Fall Weekending

Finishing up proofing Will's writing work for tomorrow. Can't believe I had never read this book! So happy that my son has and is thinking, discussing and writing about it at age 9! It has been amazing to see his writing improve by leaps and bounds in less than two months with higher expectations set.




Fitting homework within another weekend with four, yes four!, soccer games for my boy... This guy was TIRED tonight!!!!




The girls and I had our troop hike on Friday afternoon, then an outdoor skills day with local girl scout troops all day Saturday...












Now poor Molly has a fever, so will low tomorrow.

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One Final Island Visit

My helpers...a lot of bailing to do after the boats sat through some rainy days...




All that bailing was worth it! We made it over to the island for one last fall trip before the boats and docks were pulled this week...




Catching lots of starfish in October...crabs during the summer, starfish in October!




Lots of treasures...




Have a safe island winter...see you in the spring.




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Current Scouting Happenings

Cub scouts - popcorn sales - what a learning opportunity. This year, my son was in charge of his popcorn take home order numbers and money...




Girl Scouts - fun and yummy investiture and rededication ceremony held outside at the farm this afternoon, then a wonderful autumn hike in the late afternoon...








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Pumpkin Coffee Cake

I saw a link to this recipe over at The Frugal Girl and had to try it. Well, we have made it twice in the last week. It is seriously to die for.

Iced Pumpkin Coffee Cake

First I had to make my pumpkin purée...








This is the SECOND cake this week - almost gone. As you can tell, it was a hit!!


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Posting Signs

Our family has been blessed with shared stewardship of an amazing island off the coast of Maine. It is a place like no other...salty ocean breezes, woods filled with paths and fairy houses, a not too high mountain to climb and gaze down over the bay...I could go on and on. Well, over the last couple of years, we decided we needed to update the signage posted around the perimeter of the island. I took this job on - utilized a local sign maker to do the manufacturing of the signs and then posting the new signs. Over the weekend, we posted around approximately half of the island - will need to finish in the spring, but what a beautiful fall day it was! It is rare that I am out on the island this late in the fall - what a treat...

Yes, I am rockin' the green nail polish thanks to my 5 year old ;)







One of my trusty companion helpers...



Picked up a ton of trash from the shoreline...



Putting the island to sleep for the winter is bitter sweet. The boats and docks will be pulled in a week and we will dream of summer island days and nights. Until next spring dear isle...

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Auctions, Birthdays and Ballets

This morning started off with visiting Daddy's work for their annual open house. It is the only time we get to see where he is all day, as he works for a company that has security that does not allow family to visit at other times... They hold an auction to raise money for Toys for Tots every year and this year the girls cleaned up! We won a homemade chocolate raspberry cake, a gift certificate to LLBean and (drum roll!!!) an outing on a lobster boat where you get to also keep the lobsters out of one the traps! Not quite sure how they figure our which trap you keep the haul from...the one that came up empty vs. the one that had 6 lobsters ;). Anyway - this should be a total blast when we schedule it!




Then while big brother and Daddy headed off to their soccer game (Daddy coaches), the girls and I celebrated their friend's birthday by seeing The Little Mermaid ballet!! What incredible dancing and fabulous costumes!!




Fun day of fundraising for a good cause, sports, experiencing the arts, bonding with friends, and just plain fun!

And I also got prepped for my adventure tomorrow...



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Balanced But Busy

Thursday afternoon and evening were crazy scheduled with my oldest's piano lesson followed by swim team practice...



While he swims, the girls and I play in the gym...






Followed by a soccer game under the lights. No pictures of that. Thursday night is definitely a crock pot night! Let me tell you that these kids are TIRED when they finally put their heads down on their pillows at night.

Friday afternoon was much less structured but also very busy today with seven kids here to play...

Open door policy at the craft closet led to the youngest kids creating water color, stamp, scissors and paper work with gusto!



The middles set up outside and immediately became lost in pretend play in the front yard.



And the oldest engaged in game after game of Blokus and Checkers.



I am grateful for the time when we are home and the kids are playing with friends to leisurely prepare pizza and salad fixings ahead of the dinner rush... Such a nice afternoon.

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Pre Dinner Fun

Tonight, was one of those evenings when we needed to wait for dinner... My oldest has a variety of evening commitments - swim team, soccer, scouts... It is so fun for me to see what my girls come up with for activities to keep themselves busy while waiting for big brother and daddy to get home. Tonight activities included: helping me make our quiche & smoothie, making Valentines (yes, indeed...who cares that it is only October!?), and making puzzles out of little notes. That last one was my personal favorite...







Entirely self created and directed by the girls!

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Bunnies and Ballet

While my youngest practices her ballet...




My older two like to hang with the chickens and bunny that our super cool ballet teacher has on her property...




Sure, we have chickens at home, but we can't currently let them free range, are not allowed to have a rooster and do not have an ADORABLE bunny who also free ranges and lives with the chickens. How unbelievably cool is that? I plan to do some reading about this. Now that we have our chickens and knowing that my kids push for a bunny on a regular basis, if they could live together in the coop outside...well, that would be just too convenient, eh? Anyone know anything about doing this or have experience with it? I need to get my brain neurons chugging along on this concept! It just sounds so cool!
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