A cold morning the pumpkin patch

Ashley had her field trip to the pumpkin patch today. The temperature has taken a dive in the last 24 hours. It was 31 degrees this morning when we left for school. If we would have went just one day earlier it would have been in the 50s. Oh well we survived and had a lot of fun. We started our trip out on the hay ride. The tractor was having trouble turning on the cold dirt so it took a while to make it around the the field. It was fun to hear the kids responses to the many stops and reversing. Once we got to the pumpkin patch the kids were informed on the correct way of how to pick a pumpkin.
I thought it was so cute to watch the kids act out what they were being instructed to do. There was one last stop before we moved on to picking. We were able to walk past the horses and ponies but the kids were informed that sometimes they think fingers might be carrots so they needed to keep their hands behind their back. It was cute to watch them walk over the horses with their hands behind their back. After the stop at the horses it was finally pumpkin picking time. Ashley has been talking about this since she found out she was going. Apparently last year I told her she was picky and she did not like it. I was informed that I was not to call her picky and just let her pick out her pumpkin. I do not know how she remembers that. She is such a funny kid. This year she did a little walk and scoped out the pumpkins before she made her choice.
Once I finally convinced her that they were all going to be dirty she finally made her choice. I love that she was concerned about getting dirty but it was really ok to get a little dirt on her. She was very careful to carry the dirty side out. Once all the kids had their pumpkins Mrs. Moodie thought she would try to get a class picture with their pumpkins. Next we moved on to the tracker tire playground and the hay maze. It is always nerve wrecking to let the kids run loose and still keep track of the ones that I was put in charge of but I survived. The kids really did a good job of not wandering off and staying together as a class.

To finish the morning off there was a snack
and then a stop at the corn box.
It was a great morning and we did survive the cold. A big highlight for Ashley was that she got to ride a bus for the first time.

Soccer comes to an end

Today Ashley and Allison finished their soccer season. They both did a great job and learned so much this season. Both of them will be playing again in the spring with the same team. We were so happy to find out that their coaches were going to coach again and wanted to do the same team.

At the beginning of the season I wasn't too sure about Allison's coach but things really changed at the end and I will be happy to have Allison play with them again. It was a lot of fun to watch the girls on her team develop and grow into their positions. Allison played defender or sweeper the whole season. She did an awesome job getting the ball off her side of the field and up to her forwards.
I think she did a great job for it being the first time that she played since she was four and look forward to watching her grow in soccer. She had a great season and we are very proud of her.

Ashley had a lot of fun with soccer. She always had so much energy and was right on top of the ball. Her coach was always so positive and really wanted the girls to have fun. Ashley had a great last game she did some great defending
and even made two goals. She did a wonderful job and I can't wait to see what she does in the Spring.

Idaho history

4th grade is so fun and fascinating. Madison enjoyed and now Allison is enjoying it. In 4th grade they study Idaho history and the teachers so such a wonderful job of keeping it interesting and fun. Right now Allison is studying about the geography of Idaho. They have a fun project that helps the kids study the geography a little better. The kids bring a board in and some salt dough to class and sculpt Idaho. I was lucky enough to be in class on the day they worked on it. It was fun to watch each kid make this project their own. Allison enjoys arts and crafts so it was especially fun watching her get everything just perfect. She did a wonderful job. I am so proud of how hard she worked on this project.

Homework

Ashley received her first packet of homework this week. She was so excited when I picked her up on Monday. She was ready to get started first thing when we got home from school. I convinced her to eat lunch and then homework. The packet is intended to be worked on all week and turned in on Friday. She was ready to finish it all right then. I have had to pace her. She has kept up her enthusiasm all week. I think it also helps that Elahn is over and they get to do it together. They get along so well and work really well together. It is a good thing since they see each other almost every day of the week. It has been fun having Elahn around. These two are doing a great job getting their homework done each day. It is fun watching them work together and be so excited about their homework.

Homework seems to be a theme around our house. Madison is in the middle of a big science project which is due on Friday. She finished it tonight which is just like her. She hates to have anything hovering over her head so she always finishes things early. I am so proud of her study habits. Allison is right there with her sisters. She is studying her little heart out for the test to try out for the Idaho History team. She brought her Idaho History book home today and was reading over it. She got this idea to start making note cards that she will be able to read over and keep with her. I am amazed that she came up with that all on her own. I am so proud of my girls and how hard they work. They are amazing.

Love this kid

I just love this little girl. She is starting to figure out when her body is telling her that she is tired. Life has really gotten busy for her since school started and some days she is just exhausted. Even though she was out of school today and did sleep in a little she had a very long active day. She was so tired tonight. There was no fighting at bed time at all. Allison did take her time and protest a little so the light was still on for a little bit. I just assumed Ashley went to bed and ignored the light till I went in and checked on them. Isn't she so cute laying there. She looks like she is going to sleep well tonight.

A fun day

I think there is one thing that I will never get used to. I don't know why but the kids always have four day weekends the first two weekends in October. It doesn't make sense but hey if they are off of school why not make it fun or at least some of it fun. Last week we cleaned because Allison and Ashley's room was awful so we are having fun this week. Today once I was done with Parent Teacher Conferences we packed up and headed to the zoo. We had some neighbor kids that I watch before and after school, Tyler and Hayden. Madison wasn't thrilled about the whole thing so I tried to make it a game and see who could locate the animal first. Madison was a good sport and played along. One of our first stops was in the Africa section. The giraffes are always hiding or eating when we come so we don't normally get to see them but today was different. We of course had to make a stop at the Ashley's elephant. She is very insistent that our zoo has elephants and she always points it out when we get to this statue. The penguins were also another big hit. The kids were mesmerized by these for quite a while.
We found a new part of the zoo that I never knew was there. They have a goat feeding area. Thankfully Madison brought some change along because I didn't have any and everyone really wanted to do it. There was also an anteater. I have never seen one of these in person. It was a lot bigger then I pictured it to be.
Even though much of the zoo was the same as the last time we went. We still had fun exploring and spotting the animals. It was a great field trip.

Conference weekend

Well as Conference was approaching I was making plans for the weekend. The girls have come to expect a few things which in turn makes the weekend run more smoothly and everyone actually get something out of conference. Little did I know that Kevin also looks forward to some of our traditions. In the middle of the week he ask me what the plans were and what he could help with. Everything that we do is so simple but really makes the weekend. On Saturday Allison and Ashley had soccer games so we caught what we could between running to the soccer fields. I am so thankful for the internet and the conference issue of the Ensign so I don't have to miss out on the talks that I missed. On Sunday we woke up and Kevin fixed his dutch oven breakfast that the girls love. Oh boy I could have this every morning for breakfast it is so yummy. Once we were all full it was time to sit and listen to the first session of conference. The girls were very excited that I didn't forget their binders. For Madison and Allison it gives them something to help them listen to the talks better. Then for Ashley it just gives her something to keep her busy so we all can listen to talks better.

There were a lot of great messages given this year and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to listen to our prophet twice a year and be enriched by his council. To finish our day off we had some visitors. It has been a while since we have been able to make it to Twin so Kevin invited his parents up to enjoy some of his yummy chili with us. Jill was there with her girls so they all headed our way and we had a great time visiting. I was a little busy visiting so I didn't get the pictures that I wanted of the girls with Kylie and Alexia but I did get this one. Ashley had been wearing this nightgown all day but changed right before they arrived. Before they left for the evening Jill got her girls in their pj's and Ashley ran in to get hers on. I think it is funny that they both still love this nightgown. They were so young when we got it for them.