Lowell Observatory

Since Parker is totally into all things 'space' right now we decided to visit Lowell Observatory while we were at the cabin.

It was a family activity and field trip put together. 

Field trips as a family instead on a bus full of crazy kids?

 Homeschool=Awesome!

Lowell is in Flagstaff and is actually where Pluto was discovered.

First, here's Terra looking so super cute and colorful and warm!

My favorite people in front of the telescope.

Daddy taking a look

And Parker's turn. This telescope was set to view the moon, so we were able to see all the craters up close

We got to see a set of stars through another telescope, and walked through a few exhibits.

Here we are in front of a piece of meteorite that is at Lowell from Meteor Crater

They had a 3D Mars area, so you could look at pictures and maps of Mars in 3D.

My kids are cute anyway, but then with goofy glasses they are irresistible.

Sweet boy, so excited to learn about space

Try and tell me you don't love that face!

My cute Alien baby, Terra!

And then my whole family rocking the super cool 3D glasses.

Overall the kids enjoyed it, especially Parker- he seriously loves learning about space

Hunting Christmas Trees

So Thanksgiving night we drove up north and met Jason's parents at the cabin.

The next morning we went out to play- even up north it was still nice out

I think Aria is enjoying this more than Terra is.

Then Parker said he found a tree we could take home and decorate

Silly boy

Then we went out and 'hunted' for a real Christmas tree.

Terra in the truck, getting all bundled up

Parker driving us around.

Don't worry, this was not on an actual road,

 but out in a field among the trees we were looking to cut down.

Here's the tree we picked out while she was still rooted in the ground

Jason cutting the tree down

Then that Sunday morning after we got back into town we decorated the tree

We also cut down a tree that was about 3' tall and the kids decorated that- other than the ball ornaments, every ornament on that tree was made by the kids.

Made out of glue and food dye, clay, paint, foam and glitter, paper, etc. It's super cute to me!

Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving at my parents house. 

We went over early and watched the Macy's parade and then ate, and we then drove up north to join Jason's parents at the cabin for the weekend.

Here are the few pics I got from our Turkey Day

More posts about the cabin coming soon.

But I just want to say that now that I have kids I really love Thanksgiving. It's a such a great chance to really focus on our blessings and teach our children more about gratitude and how good we really have it!

Black

So I've let my kids into the face paint before, and it's fun and it mostly cleans off pretty well... except the black paint.

Well, this last time they  were playing with the face paint they were felling a bit depressed or something and went with an all black theme:

I'm telling you our bath tub has still not recovered from my trying to clean them off- that black paint sticks!

And just for fun, here's a little thing I painted on Terra's back and Parker loved it since he is currently obsessed with space

It's the solar system...in black

Asleep

I don't know why it's so cute when babies fall asleep in their high chair- but it is!

Terra, asleep while drinking milk

The next one is awesome. I was vacuuming the living room and Terra was in the kitchen. I hadn't heard much from her so I look and she had climbed into her high chair by herself and fallen asleep. I took the opportunity to do a very thorough vacuuming (under/behind couches etc) and then vacuumed the rest of the house while I was at it. 

She slept through the whole thing:

When I was finished I came back downstairs and picked her up out of the high chair only to find that she was naked.... completely naked, she took off her diaper before climbing into her chair

Silly Baby!

And here's what Aria was doing at that same time:

using the rug as a bed/blanket to 'nap'

Hiking

On a whim one day I took the kids to hike Piestewa Peak. 

We didn't go all the way up but the kids loved it!

No pictures of Terra, since I had her in the baby carrier.

Snuggly

I love little kids in footie pajamas. 

And this winter all three of my kids have them:

They are so cute and snuggly dressed like that.

They're like my three little teddy bears!

Disguised

We recently read the entire Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events with Parker. 

He loved them, and honestly I loved them, too. Those books were super funny.

But anyway, since reading them Parker has become very interested in disguises. (and of course his sisters follow his lead)

Here are a few of his more creative outfits

Halloween

Here's a whole pile of pictures from Halloween-- I'll be up to date one of these days!

Jason and I left the kids (with a babysitter, of course)and went to a Halloween party

Jason: Cuddlebug
Jennifer: The Devil

Then we had our ward trunk-or-treat

Jennifer: Something in a beaded dress (flapper, maybe?)
Parker: James
Aria: Belle
Terra: Ballerina

What a cute boy

Doing the cakewalk

Bad picture but this was Terra between every car...trying to sneak her candy.

After on of the YW painted 'a pumpkin' on Aria's cheek

The kids also wore their costumes to library story time a few days later.

Parker as James again, and this time Aria is Snow White

Because Aria dressed up as Bell and Snow White she now yells "look, look MEEE!" whenever she sees pictures of those princesses anywhere.

Little girl + big tutu = super adorable!

On Halloween the kids also wore their costumes while we ran errands so they trick-or-treated at Bashas and home depot, too.

For Halloween night Parker was not at all interested in going trick or treating, but he was super excited to give out candy. 

And he was planning and trying to set up a full carnival for anyone who was going to come by. I had to convince him (and it made him so sad it broke my heart) that trick-or-treaters were not going to be interested in playing ring toss, and pumpkin bowling, and fishing for treats and a haunted house and a small maze.

So I talked him down to just doing a fishing game, where the kids got candy by 'fishing' for it.

Our fishing set up

Waiting for someone to trick or treat at our house.

Halloween is s super fun holiday, but it is definitely batter with kids around!