Our Garden Plot

We've been gardening. There is a community garden about five miles away from where we live and we got a plot. It has been fun working with Gabe and seeing him try to make it all work out whether it is working to try and get the clumps out of the soil or answering my questions about what he thinks we should do about this and that since we are novice gardeners and trying to figure tings out. He hasn't shown an interest in gardening for a few years but now he seems to be enjoying it.


Gabe, the two little ones and myself have been driving out the "the garden" and it is fun to see the little ones want to imitate us big ones. Hoes and rakes for kids are sold at the hardware store and I think that I should have bought them (maybe Istill will) because the little kids really want to help and there is plenty of space for them to muck around on the part of the garden that hasn't been planted yet. The dirt is very clumpy it would truly be helpful for the to hack away at the clumps with us.

Anyway, it seems we were taking a break from our formal homeschooling and working in our garden has provided us with a place to get out of the house (and for Gabe to come up from the basement) and do some hands on learning. It's good for us.

Looks Like Another Blustery Day

I don't let the kids watch too much t.v. and videos but Disney's Winnie the Pooh is one that I think is really cute for the kids to watch every now and then.  It's my three-year-old daughter's favorite right now.  Since it's a windy day today and wind advisories are in the forecast right now for the midwest, it made me think of "Pooh's Blustery Day."  We had a great walk around the block with our hats and jackets on.  I love the fall leaves against the gray sky with the chill in the air.  The gusts of winds added some excitement.

Here's some of Pooh's windy day:

Children Help Us Slow Down for What Really Matters

Today since the ground was a tad wet I took the little ones for a walk around the block.  Smileyboy rode in the stroller while three-year-old Pumpkin girl walked and sometimes ran ahead.  It's such a joy to experience the fall leaves with Pumpkingirl at this age.  She seems to really understand that it is fall and during fall the leaves turn colors and fall off of the trees.  She gathered a few leaves and some acorns and put them in the cargo compartment underneath the stroller.  We love going outside and we all seem to get a little antsy when we don't make it out. 

When I walk by myself it is mostly for exercise and I walk fast.  With the little ones I really enjoy taking the time and watching them notice everything around us. As most people with chldren know, this is one of the most marvelous things about having children if we allow ourselves to take the time and linger with them.  It's at times like these that we forget about our grown up cares and ambitions and remember that relationships are what we are put on this earth for.  First our relationsip with God and then our relationship with each other.  What better way to live this out than basking in God's creation on a walk with your children? 

Nap Time

It has been two days in a row and baby has taken his nap along with his two year old sister. It is so great to have the time freeed up. I will enjoy it while it lasts. I think this is due to the fact that I have been waking baby up in the morning. He has been sleeping from his feeding at 7 AM until about ten o'clock. But today and yesterday I woke him up before 9:00. This also makes for a better morning nap for baby. So what did I do with the time? Well... I am able to spend a little time online, I dusted, and made bread among other things. Not bad huh?