Halloween

Ohhh... scary monsters, carved pumpkins and lots and lots of CANDY!  We carved pumpkins a few days before Halloween arrived, the kids each picked out a pumpkin at our visit to the pumpkin patch and then Grandma had a few that grew in the garden.  I bet you can guess which one Kyle carved!

Jonathan visited, dressed as a little pirate!

Jonathan and Grandma

We went trick-or-treating with some friends in Hinckley and then the kids went to the Lions Club Halloween Party that is held at the Elementary school each year. 

Gabriella as "Dora" and Kyle as a "Scary Hockey Player"

While walking down the hallway Dora, I mean Gabriella, spotted the "Dora" kindergarten room.

She found the Dora kindergarten room!

The kids both brought home a bucket full of candy.  At our house we let them eat as much as they want that night and then ration the rest.  Of course mom and dad usually help a little too :)

Mini-vaction in Duluth, MN

This past weekend was MEA and Kyle was off school both Thursday and Friday so we headed to Duluth for a quick get-away.  We stayed at The Edge Resort and Waterpark.  We did some sight-seeing too.

Kyle and Gabriella in Canal Park.

Kyle and Gabriella at Brighton Beach.

Gabriella, Mom and Kyle at Park Point Beach.

Gabriella, Daddy and Kyle playing arcade games at Old Chicago.

Gabriella, Daddy and Kyle getting ready to go down the water slide in the splash pool.

Kyle and Gabriella watching fish in the gigantic aquarium at the Great Lakes Aquarium.

Timber Wolf

On our way to town we noticed this timberwolf in a field near our house.  A little too close to home for my comfort!

On your mark... get ready, set, go!

Saturday was a busy day for us!  Kyle had his last football practice of the season in the morning followed by a long over-due trip to the barber shop.  Then he was off to a birthday party for the afternoon. 



Kyle at football practice.



When we picked Kyle up we headed from Hinckley to Saint Paul to drop off our flat screen tv to be repaired. (Amazingly it broke while still under warranty - that never happens does it?) 

Needless to say we spent a lot of time in the car.  On the way home both kids were near meltdown... more energy than one space could contain.. so we stopped at McDonald's Playland in North Branch. 

Being that Kyle is almost 11, he is a pro at playlands, but this was Gabriella's first time.  I wasn't sure if she would be scared at the overwhelming size and height.  Fortunately there was only one other little girl so the place wasn't overrun.  Kyle followed her up the first tube and the rest was history! 

Gabriella and Kyle  - no fear!

She played and climbed and slid until I finally forced them to leave.  She was tired and so was Kyle.  Gabriella screamed and cried until I convinced her that we would be back again another day.

Happy faces before I announced that we had to leave.

The Saxaphone!

Kyle has decided to play the alto saxaphone.  At our school students may begin band lessons in 5th grade.  Today he arrived home with his brand new instrument.  He, of course, performed a concert for us immediately.  It may be a long few months... 

Our trip to the Pumpkin Patch

The weather has been so beautiful and sunny for October so we have taken advantage of all the nice warm days. 

We visited the Dunsmore Family Farm and Pumpkin patch this past Sunday. 

Kyle and Gabriella

They had animals to pet and feed.



Gabriella feeding "Little Lamb" (yes, as in Mary had a little lamb...)

Kyle feeding Star the miniature pony.

Kyle and Gabriella with Violet the goat.

The kids loved playing in the corn crib full of shelled corn.

Kyle being burried under the corn by Gabriella.



We all took turns launching gourds from the huge slingshots. 



Gabriella and Mom slinging gourds.



Kyle, Daddy and Gabriella with one ready to be launched!

There was a grass maze too.

Kyle and Gabriella found a scarecrow in the grass maze.

We took a wagon ride through the woods to get to the corn maze.  There were a few muddy spots and Gabriella had quite a time telling Kyle how messy it was!

While going through the corn maze we found some good news along the way.

After the corn maze we ended up in the pumpkin patch and picked ours to take home.



Gabriella and Mom holding a bunny in the pumpkin patch.