Oktoberfest

The gem behind Gem Lakes is our recreation area, in addition to a fun neighborhood board who puts on all kinds of family gatherings for us.  This weekend it was about brats, beer and pumpkin carving.



Oktoberfest 2012 Gem Lakes


Music, dancing and picking out the perfect pumpkin for carving.

Carving with a beverage break every here and now

(Can you tell we are working on potty training?)

Everyone taking their places and getting ready for the contest

Realizing that folks came VERY prepared for this contest...hand saws, elaborate scrappers, LED colored lights, etching tools, pattern tracers, etc.

Next year we will be ready with a cordless drill and big spoon.  Maybe even a jigsaw and reciprocating saw.

Boo- EE style

Environmental Education is something near and dear to me --we headed over to Augusta Friday evening to check out an EE center and their haunted nature boardwalk and festivities.

LDC Elmo checking out ghosts in the trees.



Under the "camp fire" were flashing orange lights-clever clever.

I realize that Elmo is "so last year" but LDC would not give me any other suggestions except- "Elmo. Please Elmo." I offered to make her lots of other Sesame Street/PBS characters but she was adamant about being Elmo.

Andy got the accuracy shot

Finding toys in the hay pit

And finally, I think this picture is funny because both of our hands are blurred.  Elmo and I are both going for the chocolate.

Roy G. Biv

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Fall Fun

Mad painting skills at work.

LDC picked out her pumpkin with Andy last weekend....in case you are wondering what is up with the green pumpkin.

Fall Fun continued this week with a fall staple- a pine cone bird feeder.

Of course a little nibble is needed to make sure the birds will like it.

Tale of the hijacked cup

Tea for Two Three

Tea for Two

It started out calm...Daddy sipping his tea and asking for more

The request for a refill being accomplished

This is when things start to go down hill. 
LDC invited Tela to the tea.

All looks fine until Tela grabs the cup and bolts across the backyard.
Screaming takes place.

Hot pursuit for the tea cup.

Whew, cup returned along with a bodyguard escort.
 

two peas in a pod

 

 

Messy Play

We hosted a Messy Play before the warm weather makes way for the chilly fall.

LDC was a big fan of the bubble pool...which by the end was full of noddles and black paint.  Rather gross looking to say the least...think- eww and icky.
Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky. ~Fran Lebowitz

Colored spaghetti noodles with hidden Hot Wheel cars throughout

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan

Cloud Dough (aka Moon Sand)
8 cups flour, 1 cup baby oil
personal favorite- I have always loved the texture of this stuff

Kid, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary

Feet and Hand Painting

Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don't have the top for. ~Jerry Seinfeld

Goop
box of cornstarch add some water
and presto you have slime

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt