Update in Pictures

Now that school is in full swing for the kids and myself (I work 20 hours at KS State School for the Deaf), we have been busy but getting into a groove with our routine. Here is what we have been up to since August:

CROWN CENTER JUNGLE EXPERIENCE

RIDING OUR BIKES:

The kids ALL learned to ride WITHOUT training wheels on Oct. 1st! SO proud of them. I took video on THomas' phone and haven't downloaded it yet.

PAINTING OURSELVES :-/

BIG GIRL BIRTHDAY PARTY:

Caroline LOVES our neighbors, the "big girls." We "happened" by their house one afternoon and they invited her to participate in the arts and crafts part of one of the girls birthday party. She was in Heaven!

ACORN COLLECTING:

Name Change

So, I guess we will have to change the name of the blog. I went with the J and T plus 3 as a spin on Jon and Kate plus 8 because at the time it was a positive and happy show (we all know what happened there), and because it rhymed. J and T plus 4 does not. I don't know... any ideas?

Happy 5th Birthday Jonathan!

This year for Jonathan's birthday, we did a "big kid" party. He invited a few of his buddies from school, the gym and the neighborhood and we celebrated at Ernie Miller Nature Center with a SNAKE party. One of the naturalists there came to the party room and gave a wonderful presentation to the kids with 3 real snakes. It was super! Along with a snake cake and exploring the animals there, all the kids (and parents) had a blast!

She even put the snakes on the floor so the kids could see how they move!

Jonathan in HEAVEN with live snakes!

So you think you can dance?

On one of our adventures into Boston, we ate at a restaurant named, "NO NAME" right on the docks. After we ate, we went out to watch the boats and planes land across the harbor at Logan. The following images were the attempts to take a picture of the three kids.... in the first picture... Look at Joe on his toes! Too funny!

Michael Jackson moves!

Not sure what they see here... probably a plane landing.

Power twins!

Make Way for Ducklings

One of our favorite books to read with the children is Make Way For Ducklings buy Robert McCloskey. If you haven't read it, I think you would like it whether you are a kid or not...and if you have been to Boston before. The day we dropped Daddy off at the airport to head home, we took a detour to Boston Common to see the ducks and take a swan boat ride. We had the most beautiful day!

Joseph on Mrs. Mallard, plus Lack, Kack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, Quack, Caroline and Jonathan.


The famous Ducklings!

Boston Common Pond where the Swan Boats are located.

Swan Boats... they are like big paddle boats!

Ready for our boat ride.

Pickity Place

For my sister's birthday (June 9th), our mother treated my sister, our daughters and I to a wonderful afternoon at Pickity Place. It is right over the New Hampshire border and it is out on a dirt road. The house where you eat lunch was the "inspiration" for Grandmother's house in a version of Little Red Riding Hood. Below are pictures of our wonderful day. Go to www.pickityplace.com for more info!

3 generations!

Caroline and Erin in the garden..picking flowers ..oops not suppose to do that!

Dessert! YUM!

The girls in more gardens.

Caroline and Mommy!

Walking to see the flower drying cabin.

Cape Cod Part 2- Fun Stuff

We had a few days of rain on and off so we kept busy doing other fun things than playing on the beach.

Our Favorite " CHOO CHOO" Ice Cream Place


Daddy trying to fit into the caboose.

YUMMY!

YUM!

This is the only picture we could take of the potato chip factory...no pictures allowed inside! IT was a short but interesting tour. You walked down a LONG hallway right next to the manufacturing plant glass windows with posters explaining every step in the potato chip making process. The kids loved it...and the free bags of chips at the end!

CHATHAM FISH PIER

Jon and Caroline watching the gulls and seals.

Watching the fishermen unload their catch of the day!

Fishing boat loaded with flounder.

My mother took us on a little driving adventure here and kept promising the kids they'd see fishing boats unload their fish. She did not disappoint! This was so cool to see! The boats pulled right up and dropped off their load. I especially enjoyed my mother telling me a story about her and my father coming here years ago and geting fish from the store (small gray building to the far left) and it being one of the best meals she had had. We discovered that the kids enjoyed clam chowder while here as well! Thanks MOM!!!