We are glad that Big E is back at home, at least for the foreseeable future. 

 Yesterday we decided to do a craft.  I needed coloured somethings....so I did pinto beans.

 And had to bake them so that they were dry in time.

 Working hard.

 The finished product.

We have had a busy week.  After the boys attended the Safety Presentation we decided to do some of the homework and a little first aid for FHE. 

We bandaged Big E's bleeding wound and focused on using clean cloths for wounds and applying pressure to help the bleeding stop.  We need to work on tying knots next I think.  So much of basic first aid relies on tying a knot or two.  :)

Little Dude has been working on an art project.  He's not quite finished, I'll post a picture of it when it's all done, but thought I'd show you his progress thus far.

 He cut up a food magazine, trying to avoid letters.  Then we collaged a Dollarama canvas completely covering the front.  He wanted to try rockets, so we picked a couple of rocket shapes to trace.

Once the shapes were traced he carefully painted around them...with a little bit of help.  He wants to add some white dots for stars and then we'll do a protective coating before hanging it on his wall.

I've had my own project of sorts.  In an effort to be frugal (what else is new), I have been wanting a white board in my 'school room' (aka the dining room) but didn't want to pay for one, or didn't want to pay much.  Finally a light bulb went on...

First of all, here is where I wanted the board to hang, right under the clock.  I wanted the lettering gone and of course the stuff I'd taped up would come down.

 I remembered that Big E and I had bough a HUGE picture frame from IKEA ages ago.  I decided that it would serve as a white board...but it wasn't white.  Thought I would put a piece of fabric in the middle.  The question then was whether to iron the fabric or leave it a little wrinkly.  I decided on the latter, liking the texture that it has in the room (which doesn't really come out in the pictures).

 Here it is hanging up.  What you can't see is in the bottom left corner under that stool is a blue rubbermaid tub full of Little Dude's school stuff.  So it is all in one spot, not spread around.  Contained.  An important factor in our home.  But I wanted more...and since the school would cover the cost...

Big E was impressed with my craftiness and so he left me a message.  :)

 I went to WalMart and bought myself a little cupboard.  Still contained, but so much prettier!  With the added benefit of a door hiding what is inside so Sprout doesn't dig around in it. 

Shortly before Thanksgiving we went to the zoo (AGAIN) and while we were there we went into the gift shop.  First time ever in there and Little Dude found this egg that you let dissolve in water to allow a snake to 'hatch'.  It took a while, but it finally hatched, here's his snake.

 Oh he's so cute! 

 I found a used picnic table on Kijiji and bought one to put in our kitchen.  Boys use it mostly for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

 Here I am....all made up and no where to go.

 I cooked the turkey for Thanksgiving this year...first time ever!  It turned out great, the next day I put the carcass in a pot and started creating my own turkey stock.  I was going to turn it into pot pie filling.

 Here it is as filling.

 And then as the pie in the stove.  VERY happy with the results.

Today (Sept 12, 2012) the older boys and I went to a fire safety presentation.  Since October is safety month for us, it seemed like a good thing to do.  Now all we have left is some practicing (stop,drop, and roll and emergency exit with meet-up place and some first aid skills) and then we'll be ready for December's theme: Traditions. 

 They even had bags to take home and use for Halloween, with some homework and goodies inside.

Shortly after we got home we were happy to have visitors from far away!  Cousins we haven't seen in a very long time.

 We were so glad they could take some time out of their other visiting to visit with us for a couple of hours.  It flew by and we hope one day to return the favour!  I need to find my tripod...then I would at least be able to be in group shots!

We waited a while before celebrating Sprout's birthday (which is actually the last day of September), and so we celebrated right after Thanksgiving.  Fortunately he's too young to know the difference!  Little Dude helped me make the icing and chose the colour.  Of course everything is milk, egg, and nut free due to Curious Sprout's allergies.

 Munchkin put on the sprinkles.  It's hard to tell, but he did it in the shape of a number 2.

 Here they are waiting for the cake...ooooh the suspense!

 FIRE!

 What is it with kids and flame?  They're part moth, I'm sure of it.

 Sprout likes the cake, everyone else gives it a thumbs up as well.

 Or a fork up in this case!

 There was homemade strawberry sauce in the middle and was the best idea for this cake...in my humble opinion.

 Then the presents.  He got on present early on, but got to open a smaller one on the day we had cake.

 But he couldn't figure out how to get into the little gift bag so Big E gave him a hand.

 "OOOoooo," he said.

 Happy to show me his train car.  We all know it's his because it is sporting an S!

By the end of September Little Dude had made a book about Zebras.  We'd seen them at the zoo and learned a bit about them at home.  We created a book, and he told me what to write and then he illustrated each page. 

 "The Zebra"

 Zebras make poop piles to mark their spot by the water.  Zebras are endangered.

 Zebras wiggle their ears to warn other zebras.  Zebra mommies and daddies stay together until they die.

 And then one day I got back from running errands with the boys to a lovely delivery of roses!

 Loved how they were darker around the edges of the petals.  Big E was letting me know that he appreciated all I was doing...and I certainly enjoyed the appreciation!!

This was Sprout back from church yesterday (Sept 30).  You can see in the background that the boys have been going crazy with the toys...I'm not sure what's going on but lately they want to help the toys migrate upstairs...ALL of them!  Back to the picture, what is interesting is that the vest he's wearing is a size 3-6 month size.  It's a tiny bit short...but not much and fits him around perfectly!  Too funny.  Next Sunday we will have a family Thanksgiving dinner here.  I have a cousin bringing her little guy who is just 12 months old, but wearing size 2T.  I should stand them together (if he's standing yet) and take a picture, I'm sure the size difference will be significant!  Last, but not least, a video snapshot of Sprout.