New Sewing Machine

Last weekend Grandma Zielicke gave Elsie a sewing machine that she was not using anymore. Elsie has spent a good share of this weekend sewing with it. She started by making another stocking for a different doll. She then moved onto making a pair of pajamas for herself.


She didn’t quite get the pj’s finished.... but maybe next weekend!

Today was Elsie’s first day of basketball,


and Alstan’s last soccer game for the season.

Pre-Halloween Visit

This past summer Grandpa Zielicke lost a bunch of trees during a storm, so he told the kids he would have a great big bonfire in the fall. Alstan and Elsie had been waiting ever since. Saturday ended up being a beautiful day for it! Since Halloween is right around the corner, Aunt Carrie suggested we do a little “Trick-r-Treating” around the house to give the kids an extra chance to wear their costumes. Our littlest trick-r-treater didn’t quite know what to think of it, but she did enjoy her Nilla wafers afterward.

Pumpkin Carving

Alstan’s pumpkin had super thick walls, so he enlisted dad to help him with his carving this year. Elsie did hers all by herself...almost. (Mom did the eyebrows.) Now we just have to hope they are still ok by Halloween.

Sewing Project

Elsie finished her stocking for her doll Ella! Now she wants to make one for her doll Lucille. (And, Yes, I may have taken these photos just as much for her cute hairstyle she gave herself as for the sewing project.)

Fall Farm Visit

This post is a week late, but here are some photos from our visit to a local Adventure Farm.

Sewing Project

Elsie has been busy on her Christmas sewing projects. She is making stockings for two of her dolls. Here is what she has for the first one so far. Their babysitter makes stockings for each of the kids on their first Christmas, so Elsie is trying to make hers according to how she has seen Lisa make them.

Kid's Special Day

Today was a one-on-one day for the kids. Alstan wanted to go fossil hunting again, so mom took him to Fennimore. After fossil hunting, they checked out the train museum and played at a playground.





Elsie and dad went shopping in Madison. A stop at Starbucks is always a given.