A Moveable Feast Swap

In July, I signed up for a Moveable Feast Swap through a fellow blogger's blog, Creative Bubbles. 

I wasn't sure what to expect, other than I love getting packages and have never done anything like this before.  I was teamed up with another blogger who isn't too far from me, in Indiana, named Noelle.  Here is the original post with the directions and rules for the swap.  The deadline to send the package was 8/31.  Well, due to some things going on personally, the swap wasn't my top priority, but my partner was WONDERFUL about it.  Sadly, I just got my package to her.  She was wonderful and understanding about my tardiness and she held off on sending my package to me (which made me feel MUCH better).  I received my package today...filled with so many wonderful coffees for Peter and I to try over throughout the fall...Mmmmmmmm!  I can't wait to smell those in the morning!  The funny part...that HARVEST sign in the middle--I also sent that same thing to her! :)  I also got a bag of coffee flavored hard candies, but those are opened and in my purse already!  THANKS NOELLE!!!

Be sure to check out Noelle's blog as well!

Shhhh...Nothing To Say

I've been quiet this week here.  There's not much to report here, I guess.  We are applying for jobs like crazy and have very little feedback. :(  I am working for Dr. Dermer (who I Grad Assisted for during my last 2 years of grad school) and helping develop a template for a report.  I'm learning a ton on Word, which is pretty cool and useful.  Other than that, life has been pretty quiet.  Daily walks to and from the park with Rowena in the morning, as well as our Thursday trip to LapSit at the library, where we sing songs and read stories--Rowe LOVES it there!  We've also been going to the park a lot with the whole family after school.  Homework, crafts, and games have been keeping us busy at night.  The girls have been enjoying coloring, drawing, making craft-foam princess crowns, playing Go Fish and other various games.  Rowena continues to enjoy watching Blue's Clues and her fave spot to watch it...Mommy and Daddy's bed.  I am going to start volunteering at Delaney and Katie's school one day a week in Delaney's class, and I cannot wait.  Hopefully it will not affect her attention or behavior negatively.  Also, Girl Scouts will be in full effect...the second troop meeting is tomorrow after school, and I'm a parent volunteer there too.

While September has been pretty quiet and tame, next month will be pretty busy.  Lots of fun fall stuff for the Henderson Clan.  It just so happens to be my fave month of the year...Fall, trees changing colors, piles of leaves to jump in, pumpkin decorations, the smell of leaves burning faintly in the air, Halloween, cool-crisp weather...what is not to love?!  So, for the month of October, we plan on going to a couple apple orchards, Bengston's Pumpkin Farm, we have some birthday parties, and hopefully a trip or two to the zoo.  I cannot wait to bake apple crisp and cobblers.  I'm looking forward to time with extended family, as I will be having a "Girl Cousins' Weekend" at my Aunt Patty's in late October, and Nana is going to visit and we should be seeing Uncle Wesley and Aunt Leann too.

So, stay tuned, as I will be updating (hopefully) often in October and sharing lots of pictures!

Proud Parent Alert: Reading Chapter Books

Delaney began reading in Kindergarten last year, and has been addicted to Dr. Seuss lately.  Something we adopted from Nana is that we allow Delaney to stay up as late as she wants, but she has to be in bed, reading by 8:30pm on school night.  Well, the day has come that Delaney picked up her first chapter book.  I'm so excited for her and proud.  Chapter books provide so much for the imagination; taking you into another world entirely, getting lost in adventure, living through the words on the pages and into another character.  Her first book: Lanie.  It's an American Girl book based on the doll she picked out last spring (it's actually the book she purchased from the school's book fair).

I also want to note that Katie went to the school's library for the first time on Monday and picked out a chapter book as well.  Her and I laid in bed last night and read the first chapter.  She can't wait to find out what happens with the fairies and the missing gems!

I love that our girls love books so much, and especially happy Delaney has graduated herself to chapter books!

Tuesday's Outfits

Just some cute pics of the Henderson Sisters this morning before school...

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!?!?!?!?!

Ah, my favorite time of year...fall and football!  Although Thursday kicked-off the NFL's season with the Vikings losing to the Saints (WOOHOO), today is the day DA BEARS get their start.  In just a couple hours, we'll have kick-off, and the Hendersons will be decked out in their Sunday Best.  That's right...we'll all be in our Bears gear!  I cannot wait.  We even have an outfit for Goy as soon as he/she is born in December to put on for our first Sunday as a family of SIX!  (Whoa!).

Delaney's Hero

Today seems like the perfect day to talk about Heroes.  9/11/01 is a day that will forever be remembered in the United States when we were attacked so viciously on our own soil; many innocent lives taken, heroes trying to save lives resulting in losing their own.  We all have heroes, so more noticeable than others.

Delaney had an assignment at school this past week where she was to draw a picture of her hero.  She drew this picture:

This is a picture of her Uncle Dan who once told her about poison ivy and looked around to make sure there was none so Delaney could walk through the woods.  That really stuck with Delaney and she found it to be heroic.  Thanks, Uncle Dan for making such an impact on Delaney!

Plainfield-Romeoville Community Day of Play

Two local Park Districts were hosting a FREE Community Day of Play this morning for two hours.  Set up were a huge Bounce-House, obstacle course, bubble station, sling-shot, kick-ball, giants checkers, tunnels, and more.  They also had music playing and a concession stand.  Too bad the weather was yucky...as they didn't have a great turnout.  It was cloudy, rainy/misty, and cold (60)...but the weather that detered a lot of people made it empty for our kids to bascially do what they wanted without waiting. Each girl had their fave thing:  Delaney-the slingshot, Katie-the bounce-house, and Rowena-the bubbles station.  We met up with the Sylvesters there, and the twins, although tired, enjoyed watching everything and taking it all in.  They did enjoy the tunnels a bit.  And, Brian and Peter tried the slingshot too. 

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The Sylvester Twins: Henry and Morgan

Since the house was warm and muggy this morning, I completely mis-dressed the girls--all in shorts and short-sleeve shirts.  Thankfully we brought jackets, so the girls didn't freeze.  We were there for about 1 1/2 hours.  The event was only from 9:30-11:30, and we left about 15 minutes before it ended.  Of course, Rowe fell asleep in the car on the way home, but thankfully she transfered to her bed.  It was fun, but wish the weather was a little nicer!  Great event!

Grand Prairie Ice Cream Social

Last night we went to the girls' school for the annual Ice Cream Social.  Last year we went and each girl painted a ceramic tile and we had ice cream...this year, we opted for only the ice cream part.  It was quite loud and choatic, but fun.  There was a DJ there and played music for the kids {check out the video on youtube}.  Both Delaney and Katie got seconds on their ice cream.  They have a ton of toppings from fresh berries to chocolate chips to crushed candy bars to gummy bears.  Ice cream was good, company was good (we hung out with our fave neighbors, The Ruchs), and the dancing/music was good.