October

October is waiting...

We are all ready for this new little one to come into the world, and even though my due date is Nov. 1, we are hoping she will be an October baby!  We've tried to stay busy this month, and it isn't hard to find activities to keep ourselves preoccupied, but it doesn't take away the longing.

Our October diversions have included:  lots of soccer practices and games for our son.  He has improved so much this season, and we are very proud of his good sportsmanship and teamwork.  He is also doing a great job in kindergarten, enjoying his teacher and classmates and learning lots of new Spanish vocabulary.  He particularly enjoys the songs that teach the alphabet, days of the week, etc. etc.  He likes to teach them to his sister and they both have learned a macarena-style dance to all of the Spanish ABC's (will have to post a video of this soon!).  I love that his class follows a thematic approach which incorporates good children's literature, when so much of education is forced to teach to specific testing standards these days.  I feel like he is getting a true kindergarten experience.  He has come home with "Caps For Sale" extension activities, as well as dinosaurs, a whole science unit on manzanas and he'll go on his first field trip this week to the pumpkin patch as they study calabazas.

Our daughter has been willingly going on long walks with Mama (to try and get labor going) as well as going to a music class each week.  She loves the songs and calls the class her "dancing class."  We also got to make several quarts of homemade applesauce with our friends one morning--yum!  She is still very interested in all things food.  Even though she is hitting her stride as a typical two-year old, and starting to challenge authority more, she is still a very sweet person to spend time with each day.  She cheerfully greets the baby each morning and tells me often that she wants to hold her "shou-be" (little sister).

Last week I got to take her on a trip with our Mom's group to the pumpkin patch, where she enjoyed the hay ride and getting to pick out a pumpkin.  She also really liked playing in a box filled with corn feed (much like a sandbox) with her friends.  It was funny how that totally entertained the kids!

We are ready, baby, for you to join our crazy family...are you???