Harvest Parties and Trick-or-treating

Each year, our couples group hosts a Harvest Party. I guess technically it could be a Halloween party however it is kid friendly and leaves out all the scary parts of Halloween. The kids are able to dress up and play some games. Then we have a potluck dinner. It's a lot of fun. We didn't last too long outside this year as it was pretty cold.

Isaac dressed up like a Ninja Turtle

Levi was a baseball player

Kate, Ella, and Elise

Elise and the boys "pinning the nose on the pumpkin"

Levi and Isaac throwing balls in the bucket

Levi, Elise, Dan, and Isaac bowling

Levi's preschool class had a costume parade on Halloween.  The kids were able to dress up and parade through the different classes to show off their costumes.  They were really cute.  Levi's teachers were dressed like crayons.

We went out trick-or-treating for about an hour.  The kids had fun dressing up.  Isaac wore his baseball costume to school since it's two pieces (the school recommends easy costumes to allow for bathroom use!).  He decided to keep it on after school so he and Levi were twins.  Elise was a strawberry and did keep her hat on most of the time outside since it was cold.  We had fun meeting up with some of our neighbors and of course the kids loved all the candy that they collected!

Levi, Isaac, Elise

Isaac and Elise with their pumpkins

Elise, Levi, and Isaac

Fun in the leaves

We managed to have one more day of fun in the leaves the end of October before the village came and took them away.  We have a beautiful maple tree that our neighbor Ryan and our kids love to play in it's fallen leaves. 

Elise

Isaac and Ryan

Elise

Ryan and Isaac

Ryan, Levi, Isaac, Kim, Scooby, and Elise

Isaac "Citizen of the Month"

We are very thankful that Isaac enjoys school. He was nominated for "Citizen of the Month" for being respectful. I went to the school to see him get the award.  It started off with 5th and 4th graders.  There were about 50 of them.  I really don't believe in awarding everyone, otherwise what is the point!  However, when they got to Kindergarten, there were only 5 students so I figured that must mean something for Isaac.  I'm glad he is respectful and gets along with his teacher and classmates.
I had an interesting "mom moment" getting ready for this.  They had sent home a photocopy of this certificate and next to "do not interrupt" it said "practice at home".  Dan and I both thought that was a little strange.  We couldn't figure out why they would nominate him for something if he needs practice.  We talked with Isaac about not interrupting :)  Well, at the ceremony, I realized that all of the students were reading their certificates.  Apparently "practice at home" meant practice reading the certificate :)  I said a prayer for Isaac since we hadn't practiced but he did a great job and spoke in front of the whole school!!

Isaac sitting in the bottom right in the blue and gray striped shirt

Isaac going up to receive his award

Isaac waiting with the other recipients

Naomi and Kyle's wedding

Our niece Naomi got married this past weekend.  She met Kyle in MN after she had moved from our house.  He is a very godly man and we are so thankful that God brought them together.  The wedding was beautiful and it was fun seeing everyone.  Dan was an usher in the wedding so that was special.  The kids did really well, especially considering they didn't get a nap that day!!

Stan, Sarah, Tom, Donna

Levi and Naomi

Isaac and Naomi

We managed to get a family picture before the wedding!

Sarah and Rachael

Elise, Dan, Levi

Isaac, Jenny, Levi

Dan and Tom

Donna and Naomi

Naomi and Kyle Sands

One more family picture!

Cindy and Stan

Siblings (just missing Jim)

Donna and Stan

Our little princess

Elise really took to Betsy so she kept going up to the head table and sat with her!

Kyle and Naomi

Cutting the cake

 Nathan and Elise

Bethany and Daniel

Fall Fun!

The colors this year have been beautiful.  We are trying to take advantage of being outside as much as possible.  A couple weeks ago, we discovered this spider in the back yard.  The kids had fun watching the spider walk along his web and wrap up the bugs it had caught.  Even though I'm not a huge spider fan, they are pretty amazing creatures.  God truly has a great imagination!!

The maple tree on the side of the house has beautiful colors this year.  The kids love playing in the leaves and getting buried in them!  Thankfully the weather was warm and dry enough this week to get out and play in them!!