Wordless Wednesday: Little Pumpkins

Apple Picking

This morning, we went to pick apples at Edward's. It was very cold, cloudy, and windy, which were not the greatest apple-picking conditions, but the kids didn't seem to mind!

Caleb loved the entire process, from carrying the basket to actually picking the apples to putting the ones he picked into the basket. And, he was pretty serious about the whole thing...he was quite particular about which apples he picked....if they had any "yuckies" on them, they didn't make the cut!

While Meredith didn't really pick any, we did pick some for her to put into the basket and to hold. She, just like big brother, loved snacking away, and I am quite impressed at how well she managed to eat such a big apple with her itty-bitty teeth!

The first one...


Grandma and the kiddos...


Meredith's 1st try...


He insisted on carrying the basket until it got too heavy!


Yummy!


Little hands. Big fruit.


Finding some good ones!


"Cheese!"

So this is what these front teeth are for...

This is serious business...


...and seriously tasty.


Big Bite!

We filled up our bushel (which we'll split with my Mom), and I am looking forward to doing some baking over this next week!

We already have our next trip to Edward's planned...we'll be going back next weekend when my brother is in town. Yay!

Baby Steps

Over the past couple of weeks, Meredith has been taking independent steps here and there, testing out the whole walking thing. I think the most we have counted thus far is 6 in a row. =)

When she is walking in between 2 people (ie: Mommy and Daddy), she always "dives" into us as soon as she is close enough for us to catch her...and laughs like crazy in the process!

This isn't the greatest video, and she still has a long way to go, but here's a little look into what she is up to!

Candy Corn Counting

This was definitely not Caleb's favorite project ever! It didn't help that he tasted candy corn for the first time before we got started, and he didn't like it. At all. He actually spit it out. Gross.

While I am actually pleased that he isn't a fan of this pure sugar (yet super cute and festive) candy, he might have been more motivated to finish had he liked to eat one now and then throughout the process!

Anyway, here's his finished project....which took a few days to complete, since he was only motivated to do a little at a time!

Growing Belly = Growing Baby!

I love reading updates on what is going on with our little baby. It is absolutely amazing to me to be reminded of how intricately woven together each human being actually is.

Psalm 139:13 says...For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

To know that God created this child and that He is knitting him together each moment is awesome.

Here is the first "belly shot" that I took, at 13 weeks, along with one we took today at 25 weeks.

13 Weeks...



Baby was the size of a medium shrimp. =)


25 Weeks...



Baby is now the size of a rutabaga!



And, here is a little blurb (from babycenter.com) about our little guy!

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Morton Pumpkin Fest

Some weeks ago, our good friends, the Friend family, moved back home to be near their families in Morton, IL.

We decided that today, the last day of their annual Morton Pumpkin Festival, was the perfect day to make our 1st trip down to visit them!

While the weather was a tad crummy (lots of rain), we had a great time. It was fun for all of us, and best of all, we got to spend time with dear friends.

We made it!


Meredith waiting for the parade to begin (and showing off her teeth that are FINALLY coming through!)...


The crew waiting for the parade to start! (In other words, the crew waiting for the people in the parade to start throwing candy!)...


Watching...


Riding the train...


Waiting in line with their tickets...


Carousel...

Genesis 1:1

Caleb's memory verse for September & October...

Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth."

Soccer

Today was Caleb's 1st day of soccer. He has been looking forward to this for weeks. He loved going to pick out his own soccer ball, shin guards and soccer socks and has been anxiously awaiting the day he would finally get to put them to good use!

The first thing the coaches had the kids do was run the length of the field a couple of times. I was tired just watching them! For the rest of practice, they did some basic drills and played some fun games to help them practice their dribbling skills. I was pretty impressed that the practice looked like an actual practice! I was expecting a lot more chaos than there was. All of the kids did a really good job!

I am really proud of Caleb. He did a great job listening and following directions, and he worked really hard. He had a great time, and it was wonderful to sit in the grass along the sidelines and watch my little guy having so much fun.

Watching one of the coaches...


Caleb's turn to go 1-on-1 with Coach...


Coming over for a drink break...


Water break!


Dribbling toward the goal...


Huddle up!

Another Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Evangeline! We love you and miss you!



XOXO

Another Sneak Peek

23 weeks, 5 days...


close up...

My Little Artists

Since we have been talking a lot about apples this week, I thought I would try to teach Caleb to draw an apple tree. I made a very simple drawing of a tree to model it for him, then let him try one on his own.

1. Two up and down brown lines for the trunk.
2. A green circle for the top of the tree.
3. Little red circles for the apples.

And, voila! This beautiful tree is now hanging in our kitchen, near the other apple projects he did this week.



And, the other day, I decided to try some coloring with Meredith. While she kept wanting to put the crayons in her mouth, she did manage to color a little bit!







To see some photos of Caleb's very 1st coloring experience, click here.

An Apple a Day

Well, Fall is definitely in the air (literally!) at our house.

We did a couple of Fall projects today....with the good old Apple as our focus. This morning, we talked about apples, and how they grow. I asked Caleb if he knew where apples grew, and he answered, "on a tree." Right on, buddy. Then we talked a bit about how an apple tree grows....how it starts as a little seed and then grows to be a big tree with yummy fruit. At this point, he said "and I can pick one and eat it!" Again, right on, little buddy! I can't wait to take him apple picking this year!

The first project that we did was an Apple Print Wreath. For step-by-step instructions on how to make this, click here:







The 2nd activity we did was a sequencing activity (the teacher in me is really coming out now!)



I made four simple drawings that illustrated a very basic order in which an apple tree starts as a seed and grows into a big, fruitful tree! (I actually saved the apple seeds from the apple we used to do our Apple Print Wreath for Caleb to glue on to the first picture in the sequence.)

Initially, the 4 pictures were spread out on the table, and Caleb's job was to figure out which order they went in. He knew that apple trees started as seeds, so figuring out the 1st picture was easy. After he glued on that illustration, he immediately assumed that the last picture (the big tree with lots of apples) would come next. So, we had to talk through how a tree starts out little, and gets bigger as time goes on. And how, with water and sunlight, the little tree grows into the big tree with lots of apples for us to eat!

Eventually he got it, and was able to glue them all down in the right order. Then I let him put the number stickers on each picture, which was probably his favorite part!



After naps today, I hope to get to the library to pick up some books about Apples!

Rock Cut State Park

Yesterday, we had a picnic dinner at Rock Cut. Caleb, of course, loved having the chance to run around and play. Meredith loved exploring and trying to keep up with Big Brother. I loved spending time with family...and the red velvet cupcakes my Mom made for my birthday!

Here are some photos of our little cuties...

A carrot in 1 hand, an acorn in another...what could be better?


Practicing his soccer skills...


Time to swing!


Action shot (throwing the football to Daddy)...


This girl LOVES her Daddy...


Ready. Set. HIKE!


Meredith wanted to play some football too!


Checking out the lake...


I love this!


Who needs a bat, when you can find a really good bat-like stick?