Call Day #126, 10/25/12

 Forgot to take pictures this morning when Erik was home.  But, I made muffins with the apples we picked last weekend.  Eleanor was excited to have one for a snack this afternoon.

 We got a package from Grandma and Grandpa.  One of the dresses matches one we have, which Eleanor went to get.  Now we have one for each of them.  They're excited and want to wear them tomorrow.

 We walked over to the adoption center at the local animal hospital.  We went to see the cats, having cats as part of our book this week, but saw many other fun animals like this bunny.

 Checking out a brother-sister pair of cats.

 Eleanor a bit unsure of the climbing rat.

 While looking for the potties, we found a children's room.  Took some time to color and play.

 Did you know animals like to see children's artwork?

 Examining the ferret, an animal previously unknown to them.

Parrot.

Call Day #125, 10/13/12

 Lots of errands this morning.  Checking out the ornaments at Michael's.

 Riding a rocking horse at Home Depot.  (You'd think we were closer to Christmas than we are--it's everywhere in the stores!)

 Wondering why we never get the big sleds at Costco.  While we discuss, they climb.

 Just so I don't falsely show only happy images...  Eleanor not wanting a picture of her meltdown while eating lunch at Costco.

 Claire and too many samples.

 Still enjoying lemonade on the way home.

 A moment to chat with Daddy when we brought him lunch at work.

 Visiting Daddy makes some people dance in their car seats!

 My helper with some of the groceries to be carried up.

 She brought her kitty backpack down to load up with items and carry up.  Sweet eager helper!

 Did you know owls swallow their prey whole and spit up what they can't digest?  We decided to find out what a barn owl ate.

 Little hands at work.

 Excited about the bones!

 Owl mosaics.

 What happens when you don't watch how many baked beans someone is dipping....

 Bath time.

 Belle needed a bath too.

Story time.  Claire looks at a book while Eleanor reads.

Eleanor reading Green Eggs and Ham.  First time I've heard her read it, though I did hear her practicing a bit during nap time.

Call Day #124, 10/9/12

 We've all been a little sick lately so when Eleanor just wanted to watch Curious George this afternoon, that's what we did.

 You can tell she's not very sick--she can still dance to the theme song!

 Had to wake up Claire at dinner time, still sleeping even though her bed was soaked.

 Playing with stamps and ink while I finished up dinner.  (Thanks Corrin!)

 Claire enjoyed her new "C" stamp.  I think she has finally learned that other words start with C and that it's not just "C is for Claire."

Proud of the sign she made during nap time which reads "Claire!!!!!  Do not lie!!!  Claire Do not hit!!!!"  Can you tell she likes to be the bossy big sister who tells Claire how to behave?

Right before she went to bed, Eleanor asked me if I wanted to sleep with Daddy tonight, knowing he wouldn't be here.  She presented me with this "Daddy" who is "ready to work at the hospital and do surgery" to keep me company.

Call Day #123, 10/5/12

Erik didn't have to go in first thing this morning so we went to Chick-Fil-A and the play place at the mall this morning.  The girls got to see the remote-controlled helicopters that they always enjoy watching.

 Sometime between when we dropped Daddy off at work and arriving home, Claire managed to destroy one of our Auto Bingo cards.  What is it with this girl and tearing things?!  

 How I found Claire after nap.  She is often hiding when I come in.

 Our book of the week includes a girl who helps her mother run a boardinghouse and includes a list of the chores she does.  I asked Eleanor to help do similar chores and she thought it was fun!  Here she is pulling sheets out of the dryer (aka "washing the linens").

We decided she probably didn't just wash them but also had to make the beds too.  So, we did that.

Eleanor learning to put a pillowcase on a pillow.  Did you know you can turn it into a workout?

The hard work of making the bed calls for some rest.

 Eleanor tried on winter things since we're trying to make sure we don't need to get anything for the season ahead.  

She was pretty excited about this coat because of the Mickey Mouse pull tab on the zipper.  It's the little things.

VOLUNTARILY putting away CLAIRE's clothes.  All part of "washing the linens."

 Also eager to put away clean bathroom towels.  Seriously, we need to find more books whose main characters do chores!

 Another chore listed in the book was chopping vegetables and I wanted to make a crockpot soup.  Eleanor cuts the celery for me.

 Claire tries to peel a carrot.

Onion cutting.

 As she was picking up her room this evening, Eleanor showed me this, done at naptime.  She knows how to spell our family's names (maybe ran out of lowercase d's and y's for Daddy?).  Unfortunately, I cut off the bottom line "Usa!"  She told me "You have to say it like this: USA! (which she yelled) because it has a thing after it."  She knows what an exclamation mark means if not what it's called.

Another treasure while cleaning up, also done at nap time (which is clearly a misnomer).  This is a picture of our family "Mommy, Daddy, Eleanor, Claire, baby brother, and I accidentally drew another person but that could be if we have another baby."

Watching a video about walking on a high wire.

Bedtime Claire showing off painted toenails courtesy of Daddy.

 Tucked in with her babies.  I think there were four tonight, which is only half of what she really wanted to sleep with.

Our friend Laura came over after work and Eleanor was thrilled to play for a few minutes and have a guest bedtime story reader.