It's becoming winter

Although you can't typically tell from the kids' clothes - they still love their shorts and short-sleeves. Dan is ever tolerant.

Starting a fire because it was freezing.

The best part of this was that Dan loves the fire. We didn't realize how cold he must be normally until he spent the better part of the day mere inches from the hot fireplace. We couldn't get closer than a few feet; Dan would bask pressed right up near it.

They're growing up

Ellie decided to make a worm sanctuary - she made a box out of non-decomposing material (she was specific about that, didn't want to use cardboard), filled it with dirt, packed it with worms from the garden then sprinkled berries all over the top to "distract the birds".

At the park :)

Poor Ells was sick.

Dan is the best snuggle-heater.

We are a crib-free household! At the littles' request we gave away their cribs and moved their mattresses upstairs. Here all four kids are working together to make them up :)

Some screen time after everyone worked together to put the room in order.

Bedtime routine: Dan has to get his kisses in too.

Lily and Dan are probably equal puppies right now.

Someone moved right in on the new space....

Hallow-silkworm-een

Eh, it was a weird week. The silkworms are approaching their final sizes before cocooning which means they're huge and soft and plump. Kids loved petting them.

Outdoor wilderness class! I abandon the girls in a field for 4 hours (ok, ok, there are other adult teachers there) and they get returned to me muddy, ruddy, and happy. Also full of nifty outdoor information!

Our favorite evening pastime - snuggling together and watching Ted-Ed videos on myths, classics and historical stories.

Huge worms. If you don't like worms.... sorry, there's a lot in this blog's future!

When is the best time to stock your dress up box? Thrift stores, day after Halloween. This is an amazing parrot costume we got for $3.

Worm tax?

Halloween prep

More silkworm holding :)

Dad getting super serious about pumpkin carving. The kids drew what they wanted on their pumpkins then Dad pulled out the jig-saw.

Playing amid the mess and noise.

Lily walked Dan. Or, more appropriately... Dan walked Lily ;)

A boy and his dog. Dan is remarkably tolerant of being slept on.

Testing Halloween options.

Life at home

It's been a few weeks (months?) but life continues, joyful, messy, and oh-so-busily. 

My flower girl :)

Avy trying to be a fairy but rocking more of an elderly Russian lady look.

They told me they made the Great Wall of China :)

More Middle-Eastern, this one...

My puppies :)

We're raising silkworms - the smallest amount available to buy was 250 eggs, with no guarantee they'd all hatch. We got a healthy brood - they all hatched. 250 silkworms is a lot of worms. But hey! Now I know for sure Dave loves me ;)

They're super soft and easier to hold as they get bigger - the kids have greatly enjoyed this activity.