Kindergarten Halloween Party

Sylvia's school had a Halloween parade followed by classroom parties.  Grandma and Grandpa brought Eric and Drake over to see all the costumes and then headed home so I could help out in the classroom.  My little astronaut got a lot of compliments on her costume.  At the party, we made a spider web crafts and pumpkin stickers.  Snacks included pumpkin shaped cheese, pumpkin water bottles, clementines "dressed up" to look like pumpkins and monster grape cups.

Orange Day

We were able to get a second color picture from our garden with this pepper.

I was able to stay and help out in Eric's preschool class on Orange Day.  They started the mornings with The Orange Song.  

During centers, I carved a pumpkin with the kids.  Eric isn't a big fan of pumpkin guts but he likes his mommy so he stopped by for a visit.  

He also got to decorate a pumpkin cookie with one of my favorite people, Mrs. Potter. 

Friday Fun (week 10)

Enjoyed some banana bread and milk in our pumpkin glasses on a Friday afternoon.

Sass Family Farm

I took the kids to the Sass Family Farm again this fall.  It was a little harder to find a time now that Sylvia is in school but I'm glad we made it out.  We spent lots of time playing on the swings, tractors and playground before taking a look at the animals and picking out pumpkins.  The kids also found gold coins in the corn bin and got to pick out a special prize.  It got a little chilly while we were there so we enjoyed a snack indoors before heading home.

Sylvia's tooth

Sylvia lost her first tooth on Sunday, October 27th slightly before 2:28 PM.  Her new tooth had been growing in behind while the baby tooth got more and more wiggly.  She didn't spend a lot of time wiggling it but asked frequently when it would fall out.  She was quite excited when she was able to pull it out all by herself.

Sylvia hid her tooth under her pillow but was sad in the morning when she didn't find any money and her tooth was still there.  It turns out the tooth fairy knew she wanted to keep her tooth so left it behind for her and accidentally left her money under Fire Dog's head.  She was very excited when mommy took a look on her own and then showed her where the money was.

Friday Fun (week 9)

Enjoying some leftover summer popsicles in October.

Horn International Night

One of the things we love about Horn Elementary is the diversity.  There was an International Night to celebrate the many different counties Horn families are from.  The kids stamped their passports as they traveled around the continents, tasting food from other countries and looking at the displays. 

Track Club / Run for the Schools

Sylvia participated in her school's track club this fall.  It met Wednesday nights for five weeks.  I believe we may have a runner on our hands.  Sylvia ran 3 miles her first week.  She had very sore legs the next day and didn't do quite so much running at future track clubs.  It was a fun activity to participate in as a family.  Sylvia and Grandpa signed up for the 1 mile Run for the Schools Race while Dan and I were out of town.  She was very excited to get a participant ribbon.

Chicago

Dan and I left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa for a weekend in October and headed to Chicago.  We stopped at Starved Rock State Park on our way to the city for an even called Open House Chicago.  We stayed at the Essex Inn and spent two days walking around the city.  We toured many buildings that are usually not open to the public and got some new views of the city. 

The view from our room on the 11th floor of The Essex.

Our view of the Jewelers building from the top of it's neighbor, which is not usually open to the public

Another look at the city from the Kemper building.

An evening stroll.

Just one of the many pictures Dan took of building details that didn't turn out quite like planned.

On the porch of Frank Lloyd Wright's Charnley House.

The City from the top of the old Sears Tower in Lawndale.

Friday Fun (week 8)

Dan and I headed to Chicago so Grandma picked up Sylvia from school and did a Friday snack.

Tiny Tot Soccer

Eric played on a Tiny Tot soccer team this fall with his friend Hayden.  Their team name switched back and forth between The Green Machine and the Alligators...and maybe sometimes the Crocodiles.  His coaches helped him stay somewhat focused and he seemed to enjoy chasing after the ball.  Snack was also always popular.

Eric's Special Day

Eric had his first special day at preschool back in October.  He got to do the calendar activities with Mrs. Fink, be the line leader for the day, bring snack for the class, help with the Bible story and share about special toy from home.  His class also took a field trip on his special day.  They got to ride a city bus around town and through the bus wash before heading back to preschool.

Colony Pumpkin Ptch

We joined Grandma, Grandpa, Bill, Becky, Ben, Katie and Great Nana at the Colony Pumpkin Patch in October to celebrate Grandma's birthday.  It was our first visit to the pumpkin patch.

I was glad to have some help getting me through the corn maize.  There's no way I would have gotten out of that thing by myself.

I figured out a way to tie Drake into this with my belt.  I didn't trust him without it.

Eric spent a lot of time on the tractors convinced he could make them work.

Great Nana enjoyed the beautiful weather and time with the grand kids.

 

Drake also enjoyed checking out the tractors.

I took a few attempts at a sibling picture and I believe this is the best one I got.

Friday Fun (week 7)

We try to get outside as frequently as we can so Friday snack was a great time for some green ice cream on the deck.

Kindergarten Tree

Each year the kindergartners at Horn plant a tree on the school grounds.  This year, it was a blue spruce.  All three kindergarten classes gathered outside to watch it be planted and then help water it.

Homecoming Parade

We joined up with the Kacmarynskis, Baxters and Grandma & Grandpa for the homecoming parade this year.  We weren't sure what the weather was going to do but the storm held off and the kids collected plenty of candy.

Eric clapping along to the Iowa fight song.  Now I just need to teach him the words so he can sing too.

We were waiting for the elevator with this band member when he asked if the kids would like to have their picture taken with him.

Alex the preschool buddy

Eric was one of the first preschoolers to bring home the class buddy.  He was so excited to have him all week and was more than a little concerned when the next child got a turn with the buddy.  It was a little difficult to explain that the buddy belonged to Mrs. Fink and she had let Eric borrow it.  He was pretty sure it was his and he wasn't too keen on lending it to his friends.