Tea for two

...otherwise known as 'Would you like some tea with that sugar?'!

My girls love to have tea parties, but the truth is, that really it is all about the sugar. We have a wonderful little tea set that Aunty Caridad bought for Bryttain last Christmas, but it is a little disproportionate. The teapot and cups are perfect, but the milk jug is way too small and the sugar bowl a little large.

They feel so grown up pouring their own tea (although I normally start the ritual for them). On a regular morning they sometimes will just share whatever tea is leftover in my mug, but when they get to have a tea party they are allowed sugar! Sweet, warm tea, what could be better? Well, other than sugar on it's own! If a little spills, they quickly dab it up with an ever-ready finger. Once their tea has been drunk, out comes a finger again to salvage every last grain of sugar that might possibly be at the bottom of the tea cup.

There really is a little bit of British left in this house. I acknowledge that a smidgen more training is needed, but they will be ready for tea with the Queen before we know it!

Tolay Fall Festival

Last Thursday Arran had a school field trip to the Tolay Fall Festival. We had stumbled across it as a family a couple of years ago, before he had started school so I knew it would be a fun outing to take the girls on too. I feel bad that I cannot get more involved at the school, but a lot of things just do not work with two more little children in tow. I asked ahead of time though, if this one would be OK to bring them on and got the all clear. His teacher was very gracious, or wise, as the case may be, knowing I would have the girls with me she opted not to assign me as an official helper, responsible for anyone, but instead let me tag along with Arran and his assigned parent-helper.

Checking out some snakes!

We started in the Nocturnal Animal Barn which was packed, not only with kids, but starfish and snakes and spiders and scorpions and a very 'interesting' taxidermy collection with everything from a fawn to a bear, all sorts of amphibians and I am sure we only saw about on third of the collection.

A very important part of every day is, of course, snack time. We all met up again briefly for bottles of water, Graham Crackers and cheese sticks. The girls were so great, I had told them that it was Arran's trip and there might not be enough snack for them but they didn't complain or whine, just waited patiently. Fortunately there was plenty and Asia carried her water bottle around with her and (her piglet) the rest of the morning.

We took a hay ride out to the pumpkin field and thus began the search for the perfect pumpkin. I have no idea what makes the perfect pumpkin on any given day, but this can be quite the process; how it looks, how it feels, how heavy it is. It is a task to be taken most seriously...and not to be rushed. Fortunately Arran had both his sisters on hand to 'help'. The one rule I gave him was that he had to be able to carry it, it was his responsibility not mine. I was, on and off, busy carrying an almost three-year-old!

                                                                              Once the selection had been made, each child wrote

their name on the bottom of their pumpkin. Perish the
thought that a fight might erupt on the bus ride back to school as to the rightful owner of any given pumpkin.

We took the hay ride back then checked out some farm animal, ran through the hay maze and did some potato prints and seed planting in the eco-village. There was so much more that we could have done, but by then it was time to head back to school and for me to get the girls home for naps.

 

Snug as six bugs in a rug

Can you tell that I am going through long neglected photos?

At the end of September we packed up the van and headed to Sacramento to visit some old YWAM friends from our Chico days. James was playing for a worship night they were holding and as he had to be there two nights in a row, for practice and then the event, we did a sleepover, family style on the Friday.

The kids were so excited, to see their friends who they adore, and to get to have a sleepover was the icing on the cake. They were all up way too late, I mean probably the latest ever, outside of traveling adventures. Their little friend had set up their play tent in their sun room and somewhere along the way, the children decided that all six of them would sleep there, together!

I seriously wondered how it would play out, two two-year olds, a four-year old, five-year old, six and seven-year olds, side by side on the floor. Well the lateness of the hour definitely played to our advantage and they all crashed quickly and actually, amazingly, stayed there all night. Poor Arran apparently got woken by Asia several times, asking him to put her covers back on and the next day they were all pretty tired, especially as they woke up just as early as usual. But it was fun.

It was great to hang out with friends (we also stayed up way too late) and Amy took us out to do family photos too on the Saturday, which we had been talking about forever. I am so grateful for the friends we have in our life, near and far. It does not matter how often or, in this case, infrequently we see each other - we can pick up where we left off and just be ourselves.

Just hanging out together...

A couple of weeks ago, after the kids were ready for bed, I told them they could read for a little while, before it was time to go to sleep. James was out at music practice and I just needed a few extra minutes, for them to actually wind down.

When I walked into their room ready to pray and sing for them, they were all three of them in Asia's crib, with Arran reading to them, it was wonderful. They are so cute together and he is such a great big brother and it just thoroughly blessed me... again! I love my children!

AWANAs - Crazy Hair Night

There are many Thursday nights, when the kids are once again getting to bed later than their usual bedtime, when James is at music practice and I am at the end of myself, trying to get them settled and not completely lose it, when I wonder if it is all worth it. But it is! They love going to AWANAs, they feel accomplished learning and reciting their verses, they have fun with friends, playing games, and Asia is counting down the days until she turns three, because then she too will be able to go to Cubbies.

Yesterday was 'Crazy Hair Night', which they had of course been looking forward to. At least this year decisions had (somewhat) been made in advance, so we were not scrambling quite as much as years past, trying to come up with ideas of what to do.

 Of  course Asia did not want to be left out, so we did her hair too.