Halloween Book Basket

One of my new favorite things to do is have a seasonal book basket for the kids. We really enjoy it, especially Sam and Mia since really they are mostly board books but that doesn't mean that Jake doesn't enjoy listening. Nothing is better than a snugly soft blanket and a basket full of books to read.


Some of our favorites:

• Where's Baby's Pumpkin?
• Who Said Boo?
• Little Spider - Sam thinks it's hilarious to smush the finger puppet spider back in the book for me to pop out bonking his head.
• Charlie and Lola's Boo! Made You Jump
  No More Monsters for Me - a very easy reader for Jake
• I am a Leaf
• Stellaluna
• A Halloween Mask for Monster
• I Spy A Pumpkin
• The Monster at the End of this Book - my favorite! Who doesn't LOVE Grover?

There are few other favorites in the basket that aren't fall including Sam's favorite Touch and Feel Baby Animals. I would love to add to our collection. Do you have a favorite book to share with us??

Don't want to blink because we might miss Spring.

Today was beautiful, perfect spring weather. We knew we had to take advantage of it because if we blink, it will probably start to snow again. We enjoyed some bike riding today. I am itching to get my bike out too*. I really wish I had a baby seat on it for Sam. Or maybe Jake. This year is the year that we will learn to ride without training wheels. I know that I have said that for the past few years, but maybe this will be the year! And hopefully, Mia will have the hang of it soon too!
(*Edited: I got my bike out and took it for a ride. I learned a few things. One: I need a new tube for my back tire. Two: Mosquitoes already?? Three: I am most definitely, positively out of any sort of shape except flabby.)

Fall

I knew it was coming. All of those leaves and all of those walnuts. Hundreds and hundreds of walnuts. Did you know that the kids love to smash walnuts on the driveway? Then those walnuts make big grease marks all over said driveway? Interesting....

Last week the collecting the nuts and working on the leaves started. I have a feeling that I will have to collect leaves and nuts everyday for the next billion years before they are actually all taken care of. Still, that doesn't mean that we can't have a little fun. Sometimes, being the house that all the kids like to hang out at has it's benefits. Those boys dug in a raced me to see who could fill up their bag with walnuts first. They kept yelling to each other that they had to work to play. That's right kiddos. Work to play. Except for Princess Fiona here. She seemed to miss that concept.

Time to play!

How can children have so much enthusiasm and excitement? I wish that I had one-tenth their energy. They run everywhere. If I tried that running thing, I would be flopping and jiggling and running out of breath. Do you think that they will still be excited about these leaves the 20th time we are bagging them up? I know that I will be. Hah!