Going Plural

Trunk or Treat at Ames High School - October 25

They had a great time trunk or treating and the high school kids that were working in the event were all very nice! Riley got to see her teacher's daughter and got really excited and started jumping up and down, she was in the back of a truck with the softball players. Riley got a pumpkin painted on her cheek by a girl in the art club. They brought home many treats and we brought them home and sorted them into gluten free and potential bio hazard. Nora did not want to stand for this picture before we headed off to the high school. I did not take them out on Halloween but they did get to eat two treats after dinner and they thought that was pretty great!

I included this one because I think this is just Riley smiling but it looks like she is afraid of the dino behind her!

Home
Just happily burying each other in the leaves! I am pretty in love with these kids.

My artist at work, decorating the outside!

This says welcome and Riley. I love all the different colors!

Made by Riley

Wall Art
I just finished painting Riley and Nora's names on the wall by their beds. I had these letters that used to spell Nora and am now re-purposing them. I have had the idea for a while but the remembering-to-stop-and-do-it thing got in the way; turns out it didn't take more than 10 minutes. The key is to think to do it before it is naptime! I think Riley will be really excited to come home from school today to find it and also the floating shelf. It will be a nice place to keep the things she doesn't want her little sister to get into. I have an A for August but have not decided where to put his or what color to make it, right now it is coral like the girls.

So I am not sure why my kids think it is okay to draw on things other than paper but I may be getting it now. The little people were asking to paint after this so I gave them some paper and paint. What a fun day! I now have a counter full of art drying on the cookie racks.

Fall
It rained a lot this summer and also into the fall. There was a period of 10 days or so that it continuously rained this fall and was pretty chilly. We still walked to school when we could and had some cocoa afterwards. I have many pictures of the kids doing what most of us like to do during this sort of weather, snuggle in blankets and read. We got some rain in our basement during this bit but it didn't last too long and I am fortunate to not have had any this summer. October 8th was a no school day and we had planned to go to Center Grove Orchard on that day but it was during the end of this stretch of rain. We did not go to the orchard but we did go ice skating. It was supposed to be a surprise but somehow Riley guessed. Keenan and I took turns going out on the ice with Riley and August while the other stayed on the side with Nora. They fell down a lot but had fun.

Liam and Nora's Party in Ottumwa- October 13
This year Liam shared his birthday with Nora. They both had a great time just running around and playing. They each had a turn to blow out a candle on a cupcake and unwrap some gifts. We took some chocolate cupcakes since it was a shared party, then there would be a GF option. They turned out great and now I have a new go to cupcake recipe!

Snow? October 14
When we got back from Ottumwa it started snowing. I got everything unpacked and then, Mom called. I was happy and just watching the kids play on the floor with Nora's new waffle maker that she got for her birthday. Mom called to tell me that Bob Bratten had died and that she was on her way to Debbie's house. She was in a hurry and had to go. I was sad and confused at this news. A few minutes before, everything seemed perfect and now I wanted to get back in the car and go to Ottumwa, even though that was irrational. Riley had school and there was nothing I could say or do to really help Debbie and after all, Mom was there. Riley noticed my change in mood and asked me about it, she is very observant of other peoples feelings. I explained what had happened and why I was sad. I told her who he was and showed her a picture that was in my wedding scrapbook. I was anxious to know when the funeral was but instead I took the kids outside to play in the snow. We did travel down to Ottumwa for the visitation on Wednesday and the funeral on Thursday.

She is about to lob that snow at me!

Bob Bratten

Bob and Debbie are wonderful people. Hearing about Bob dying made me sad for Debbie, the boys, and all who loved him. Bob was one of my youth leaders in middle school and high school. I was terribly shy and they were always trying to coax me out. They are warm and loving people and were quick to welcome people into their home. There was always music (Bob on his guitar), fun, food, and games. I enjoyed the many bonfires that were hosted next to the pond. We played hide and seek in their large and very dark backyard and watched movies in the basement. Debbie spent many hours planning our lessons and plays but she and Bob taught us even more by example. They loved each other and were very generous and thoughtful people. Bob played the music at our wedding and his son Jeff sang. It still means a lot to me that they were a part of it and I appreciate our friendship.

Bob and Debbie

Jeff and Bobby at our wedding

Bob playing during youth group

Nora's Party- October 20

Nora is 2 now! She is snuggly, fun and likes to be one of the big kids. She talks a lot and can put together sentences pretty well to express what she is thinking. It is such a fun development to see all of the new things she says. Unless she has learned it from August and Riley, and in that case I take it back. She loves to play outside, give kisses and read books, and can often be found by the bookshelf with a pile next to her. We are so honored to have her for a daughter and love her so much!

We had a party for Nora in Ames and I think she had a pretty great time! The kids got to play outside, it was jacket weather and a little windy but still very nice. We had a taco bar and the same chocolate cupcakes which I didn't take a close up of this year. I guess I was too focused on eating them! Nora has this gift unwrapping thing down and was really excited about all of them but I think she was the most curious about the big one.

Daddy and Nora just having a good time!

I am not sure where Kaleb and Riley went

Leaves and Pumpkins

The kids have had so much fun piling up the leaves and playing in them or making little beds in them. We carved pumpkins this Tuesday after school. It was such a beautiful day that I figured we could have fun and keep the mess outside! I helped August to draw a kitty on his because he has been pretending to be a kitty lately. It turned out cute. He didn't want to pull out the pumpkin guts though. Riley got busy and drew a face on her pumpkin by herself. I helped her to cut the top off and she scraped most of the inside out herself while separating the seeds into a bowl for a snack later.