Halloween Fun

Fall Fest

Super Girls-Natalie and Kianna

Natalie, Trace, Lexie and Kianna

Brayden and Trace

Ella, Kaylee and Katie

Kaylee had to give a 3-5 minute presentation this week on a biography she read. She chose Laura Ingalls Wilder and had to dress up like her. It was a big project for her and she did a great job! We borrowed this adorable costume from the Hodgin's Family. Thanks again Jackie!!

Dominican Life Center

Carving Pumpkins

Our Halloween fun started a week ago with Fall Fest at The Centre. Kaylee dressed up as Nancy Drew, Kianna dressed up as Super Girl, and Trace dressed up as Iron Man with a later appearance of Spiderman as the night progressed. It was a fun night of crafts, games, friends, candy and bouncy houses.

The fun continued on Tuesday when the kids got to trick-or-treat at the Dominican Life Center, where I work. This time around Kaylee dressed up as Laura Ingalls Wilder and Trace was an Iowa Football Player. Kaylee chose here costume saying "maybe some of the sisters had clothes like this when they were little". It ended up being an excellent choice, as the sisters especially enjoyed Kaylee's costume.

The kids were amazing with the sisters! They gave hugs, smiles and were very friendly. One sister appeared to have some very yucky teeth. We were all a little taken off guard by them. She asked the kids if they brush their teeth and then pulled out her yucky teeth to show them it was a joke. The false teeth looked very real, so we all thought that was pretty funny. The kids came away with a goody bag full of candy. It was a rewarding way to spend the night and I was very proud of them.

On Wednesday, we carved pumpkins with the kids. I think each year this activity becomes a little bit more fun, as the kids are gaining more independence. They each did a great job of cleaning out their pumpkins. Daddy helped Trace make a Batman pumpkin. Kianna wanted a "Jesus" pumpkin and Kaylee was adamant to make her own pumpkin this year. She ended up carving out a flashlight, notebook and magnifying glass in her pumpkin. If you haven't figured it out, she is pretty into mysteries and likes Nancy Drew books. I tried to decorate my own "C" pumpkin this year. I think it turned out cute, but Trevor says my "C" looks like a "G". I guess that could work too, since my maiden name is Gaskill, but I was trying for a "C" for Cook...

On Halloween, the weather was pretty yucky, so instead of going trick-or-treating yet again, we stayed in and had a movie night. I made a nice dinner and a pumpkin roll for dessert. Daddy rented "Hotel Transylvania"and we let them eat more candy than usual. They deemed the night "The best Halloween ever". It was a fun way to bring an end to the Halloween Festivities.

Kianna's Field Trip to Carpenter Farms

Mrs. Banks 1st Grade Class

Nana Bear picking her pumpkin

Mommy and Kianna on the hayride

Kianna on the rope swing

Ada and Kianna

I got to go with Kianna's 1st grade class to Carpenter Farms this morning. I love that I am able to go on field trips with the kids this year. Last year, I felt like I missed most of them due to my work schedule. Kianna enjoyed the straw maze, the corn box, the rope swing, the animals, the hayride and picking out her own pumpkin. We got a pie pumpkin, so now we need to find a good pumpkin recipe. 

An added bonus for me was catching up with my friend, Nellie. We ended up grabbing lunch together afterwards. It was fun chatting with her. I feel so blessed with the good friends God has given me!

Our Weekend in Iowa

Grandma Carie and I in Kalona at the Cheese Factory

Bloomsbury Farm

Corn Box

Girl Power

Bryker

Corn Maze

Corn Maze

Sweet Cousins

Silly Cousins

More Silly Cousins

Aliyah and Kaylee

Buddies- Bryker and Trace

Grandma Becki and Kianna

Grandma, Kianna and Mommy

Zombies- I was a little shocked that my kids even knew what a zombie was. I guess they learned it from Scooby Doo.

Aliyah and Kianna

Joker Barn- Scared Pose

Grandma with her grandkids minus Bruxen

Sisters- Bree, Stacie and Keri

The kids didn't have school on Thursday or Friday, so we decided to head back to Iowa on Weds right after school. Unfortunately, Trevor wasn't able to come back with us as he is one of the assistant coaches for the junior high football team and they had a game on Thursday evening, which he didn't feel right missing. I was extremely blessed by the beautiful leaves on the drive to Iowa and am always amazed at what great travelers my kids are. The kids kept busy watching movies, drawing and playing travel bingo. In addition, we have started listening to audio books in the car, which really helps me pass the time. In the past, we have listened to a few of The Chronicles of Narnia books, but this time we listened to "Anne of Green Gables", which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think I need to plan another road trip just so I can finish my book. We also enjoyed a quick stop in IL to visit with The Wenzel's. I am so thankful for my dear friend, Sally and that our kids are developing their own friendships with one another.

We stayed at my dad and Sue's house. I really enjoyed our late night chats after the kids went to bed and my morning walk with Sue. They are great company. The kids spent the day with them on Thursday while I took my Grandma Carie to Kalona for the day. We had a great time together. That evening we met Dave, Darla, Melissa, Alyssa, Cameron, Abigail, Lana, Erika, Blake, Dad and Sue for dinner at The Olive Garden. It was nice catching up with everyone. It was especially good seeing how well Dave is doing after his bad accident earlier this summer. He is now walking with a cane with the hopes of being without an assistive device in a few weeks. He is doing great. Darla is still working on getting flexibility back in her right wrist and making a fist with her hand. Both are thankful to be alive!

The kids' cousin, Aliyah, spent the night with us on Thursday evening. She and my sister, Breanna just closed on a new house a couple of weeks ago. We were excited to see their new place and were not disappointed. It is perfect for them. We even got to be apart of the house warming party my sister, Stacie, threw for them on Saturday. They received lots of nice gifts for their new home. The kids had a great time playing with Aliyah. Kaylee and her especially enjoyed playing ping pong.

On Friday, after a nice walk with my mom we went to Bloomsbury Farm for the afternoon. Grandma Becki, Bryker and Aliyah went with us. It was a cold, sunny, beautiful fall day. We had a great time. The kids enjoyed jumping on the large jumping pillow, playing in the corn box, going through the corn maze, going on a hayride, feeding the animals, and sliding down the large slide. However, the unexpected highlight was going through the Joker Barn. Once inside we had to squeeze through a 10 ft space that felt much like what I imagine a birth canal feeling like. After that we came upon a bridge that felt like it was spinning. It made you feel like you were going to fall over and Grandma Becki dramatically stated she could go no farther. The kids thought this was hilarious and like to refer to Grandma Becki as a chicken now. Despite the theatrics, we all managed to work our way through the rest of the barn. The kids loved it, but Grandma Becki and I weren't quite as thrilled with the experience...

The rest of the night was spent with the kids enjoying their sleepover with The Langfalds. The kids ate pizza and popcorn, played games, and watched a movie. They had a great time and were full of anticipation about the evening. Since the kids were busy I decided to have a Girls Night Out with my friends. We went out to dinner and then to Orange Leaf for dessert. It was so good visiting with my friends and talking the night away.

On Saturday, I had a nice walk and talk with Stacie and then headed to Bob and Becki's house for brunch. From there, we spent the rest of the day at Stacie's house visiting with family. We keep pretty busy on our trips back home and the kids get spoiled. They LOVE going back to Iowa and we make lots of fun new memories each time. We are so thankful for our friends and family. We are truly blessed!

Sauder Village

Kids in old jail

Trace with his corn husk pirate Daddy helped him make.

Kids with their corn husk dolls

After a morning of soccer and volleyball games, we spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather and walking around Sauder Village. Today was Fall on the Farm, which meant the kids got to decorate pumpkins, make dolls out of corn husks, play old fashioned games, watch a spelling bee, see how apple cider was made, churn butter, and many other tasks. It was such a nice way to spend our afternoon together as a family.

Visit with Dad and Sue

Kianna

Kianna

Trace

Trace leading the pack

Kaylee cheering her brother on during his soccer game.

We miss having our own cheering section!!!

The kids had a long weekend with no school on Thursday or Friday due to conferences, so we invited my Dad and Sue over for the weekend. We had a fun time visiting, going for walks, playing Rummikub, playing Hand and Foot, and just relaxing together. We also spent some time at a local pumpkin farm called Carpenter Farms. The kids had fun running through the maze made out of hay barrels, playing in the corn kernel box, swinging on the rope swing, and picking out pumpkins. 

Dad and Sue were able to watch the kids' games this weekend. Trace and Kianna both had soccer games and both scored goals. Kaylee had a volleyball game and did a great job serving and bumping the ball. She seems to be catching on quickly and is one of the better players on our team. We spent the afternoon cheering on the Hawkeyes together and then watched the movie "Evan Almighty" at The Centre. The movie does a fun twist on the biblical version of Noah and the Ark. The girls especially enjoyed the movie since they are learning about Noah and the Ark this week in Bible Quizzing. It was a fun weekend with family and thankfully it won't be long until we see them again, as the kids and I are heading to Iowa next week for a quick visit!