November

Campbell built a barn for her My Little Ponies. Complete with a mail box/mail, windows, and door. Love her creations!

Hula girl digging in costume bin

Blake say cheese, holding a cheese stick

Sleepover snoozing.

This month, Blake finally started getting interested in art. Every day when I pick him up from school, he's proud to show me what he made and makes sure we take it home. 

The first coloring he brought home that was more than 1 scribble. He took some time on  this one!

Gluing clothes onto a paper doll. Love how the kite is glued to its head.

Art with Kool-Aid. Blake kept wanting to lick it. Ick!

Random Campbell: 

• One night, Campbell comes out of bed crying, "All I can think about is I don't want to move away when I go to college."
• One night while Gabe was traveling for work, we went out to dinner at Quodba. Campbell got dressed up, packed her purse with chap stick and her money. When we got to the checkout she insisted on paying for dinner. And thoughtfully gave the cashier a penny tip. She's growing up!
• Campbell is doing great with Spanish. Her teacher says that she already understands most of what she's saying. 
• Fun to hear her talking about math...randomly she'll say things like "3+3. 2+4. 1+5, are all ways to get to 6."
• All of a sudden she started reading words she saw. It's really fun to see it starting to click. Especially since school is 100% Spanish. Some of the first words she's noticed and read: 
• Vote
• Exit
• The Nose 'Bok' (instead of book)

Thanksgiving

The kids' Thanksgiving art. Blake's paper plate turkey cracks me up.

  

Papa Stan hasn't been feeling good lately & is in the hospital with pneumonia for the Thanksgiving weekend. We stopped by Duluth on our way Up North to say hi and give him hug. We'll miss you at Thanksgiving, Papa Stan! Get well soon!

  

Dug out Ry's old He-Man stuff. Ry & Blake both had fun playing.

Can't wait to dig into Grammy's pies!

  

 

Blake devoured the blueberry pie.

Nana teaching Campbell how to play cards.

Since Ry & Elizabeth aren't coming for Christmas, we opened presents with them this weekend.

 

 

Blake LOVES his garbage truck. Papa cut a million little pieces of 'garbage' for Blake to collect.  Papa always thinks of the funnest stuff!

Madeline

Me and my little Chickadees

  

We're so happy to have our favorite Stages buddies back in town after spending a couple of years overseas.

Girls catching up while the Mom's chatted too

Reindeer

 

Reindeer came to visit Blake's preschool. They learned about reindeer and then got to pet/take pictures with the "Elf" and the reindeer. As you can see, Blake was being shy.

Omaha!

Deb and Paul were driving down to see Ry & Elizabeth's new place in Omaha, so Blake and I decided to hitch a ride and surprise them. It was my first trip with just Blake & we had a nice time.

Road trip!

  

Went for a visit to see some animals at the Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari

See anything yet?

 

  

So close!

Excuse me!

Gabe took Campbell Up North for deer hunting. We taunted Gabe by texting him  a picture of this and asking him if this is what he was looking for. 

Petting the goats.

Blake hopped up on the tractor and wanted to get it started up. He said that Papa John lets him drive his tractors. 

What kind of face is that, Blake? 

 

Which way, Blake? 

Trying to see the wolves

 

This bear peeled a banana and scarfed it down so fast. Fun to see.

Fun with Uncle Rylan 

It was a gorgeous day, 82 degrees! 

These buffalo made me a bit nervous. One of them was stomping the ground and glaring at us. I'm outta here!

   

Pooped out! On the way to dinner, Blake fell fast asleep. We had dinner at  an Ethiopian restaurant. Fun experience, I didn't know they ate with their hands. 

Never-ending game of Sequence. We filled up the whole board and no one won.

 

Fun with Nana...

 

Making breakfast

Blake takes after his Uncle. He wanted hot sauce on his eggs.  He tried it and it was hot, so he gulped some water and then wanted more. 

Checking out the Josyln Castle near Ry & Elizabeth's house. You can go inside only 2 days a month, so we just walked around and peeked inside. The previous day was hot and today was frigid, so we didn't hang around long.

  

Aunt Elizabeth reading a good night book to Blake.

Fun to go see their new place and check out the city. I don't know what I was expecting, but I liked Omaha more than I thought I would. A lot of nice places to check out and explore. And it's so much closer than Arizona!