Raging October

I know that everyone who takes a moment to get sucked in and click on a link to one of my posts probably regrets it when they realize it's just cute photos of my kids.  But sorry, here's another one.

Nala helped me build an addition to the quail cage.  We're not finished yet, but she's all about building, in a dress no less!

They begged me to carve a pumpkin.  And so we did.

Forgot to take a picture of the finished product.

There's a gas station with loads of spooky inflatables.  A trip there is almost as great as disney land.  And sufficed in getting the spook fix.  We tried to stop at a party store for some decorations for the house, but Kaio wouldn't walk in the door.  He's always been afraid of motorized inflatables ever since before he could talk.  Nala, however, loves them.

I found a job for them at the gas station.

Let's have some bbq at a brewery/winery near Purcellville.

Then go on a nature hike along the Appalachian Trail. 

It certainly feels like October now.

Golden babies

I knew the halloween costume would get lots of mileage. 

The newest members of our family.  Cookie, Swimmy and Water

We also took in three more quails, the children of our batch.  I gave some eggs to a friend to hatch and she's moving and had to give us some of the quails back.  That makes our homestead home 19 quails, 3 guppies, 2 firebelly toads, 2 kids, 1 mommy and daddy, and 1 grandma.  We're also dreaming of getting a dwarf goat, but not sure how to hide it from the neighborhood.  Wouldn't it be great if Nala could take her goat for a walk down the street like people take their dogs for walks?  She really wants a little goat!  We'd never have to cut the grass again...

Chasing Chickens

It's Fall, and that means it's time to chase some chickens!

And pet some white asses

And paint some pumpkins

Pick some wildflowers

Then dump them in mama's hair

Say we're strange and beautiful

And thank the world for delicious moments, especially those made from figs.

Peacefully Domestic

Life has been so placid lately.  It's unusual for me to keep a strolling pace with the world.  Generally I'm sprinting from one moment to the next, seeking sensation.  But the last couple weeks I'm content to stick around at home keeping on top of the household chores.  I'm very domestic this month, cleaning and organizing clutter, planning and cooking meals, and going to play dates and volunteering at the kids' schools.  It feels very balanced and sane - which is not typical me!  So I'm not sure what changed, but this will get boring I think, as does every phase eventually.

We used to get out of the house on day trips a lot, but with Kaio at school I'm tempted to stay indoors with Nala laying low.  Kaio was our fire, our yang.  Now we're peacefully maintaining the house. It may sound old fashioned, a digression of the social equality women have strived to achieve.  I've done plenty of corporate productivity in my life and proved that I can be a woman in the workplace and all that.  Now I'm glad I have the right to stick at home, peacefully domestic.  

 Drawing in the yard

Power tools.  This one is a toy, but I let them use the real drill too.

Shaping the tapioca cheese bread (pao de quejo) 

Sawing the drag ramp 

The Spiderman web we found spun to the front grass fronds on the way to the bus stop, covered in dew

The "nest" Nala made, with rock eggs 

The only time they have ever set the table.  Who knew they could do this without any instruction?

 There was an incentive (brought over by our neighbors)

 Putting Rainbow Dash to sleep in a castle

We watched Avengers and the kids turned into super heroes.  Kaio became Captain America, tossing a throw pillow around the house and almost taking down the TV.  Nala transformed into a princess who throws petals at the bad guys.  She also fights in heals, and wears jewelry   She calls herself Dragon Fire.