Storybook Tales

We went to a ballet today with some friends. There were 3 stories in the performance; Fancy Nancy, Jonathan and the Gingery Snare and Snow White. Arianna enjoyed the perfomance and really got into the storylines of each performance. The costumes were beautiful! We also got a copy of the Fancy Nancy book which the illustrator signed for Arianna.

Above is Arianna with Snow White. Below is Arianna, Alana and the Wicked Queenn.

Below is Arianna with Fancy Nancy.

Arianna and Alana with the Special Blue Butterfly from the Fancy Nancy Performance.

Our home

I thank God for our home! I love the country but am stuck in the city due to my husband's profession. God had the perfect house picked out for us and I am so glad to be living in it. It is as close as we can get to being in the country but still be near Chris' job. We live in a cul-de-sac off of a cul-de-sac which means we have very little traffic. The kids love to ride their bikes around the cul-de-sac. They also love to climb the trees in front of our house.

We enjoy are large backyard and the privacy of our home. We have this huge Sugar Cane area at the back of the yard that the kids enjoy playing in the middle of. The cane has so many uses anything from a sword to a walking stick. We pulled out some of the old canes to dry out to make fishing poles. I can remember fishing with my Grandfather using a cane pole.

This bridge is on the other side of the cane growth. I am very thankful for our home! I love that our kids get to enjoy the outdoors!

Morning Devotionals

We have begun a new tradition in our house. The kids are having a daily morning devotional with me. We sing songs together about God. Then we have a short lesson and a memory verse. I created a devo basket that has books about God, Bible coloring books, Bible puzzles and journals in it. After our short lesson, they can choose something out of the basket to do. While I have my quiet time the kids have their own quiet time. Then we pray together afterwards. I have really enjoyed the fruits of this new tradition. The kids love to learn new things about God and His Bible. Arianna's prayers have already grown. It is amazing how their little minds can memorize scripture. This has also helped the kids to really be thinking about doing what is right and being nice to each other throughout the day.

Happy Trick or Treating

We had a great time Trick or Treating last night with friends! Arianna was Daphne from Scooby Doo and Ryan was Batman. While trick or treating, Arianna was on a mission and wanted to speed door to door but she had to slow down to wait on her friends. It reminded me of Easter when she found a ton of eggs. She gets a task in her head and is obsessed with it. Ryan enjoyed getting candy and hanging out with friends. Both kids really enjoyed Halloween!

In the wake of many choosing not to celebrate Halloween because of what it "celebrates", I am glad that we chose to continue to celebrate Trick or Treating. I honestly don't think our kids are celebrating or supporting Satanic rituals. It was just innocent fun to dress up and spend time with friends. Halloween continues to be one of my favorite holidays.

Solution for loose markers

I have been trying to find a solution for all of our markers. I have tried different solutions but finally found one I like. I found this marker set at Target for $12.99. It comes with all of the markers and is made of plastic and therefore is reusable for other brands of markers. It allows the kids to see the different colors to choose from and it also encourages them to put the lids back on the markers. We ended up going back and getting a second set for the playroom.

Enjoying the season

This week for school we did some activities for Halloween. We painted the small pumpkins that we got at the Corn Maze.

We also decorated masks. Ryan chose the witch and Ari chose the Princess. They colored them and then glued different things onto the mask.

The Donut Game

On Saturday the kids were excited to get to dress up for a birthday party. Ryan wanted to be Batman and Arianna started out as Belle. She then did a last minute costume change to Cinderella because of the rain and she didn't want to get her long Belle gown muddy. That's my girl. Better to have fun than look pretty!

At the birthday party they had a hilarious game for the kids. They hung donuts from the ceiling and the kids were supposed to eat the donuts without using their hands. It was so funny to watch the kids try to do this!

Ryan chased his around and around in circles.

Arianna was a little hesitant at first to look goofy. My little self conscious child. But she eventually went for it.

Eventually, the judges had mercy on the kids and allowed the parents to hold the string to help.

Look at these donut covered faces. This was a fun game for the kids!

Gearing up for Halloween

Those of you who know my kids know that they love to dress up. They are very excited about being able to dress up on Halloween. Halloween is also one of my favorite holidays! I, like my kids, enjoy dressing up.

Ryan as a Doctor and Ari as Cinderella

Lydia loves Ryan

We did facepainting. Ari wanted to be a Cat and Ryan wanted Spiderman, spider and batman on his face. It is hard to paint a moving canvas:)

Nana sent Ryan a spiderman costume (Thanks Nana). Ari put on the larger size and they fought the bad guy (Daddy) together.

Ari doing a spiderman pose

Thanks Yaya

We got home from the fair with another of my kids favorite things...mail!

They get so excited to get packages in the mail!

Arianna loved her Batgirl! (That is a ring pop in her mouth)
Ryan loved his Superman and Spiderman!

They both enjoyed the jester hats!

Thanks Yaya for sending us some of your love! We miss you and can't wait to see you!

A Day at the State Fair

Today we continued a family tradition that has special meaning to us. We went to our State Fair. My first date with my husband was to the State Fair 13 years ago. Every year we celebrate that time by visiting the fair together. The kids were very excited this year! We rode a lot of rides, ate yummy food and just enjoyed our time together as a family!


This is us riding the ferris wheel.

This is the kids by a cow. It was at the cows 13 years ago that Chris says he knew he wanted to marry me:)

The kids and I rode this spinning tea cup ride. We had it spinning around so fast that Ryan couldn't even sit up straight.

The kids really enjoyed this ambulance. It carried on a conversation with them. Ryan was intrigued and Ari was asking how it could do that. A man was nearby controlling the ambulance. They even hugged their new friend the ambulance goodbye!

Ryan proud to be in the front of a big truck.

This was my favorite part...the petting zoo. I hate that we are so separated from the animals now. When Chris and I first went to the fair, we got to pet the cows and many other animals. Now you are on the other side of a fence and there are signs everywhere that tell you to make sure you wash your hands. Sad world that we live in today:) My kids are those kids kissing the animals so I don't know what good hand washing will do!

Look at this cute face!

This reminded me of Ryan. Always got to be at the highest place!!

This was Ryan's favorite ride...the motorcycle.

They both enjoyed the dragons!

Arianna and Ryan milked a cow. The funny thing is that they had to sanitize their hands before milking the cow. Now that makes more sense to protect the cow from our little germ carrying monkeys! Arianna said milking the cow was one of her favorite things from today.

It wouldn't be a Daltongang adventure without some tree climbing danger:)

Arianna enjoyed collecting stickers from each booth! She had so many stickers on her shirt and now guess where they are...on my van window. She took them off one by one on the way home and stuck them to the inside of the van window. I guess we know what Mommy will be doing tomorrow!

We ended up spending from early this morning until after 5:30 this evening at the fair. We didn't take a stroller in. Amazingly, the kids did really well walking and not complaining. Ryan got a little fussy near the end and Chris carried him. Here is a pic of my worn out baby passed out on Chris' chest.

When I put them to bed tonight, Ari said "I want to go back to the fair!" I love the fair but I am glad it is only a once a year thing!