Month End Report: October

While I hope we are all busy exercising our right to vote today and eagerly awaiting the outcome of this historical presidential election, my blog post today will remain business as usual.

I do promise that I am still working on separate posts for all the cute and fun things both Jake and Jadyn having been doing or saying. I think this past month I have done a fairly good job of keeping everyone updated on what we have been doing and obviously we have been busy with traditional fall activities like soccer games, apple picking, visits to the pumpkin patch and Harvest/Halloween celebrations. We also had our first bout of fall/winter illnesses, something of course that I have come to expect as inevitable. I thought I would take this chance to recap some of the non-seasonal activities that have gone on the last month, especially since the weather has been particularly non-seasonal remaining in the 90's for the majority of the month.

While one or both of the kids were sick and we were forced to remain home from our usual weekly activities, I took out the paints. The kids have shown little interest in fingerpainting but they loved painting these wooden cars and trains with washable paint and brushes:

Jake has continued to prove himself as the protective and doting big brother. Since Jadyn still does not grasp the concept of steering and can therefore not drive her Power Wheel jeep around, Jake made room for her in his Tony Stewart race car one day while he was doing his hot laps around the house. Excuse his expression. This is the 4-year-old cheese grin I had been warned about that Jake now produces when you ask him to smile:

Once the kids were both feeling better, we were able to attend a teddy bear picnic organized by the kids Kindermusic teacher. Jake and Jadyn both enjoyed a morning filled with fun activities at the park including lunch with their favorite stuffed animals, music and a session with the giant parachute including individual rides:

Another new activity for the kids to enjoy at home is imagining and setting up these elaborate "dinners" using all of the food from Jadyn's play kitchen, her favorite tea set and a set of foam blocks arranged as table and chairs:

I have to say for anyone with any combination of infant, toddler and/or preschooler the Block Party set of geometric shapes from Parents magazine has been one of our best toy purchases. The kids find endless uses for this set including our famous obstacle course. They also make great ramps for cars and other vehicles as well as a million other things the kids have dreamed up.

Finally, although everyone has already seen some great pictures of the kids in their Halloween costumes from both the flashlight scramble and playdate party, Halloween day was also extremely busy with Jake's preschool party and trick or treating that evening with their pals Andrew and Aly. The kids had a blast and made out like bandits with plenty of treats.

So I think it would be a safe conclusion to say that October was a busy month and with the holidays fast approaching, I doubt November and December will be anything less.