What is up with the gack and bloop? We’ve been learning about dolphins and whales this week. In our curriculum they had a game that is like Marco Polo except it’s Dolphin-o Polo. I close my eyes and say “Dolphin-o” and Isabelle says “POLO!” and I try to find her. Nathan did not like this game. He stands there and makes distressed noises. But Isabelle loved it. She had so much fun with the game, that when we read that dolphin babies copy what their mothers do, I made up a game. I call it Baby Dolphin game where the “baby” has to copy everything the “mommy” does. That resulted in one of us running around making weird noises and strange gestures all over the house. And then the other person would copy the same thing. Gack! Bloop!

And the toy on my head? Well, sometimes, all Nathan wants is, me to hold him. Or sit right nearby while he plays. And I was having the hardest time reading to Isabelle. So, the solution? A toy on my head. It sooooo worked.

This year I wanted to go to a regular pumpkin patch where we could take pictures with lots of stacked up pumpkins. But it was hot. And we left. Very quickly. So quickly that I felt bad we didn’t let Isabelle play in the maze or ride the generic little “train”.

So, to make up for it, we brought the kids to a generic little amusement park. Where the little train wasn’t even working.

And the crappy teacup didn’t turn. Sigh.

But all was not lost. A couple of days later we went to a different pumpkin patch with our homeschool group. A real pumpkin patch where they actually grow their own pumpkins. An honest to goodness farm.

Sadly the corn maze was closed. Too muddy from the rain the day prior.

But, happily, to make up for it they let the kids pick tomatoes. Tomatoes and jalapenos. And you know how much Isabelle loves picking food off trees or bushes, in this case, just to not eat them.

Then more Halloween fun was to be had at my friend Veronica’s pumpkin carving party.

Which all culminated in Halloween!! We met Alan’s family at the mall for some trick or treating. It was our first time trick or treating at a mall. It was crowded. And you know how I feel about malls right?

Yeah. Never again. It was ok to try one time but…nope, not for me. It wasn’t absolutely horrendous but the hoards of people did not help. Nor did the woman, who pushed me in her rush to get her child or something, help the situation. I say something because after she bowled into me and continued on her way, that way was not to a child. She was just pushy.

I went all road rage on her in my head. And it’s so funny, I’m generally a mellow driver but obviously I’m not good with people impinging on my personal space. But anyhoo…off topic. After the mall we went trick or treating at real houses. Well, Isabelle did at least. Nathan mostly stayed in Alan’s arms except for this one time.

Wish the picture wasn’t blurry. And that was all our Halloween fun. Four days of it. Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, and Halloween!

The first time Isabelle went bowling she enjoyed it.

She wanted her own shoes and her own ball.

And then we went with our homeschool group. The kids had fun so they talked about a homeschool kids league.

Just last week we started a four week class to prepare for the league.

But now Isabelle said she doesn’t want to do it anymore, the ball is too heavy.

She rather play table hockey.

So now what? I think we’ll finish the class and see what she says at the end.

Oh and some instax photos from our bowling day. Taken by Isabelle:

And by me:

The Martinez Marina is the first place we went with our homeschool group when we joined almost two years ago. Wow, two years ago Nathan was so small. He was new. And we brought him out to this windy lovely location. I always enjoy walking down there.

Did you know that cattails become fluffy almost dandelion like things after a while? I found this out the hard way when I stuck one in my purse. A week later I couldn’t understand where the fluffy stuff was coming from. And why the hell it was all inside my purse. I could have sworn Isabelle had been blowing a dandelion in there. But after digging around in my gigantic purse I found the cattail half intact and half fluff.

Well anyhoo…some instax pictures.

Taken by Isabelle.

Mine. Just a different perspective of the bridge above.

And these are from the week before the Marina also with our homeschool group. Taken by Isabelle.

She was aiming for this little frog. Oops.

And mine.

I’m surprised I get any photos taken sometimes when this little guy is all, “hug?” He means up.