes. Something tells me it'll be pie for Mommy and not so much for Daddy.













Your feet are huge. Like, really huge. They're flippers. You're already wearing 6-9m socks. Yup. Big feet. Definitely not from Mommy. You're starting to become ticklish on them, which is super adorable. Charlotte enjoys tickling them, and watching you squirm and make "coo"ing sounds. You're SO close to finding your feet with your hands. You keep them up high in the air, and flail your arms... and you're just an inch a way from grabbing them...














Your hair... is crazy. We try to comb it down after baths, but it just spikes right back up. It has a mind of it's own. It typically hawks in the front, and become a cockatoo's tuft in the back. Crazy hair. But it's so cute, and fits you so well.














Sweet girl... words cannot even describe how happy you make us (especially since you continue to give us full night's sleep every night!) We love the smiles and coos we get from you each and every day... keep them coming.

We love you,
Daddy, Mommy and Charlotte
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Monday, October 14, 2013

Enjoying The Unknown

A sense of adventure... is an amazing thing. Since I began this homeschooling journey a few weeks ago, I noticed a trend: It's REALLY easy to spend a majority of your week, at home... sometimes all day, in pajamas. Outings have become something I've recently added into each week's schedules... it's really easy to go crazy when you stay at home all day, everyday, and hear a 6 year old chatter in one ear, and an infant crying in the other... just sayin. I felt like a part of my sense of adventure, was disappearing. Planned field trips, although great and educational, still don't satisfy my sense of adventure... so last week, I introduced Charlotte to the idea of getting in the car, and driving... not knowing exactly where we were going, what we were going to do, who we were going to see.. but rather to answer the question, "Why are we doing this?"... to cultivate a sense of adventure. With Columbus Day being today, I wanted to teach my little one, NOT about celebrating a man... who was a mean mean man, but rather the concept of adventure. The idea of enjoying the unknown...

So... we got in the car... and drove off... Tried not to get too far from the house, but to venture to a part of Oklahoma that we might not have explored yet.

First stop, Sonic... rightfully so, we needed just the right fuel to help us get on with our adventure. 1/2 price drinks after 2... yes, please. 














We drove about 20 miles away from the house, with the windows down, and the wind blowing in our faces (all but Marley's window, of course...) and took in the beautiful Oklahoma countryside. We stopped to see horses and cows... 


We let the wind play with our hair... 

We searched through fields to find the perfect sticks and stones to play with... and tickled one another with "tickle sticks"... 


And happened upon a little covered picnic area, where we could enjoy our drinks from earlier... 

Which just so happened to have a playground right next to it... to Charlotte, an outing that involves a playground, is just about the best outing ever. 

Things not photographed: getting pulled over by a police officer, because I was going 6 miles over the speed limit (he let me go with just a warning) and a diaper blow out.
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