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.

Playing in the Leaves

The kids decided to rake together the neighbors leaves into a pile and play in it. The pile wasn't huge since there is only one tree, but they played in it for over an hour.

Homecoming

Mineral Point had their Homecoming this week. Today was crazy sock day!


Elsie wanted to experience a live football game. After hearing dad yell at the TV during the Michigan games, she said she wanted to go to a live game so his "cheering/yelling to the players could actually help the team". So tonight dad and Elsie walked down to the Homecoming game. When they got back, Elsie said she really enjoyed it and talked about seeing the "princesses" (homecoming court) during the halftime show.








Alstan was not at all interested in going to the football game, so he and mom stayed home. Mom has been trying to add circuitry to some of her classes' curriculum, so her and Alstan did their first lesson together.

Baking Night

Not all baking nights are all "peaches and cream". Tonight Elsie wanted to simply make some cupcakes in her Lalaloopsie oven. What should have been a half hour endeavor took over two hours and three batches of cake batter. We got the first tray of cupcakes stuck in the oven, so we cleaned out the oven and tried again. We forgot to spray the pan for our second attempt. Elsie never gave up! Look at the beautiful cake she ended up with on try three!

Sutter Ridge Apple Orchard

The honey crisp apples are ready! It turned out to be a beautiful day to visit an apple orchard near us. There were lots of activities for the kids plus pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. What a fun way to start the fall season.

Soccer Time Again

We enjoyed Alstan first game of the fall season today. It was warm, so it was pleasant for us on the sidelines, and they played a good game, so Alstan had fun playing.

New Season of Gymnastics

Elsie started with gymnastics today. Although it is through the same instructor, she is at a new location this time. There are a lot more children of varying ages here, but she seemed to love it just the same.

Back to School

Today was our first day back to school. It is still hard to believe that we have a first and third grader!