Double Digits

K turned 10 this year. I can't believe that I have been a mother that long. In some ways it seems longer. In others, it has flown by.

K is an amazing girl. She is smart and talented, but, more importantly, she is helpful and sweet, jumping up to help me should I even mention needing something. She loves her baby sister, and she shares her dolls, snuggles, plays with, and dresses her. K also has incredible leadership abilities. She can find ways to motivate her brothers when I have failed. I am so excited to see what God has in store for her, but I am going to enjoy the years I still have with her before she enters the big, wide world.

This year, K wanted to host her birthday party at home. I was not sure what to do with a houseful of preteen girls, so we decided to bake cookies. I made the dough ahead of time, wrapped it up in individual balls, and put it in the fridge for the girls to use when the party started. The girls each received a piece of parchment paper and a ball of cookie dough, and I laid out dozens of cookie cutters and a variety of sprinkles for them to use as well.

Rolling out cookies

Having fun

Sprinkles make it better

One of her sweet friends

Cutting out the cookies

Since we were already baking cookies, K agreed to have a cookie cake instead of a traditional birthday cake for her party. When the girls finished rolling out and cutting their cookies, they worked together to create a "cake" for K. It was fun to see what they came up with.

The unbaked "cake". They kind of went overboard on the sprinkles

 The cookie-baking process took longer than I anticipated, and we had to rush to open presents at the end. The cookie cake finished baking while she opened her presents, and the girls sang a quick "Happy Birthday" before departing with their plates of cookies.

Opening presents

Watching her open presents

Overall, I would say the party went well. I think the girls had fun, and I know that K did. If the birthday girl is happy, I count that as a success.

AJ's Party

AJ wanted a small birthday party at home this year, so we invited a couple of his friends over on Sunday afternoon and kept it simple.

We started the party with Lego-building contests, followed by pin-the-football-on-Peyton. Then we sugared up the kids with chocolate cake and ice cream before they ran outside to play. This was perfect since it gave them a chance to run off the sugar high, and I was able to sweep up the chocolate cake from the floor.

AJ said he enjoyed his party. That means success in my book.

Pumpkin Patch Perusal

Since Katarina was visiting last week, I decided she needed to have a common American experience of visiting a pumpkin patch in the fall. I heard about one through our homeschooling association, and I decided it would be a great place for the kids and my Swedish friend.

After getting ready for the morning, we headed out to meet some friends at the farm. This place is great because they have built so many buildings from different eras in history. Of course, we had to explore the various buildings first.

AJ and Katarina in the Viking ship

Inside the Viking "house"

K and Katarina by an old stagecoach

In addition to the buildings, they have a couple of different playgrounds where the kids can expend their energy.

K on the monkey bars

Some of the buildings house authentic relics of various ages and people groups.

The original Baby Björn ;)

Near one of the playgrounds was a room that housed a doll collection.

K and the doll collection. She really loved this part.

The farm also houses a variety of animals, including rabbits, geese, goats, ponies, and horses. The kids are allowed to hold and pet the numerous bunnies, and my kids took turns cuddling with the hopping hares.

K and her bunny friend

AJ cuddling with a bunny

H taking a turn holding a rabbit

Feeding the goats. I warned my kids that they will eat anything, and I had to rescue AJ's jacket from one of the goats.

After viewing all the animals, we walked over to the pumpkin patch. They had a hay ride for the schools who were visiting, but they also allowed us a short ride around the field.

An assortment of pumpkins they had displayed.



Katarina and our new friend





My boys with their friend as they walked toward the wagon full of hay.



The pumpkin patch

The kids all piled in a small wagon to go pick out their own pumpkins.

K with her pumpkin

AJ and his pumpkin. We made some pumpkin bread out of it. Yummy!

H and his pumpkin. He kept throwing it like a ball.

The three kiddos with their pumpkins

Katarina and a pumpkin



Our friend pulling the kids and their pumpkins back


After picking out the pumpkins, we decided it was time to head home. The kids really wanted to stay longer, but we needed to eat lunch, and K had her ballet lesson that afternoon.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our morning, and I think we will have to make this an annual tradition. We not only relished our time there, but now we also have tons of pumpkin to use for baking.

Random Activities with Friends

I recently added a subject to K's curriculum -- Cooking/Baking. She has been baking with me since she was one, so this isn't technically new, but we are making a more deliberate effort at her education in the kitchen.

When Katarina was here, we combined baking bread with a Swedish lesson. Katarina took the lead in baking the bread, and we kind of made it up on the way, building on her basic recipe.

K times two

K wasn't the only one who enjoyed Katarina's visit. AJ really opens up to her, and here he is sharing a story with her in Swedish.

I love the looks on his face. I can really tell that she holds a special place in his heart.

Afternoon Hike

Last Sunday, a dear friend from Sweden came for a visit. I picked her up Sunday morning, we packed a picnic lunch, picked up some friends, and drove up to the monument for an afternoon outdoors.

After eating, we headed out on the trail with the kids.



Pausing to look at the view before the trail started



Katarina

 The kids hit the trail with great enthusiasm. They loved running, climbing, and exploring the trail.

K climbing up a fallen tree branch



H finding a "treasure"



"Look what I found, Mom!"



K and her friend

The four kiddos found a little overhang carved out in the rocks



Katarina volunteered to carry all the water bottles.

This trail was short enough to keep the kids' excitement from waning, yet it still offered magnificent views. Plus, it was level, which made it easier on this pregnant momma.

One of the views

The kids loved climbing around the rocks

H holding a tissue to his hurt knee.

A face carved out in one of the rocks

Can you find AJ?

Sweet boy

 Another view

We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, and I look forward to future hikes. I did appreciate the extra sets of eyes on the trail, and I believe I will need the help in any upcoming ventures. With the winding trail coming quite close to the edge, the ratio of three adults to four children was much-appreciated.