Staley participated in the 2nd grade Monarch program at school.
All the 2nd grade classes learned about the life cycle of monarchs. They were encouraged to bring monarch caterpillars to school so that they could watch the life cycle and then release the butterflies at the program.
Staley found 2 monarch caterpillars and helped make this great little house for them. They both formed chrysalises, but neither hatched in time to be released for the program.
Although Staley was a little disappointed that she didn't have any butterflies to release, she still enjoyed singing the songs and being a part of the program.
Briggs and I have enjoyed two trips to Rader Farms with cousins while his sisters were in school.
He has so many favorites at Rader Farms. He's gotten much braver and now enjoys the rat rollers, jumping pillow, and tunnel slides.
Of course, his very favorites are still the barrel train and the sandboxes.
We enjoyed a family outing to Ackerman Farms on a beautiful week-end day to look at pumpkins and check out the animals.
The hayrack ride is always a highlight.
We followed up our pumpkin farm outing with a trip to a fun, newly redesigned playground in Morton topped off with dinner out and ice cream. It was such a fun family day!!
We (and by we, of course I mean Zach) put in a basketball hoop in our driveway. Staley has been diligently practicing and has gotten much better.
It was good timing as both Staley and Adelie just started a little basketball clinic that will continue through the next month.
Staley had a friend over for her first ever friend sleepover. The girls had a great time playing dolls, followed by pizza, a movie, and ice cream.
The next day, inspired by pictures in the American Girl doll catalog, they spent the entire morning getting themselves and their American Dolls ready for a photo shoot.
We went to our neighbor's beautiful yard and the girls had the best time picking out locations and posing for pictures. (The American Girl "flag" that they made was in each and every picture.)
Briggs was a good sport and even got in on some of the pictures.
The girls also got to enjoy a sleepover with cousins at Uma and Papa's house while Zach and I went out for our anniversary. So much fun!!
We took advantage of free admission at the Shedd Aquarium during the month of September with a day trip up to Chicago.
We had a great time at the aquarium. Some highlights were the dolphin show, the beluga whales, touching sea stars, the penguins, the sharks, and the sea horses. One of the highlights for Zach and I was finding street parking just a few blocks from the aquarium. #winning
Staley had her class field trip to Tanner's Orchard.
Riding the bus and spending the day with 70 second graders is not necessarily my idea of a great time.
However, I love seeing Staley with her friends and being part of a fun memory for her. The chaos and noise level is totally worth it just for that.
I watched our neighbor's little girl for a day. Briggs had the best time spending the day with Grace.
We went to the library, the park, the zoo, and McDonald's. It was a fun day!!
And we finished off the month with the Homecoming parade. It was fun for the kids to see people they knew in the parade, and, of course, the candy is always a highlight.
What a great, full, fun month! And with the beginning of fall weather, we're looking forward to some more fall fun next month. Bring it on, October. We're ready for you!!
