Horse Riding

We had told Natalie that she could do horseback riding lessons this past summer and that fell through.  I knew there was a church in the area that has pony riding lessons but when I contacted them they basically told me that it's only open for the kids who are in their preschool/daycare program and that they don't have space for outsiders.  I may try again in the spring but I don't think it will happen.  I have found a pony camp for next summer already but I don't know if they do lessons during the year or not.  That place is a little further.  I also found a place in Palatine but I don't know if I want to drive that far.  There are tons of stables around us but I think they all do horse riding lessons and not pony riding lessons and most horse riding lessons start at 7 years old and are really expensive.  I have to keep looking.

There is a woman in my multiples group who lives on a horse farm and has her own horse.  She agreed to give Natalie a lesson on her horse.  Natalie and I headed over after our pumpkin farm visit in the slight drizzle so Natalie could ride a horse.  Natalie LOVED it!  The horse was fairly docile but at moments wanted to go faster than a walk.  We went through the forest preserve that is right by this woman's house.  Natalie was very content riding a big horse.  I think it made me more nervous than her.  The woman said Natalie did a great job and sat up very straight the whole time.  Natalie hasn't asked for lessons again but I'm sure she will.  I'm trying to decide if I want to do lessons inside during the winter or wait until the spring.  We'll see.  Unfortunately stables don't have great websites so I need to call around to see what I can find for her.

 Natalie got to brush the horse a little and give it some food.

 Natalie's hair had a braid in it that day just like the horse!

Pumpkin Patch

Over Columbus Day weekend we went to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins.  We really like going to Cody's Farm because it's small and inexpensive.  They have one area that you have to pay for but the rest is free.  I sure hope this farm stays this uncommecialized!  We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and picked some really nice pumpkins for just $5 a piece!

We paid for the kids to enter the paid area and they loved playing with the pedal tractors, the bouncy house, the mini house, the duck races and ride on the barrel train.  The duck races were new this year.  They were made of pvc pipes and a water pump.  There were 3 tracks so you could race against other people.  The ducks tended to flip over but they still made it down the track.

 The little house was complete with a loft that could be locked.  N2 are giving us their "we were locked in and we can't get out" faces.  The windows even opened.  It was such a cute little house!

They also have a corn crib and gigantic sandbox but I didn't get pictures of those.  We didn't go in the corn crib because there were older kids in there throwing corn around the whole time we were in that area so my kids stuck with the sandbox.

Donuts

On Columbus Day both N2 and I had the day off school but Brian did not.  I took the kids down to Mom and Dad's house to make donuts and to work on Natalie's costume.  We only made cake donuts.  N2 helped roll the dough, cut donuts and ice donuts.  Dad had taken them to Steak N Shake and they brought back their m&m's and chocolate chips that should have gone in their milkshake.  They used these to decorate the donuts.

Jack-o-laterns

Last weekend we carved our pumpkins.  It was gorgeous outside so we were able to do all of it outside and keep the mess out of the house.  I think that is the first time we could do that!  Noah did a lot of the carving himself but I helped Natalie as her cuts were much smaller and needed to be more precise.  I made them empty out some of their pumpkin themselves, first with their hands which they thought was disgusting and then with a spoon.  I think Brian had to do most of it.

 Natalie was determined to have a kitty cat pumpkin.  Noah just kept adding more shapes to his pumpkin.  I think he called them scars.  The pumpkin does have booggers coming out of his nose.

 My pumpkin is on the left and Brian's is on the right.  Natalie picked out the face for me to carve.  My jack-o-lantern did NOT stay lit on Halloween because it was too windy and the mouth was too open.  I may need to light it tonight to see how it looks as a jack o lantern.  I think the pumpkins are going to have to go soon because they are already molding.

Brian had hoped his scare would have shown up with the light from inside the pumpkin but it didn't.  Maybe he needed to cut it a little deeper.

Halloween

Last weekend we were up at Marcie's to celebrate Nathaniel's baptism and their church happened to be having a Trunk or Treat event so we brought up N2's costumes and took pictures together with Marcie's girls.  Natalie had decided to be Dorothy back at the end of September.  Noah had thought about being the tin man but then changed his mind to be the hungry caterpillar (or as he says the hungry hungry caterpillar).  I made Noah's costume all by myself and Lisa made his hat for me.  Mom helped me make Natalie's costume.

 We tried a picture with all kids.  The only picture I have with Amelia smiling is one where Natalie's face isn't entirely visible.  Oh well!

Then we wanted to 2 Dorothys together.  After that we did Noah and Megan together and had Noah pretend to eat Elsa and Elsa use her magic frozen powers.

 The girls liked to link arms and skip together off to see the wizard.  It was really cute.

I'm so glad that we got pictures on a beautifully warm day because Halloween was COLD!  It was 41 with wind gusts of 50 mph.  Their school had a very short parade outside which Brian was able to attend.  They had a school party as well.  We went trick or treating for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  By the end Natalie was done-we skipped some houses and just walked straight back.  It was really cold.  Noah's costume fit over his coat so he looked like a fatter caterpillar.

 Today we went over to Brian's parents' house to see the cousins on the other side of the family.  Charlie had his costume so we could see Dorothy with the tin man. It's hard to get pictures of all the kids!

We had a fun Halloween and I'm glad we were able to wear our costumes more than once!

Painting

Back in June before school got out for me, Brian started on all the home improvement projects at home.  He started with painting the first floor a darker color.  He had to move all the furniture which prompted us to rearrange furniture and buy new pieces (which have yet to arrive).  Once I get the house set up how I want it (and get new curtains) I will post pictures.  After painting, Brian tore up the floors and put hardwood floor down.  It looks so nice!  It was quite the project though and it was hard to live with a first floor (that includes the play area) that was out of commission.  N2 helped Brian paint the walls.  Apparently they rolled while Brian painted around trim and at the ceiling.

Natalie's store

Natalie has recently been very interested in the cash register.  She set up a drive through for us to buy food.  She made a menu so that we know what we can order.  She carries such specialties such as bat and polar bear!  After we order we have to pay exorbitant fees for the food!  She takes our money but doesn't give change or lets us pay by credit card.  She has a very friendly store.  Make sure to stop by the next time you are in the area!

(her food for sale: bat (on separate page), lemons (the gray and yellow things), tomato, bacon, polar bear and grapes)).  She has made more signs since I took the picture.  She copies what our felt IKEA food looks like and she copied the Beanie baby bat and stuffed animal polar bear.