Fall Activities

We spent as much time as we could outside this fall by hitting up all the fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and state parks in the region.  I'll go with any excuse to pull out the scarves and apple cider.  Let's get the fall party started!

Meanwhile, since fall has rolled around and Gus has started school, he really into projects and drawing.  So when it was Nora's first fall share day at preschool, it was a no-brainer that she'd bring her Cinderella doll plus a Gus original watercolor, entitled 'Cinderella'.

She couldn't have been more excited or proud to share it.

We also hit up the Fall Home Show as a family, including Grandpa Steve and Grandma Debi.  We're so thrilled that Grandpa Steve is now in Fargo full-time!

Nora and Ava at the Buffalo River Pumpkin Patch.

The 1st weekend of October, I took a weekend trip down to Minneapolis to spend with the gals and run the Twin Cities 10 Mile.  It was a chilly but beautiful run!  Michelle broke all sorts of records, and I just finished without walking.  Yes!

We took an afternoon family road trip to Maplewood State Park to see the fall colors.

And finally, we experienced another bountiful harvest - in our backyard.  This is the 2nd year that our precious tiny honeycrisp apple tree produced fruit.

What a great fall!

The race is on

Gus and his friend, Ava, took part in the Roger Maris run for the 2nd year in a row.  They were bundled up and ready to go at 9:30a when the race started.  It was chilly start, 50 degrees.  They sprinted their 1/4 mile lap around Scheels arena and then were ready for a hot cocoa at Starbucks.

Congrats, kids!

And right back into preschool we go

Gus finished up preschool with Mrs. Julie at Small Wonders this past May, so we decided to keep it going without taking a year off, and enrolled Nora in the 2-day program.

She was most excited about her new backpack.

Can't wait to see her in her first school program.

Kindergarten

Thursday, August 22 marked Gus's first day of Kindergarten.  He was ready to go!

Age: 5
Grade: K
School: Centennial Elementary
Teacher: Mrs. Linstaedt

He had no nerves, and I had no tears (I was surprised).

It helped that he walked in with his best buddy, Caleb, a 1st grader.  He showed Gus the ropes.

We were so proud of him! Go, Gus!

3 already?

Happy Birthday, Nora!  3 already.  She does or says something new everyday that makes us laugh. What a gal!

We were at Lake Sakakawea the week of her birthday and drove up to Minot on her actual birthday.  She awoke that morning to the gift of hand-picked flowers from her brother (not his idea), and of course cake for breakfast. 

Later that afternoon she partied with both of her great-grandma's (Ethel and Betty), then ran out of steam and crashed on the couch.  Ross did, too.

When we arrived back in Fargo, we stopped for a birthday pedicure.  She loved it.

And later, more treats plus a BFF necklace with her BF, Peyton.


To celebrate back in Fargo, we hosted a little backyard party the weekend after we returned from the lake.  Summertime birthdays are the best.

She woke up early the day after her party so she could try out all of her new treasures.

Her 3rd birthday has been the best so far.  Looking forward to many more fun summertime b-day parties with family and friends.  Thanks, everyone!

Our official 2013 family photo

My co-worker, who started her own photography business last year, snapped a few family shots of us when she was up in Fargo for the weekend.  She's in Minneapolis now so if you're looking for a great family photographer, give her a jingle. Thank you, Alyssa! http://lissadeephotography.com/

Gus looks adorable rocking his cast with confidence, doesn't he?