Malachi turns FOUR!

Malachi had his Fourth Birthday October 18th. (I'm a little slow on the updates!) He has a football party -- Shocking, I know. He had some friends come over to play football...

...including girls. Who's to discriminate? Amelia wears helmets and uses a pink ball! She's a keeper!

A Little Malachi and Mathias

Mathias is such a character these days. He's so animated and silly. He is always up for a game and quick to laugh at something new. He's so lovey and sweet and helpful.... However, he's very much a rascal with a will of his own. (He is almost two).

Lately he's really been into puzzles. He finds it very satisfying to have things fit exactly in the place that they go. He also loves books. He'll climb into his chair and quietly look at books all by himself.

My boys keep me smiling all day. I am a very blessed mom.

I'm cute. No?

Mathias wears everyones shoes. He puts them on himself and walks around the house. He thinks it is very funny.

All Malachi wants to do is play football. Inside or outside. When he plays with cars, they line up and run into eachother. When he plays with tinker toys, he creates a goal post. As I was showing him how to write his numbers the other day, he turned the number four into a goal post by moving the line at the bottom right to the middle... (can you see it?)

I was reading a book to Mathias and pointing out the colors to him. Malachi stopped me to point out that the colors on one side were all Jackrabbit colors and the colors on the other side were Packer colors. 'Obsessed' doesn't even do it justice.

For his Fourth birthday we will be having a football party for Malachi. And he will receive another football helmet, a mouthguard, and football pants. It is all he has requested.

Malachi and his football. You'd think he was posing for his Senior pictures here.

Mathias and his smile. Quite a pair. You can't miss his dance moves here though. Priceless.

Harvest Time

On Wednesdays we get together with three other home educating families and go on field trips, get some exercise, and nurture friendships.

This Wednesday, we went to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch/corn maze. The kids got to tour the store-house and see how apples are cleaned and sorted. They played tag through the corn maze. They fell off the hay stacks (over and over again). The boys played corn husk fighting games. The girls collected pretty dried corn stalks and talked of starting a business. There was a lot of running, giggling, and apple munching.

It was a blast. Classic harvest adventure. Welcome Fall.

The boys. Being boys.

Malachi showing off for the pretty girl.

Micah. Always a character.

Apples.

Sorted.

Mathias. Also a character.

And my blue-eyed sweet pea.

Malachi. Falling off a hay stack. Again.

Catch me! I'm going to jump!

Hi Mom

Mathias went over to the "photo op" area and began to pose. I obliged.

Buddies.

Micah. Such a love.

It feels like a fort in the corn maze. Good times.

As I watched the kids play without an agenda, I kept thinking that this is what childhood should be like. It should be free, creative, surrounded by nature, slow enough to discover small things, and simply, simple. Free Range.

Malachi. My little poser.

He kept saying, "Take a picture of ME, Mom!"

His modeling moment. Haha! He makes my heart so happy.

First SDSU Game of 2011

These pictures aren't exaclty in order... and there are a lot of them. But, if you scroll down at a moderate pace, you get the idea. :)

For the record, these happen to be Uncle Thomas' biggest fans!





After the game. Thomas thrills the kids with some time just for them.





The thrill of being on the field, under the lights!






Final score. Whew!