Fall Kickoff

 There's a new crispness in the air.  A few trees have leaves which have begun to change color.  We're wearing jackets in the morning and evening.  Fall is coming, hooray!

Hazel's preschool class has begun.  I'm doing a co-op with a couple of close friends.  Teaching just three kids is super easy, and these kids gel so well together.  It's been a blast so far.  I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed prepping my lessons for class.  Last year Hazel's co-op was mostly a playgroup, and the other moms and I in this group have made a big effort to structure it like an actual preschool class.  It made it so much more satisfying to host.  I am really happy about how it's turning out. 

Jack's attending a toddler gym class on Mondays when I never teach.  He loves it! 

 Every two weeks we've got a field trip scheduled since we don't have a fourth to teach and want to keep our rotation smooth.  For our first outing, we took a nature walk and made fall wreaths.  Hazel took a surprising amount of pride in her project.  She was quite selective about what items would make the cut and go in her collection bag, and she loved choosing where to place each piece on the wreath.  She is bursting with pride that I hung it on our front door. 

 Today we went apple picking at an orchard in Watsonville.  We're making pie after church tomorrow!  Hazel loved chomping on our picks and lounging in the wheelbarrow.

Jack did not want to ride in the wheelbarrow.  He trundled along at the rear, nibbling on apples and drawing in the dirt.  He was super content.  I think he could have stayed there all day long.

 

After picking all we wanted, we hung out in the picnic area, eating lunch and playing.  Hazel went crazy climbing on and jumping off of some hay bales while Jack pushed a toy cart all over Tarnation. 

 When we got home, we took the training wheels off of Hazel's bike.  Poor Todd had a rough time hobbling along next to her with his gimpy foot, but he was a man about it.

Last item of news for the day: we converted Jack's crib into a toddler bed.  Not sure if that was a splendid idea or not, but we felt so guilty seeing him with his legs sticking out of the bars night after night.  He always climbs into Hazel's bed first and lays down there while I sing to him.  He wants a big bed so bad.

 It took about three seconds for us to realize we were going to have to put a child lock on the doorknob, though.  He was out and squealing with joy the moment I left the room, headed straight for the door to break out.  Hazel gave up after ten or fifteen minutes and lay down on our bed so she didn't have to referee the J-bird.  Thankfully, he settled down pretty quickly once he didn't have an audience.  We'll see how it goes tomorrow. . .  I'm betting he doesn't take a nap for a few days.