Letters to Santa!

Kelsey and Kaitlyn worked on letters to Santa this weekend. Monster High, iPads, Legos, Easy Bake Oven, Telescope, Microscope,....Santa may need some help from Nana and Grandma!

First Day Back to School for Kaitlyn and Trick-or-Treat Night!

As I walked Kaitlyn in to school this morning, I asked her how she broke her arm...She said that she jumped off of this sway fun and landed on her arm.  I guess she didn't notice that this piece of equipment has benches and is designed to be sat on and sway back and forth - sway fun!

 This was Kaitlyn's first day back to school after breaking her arm.  I was so worried about lunch and bathroom and coat and .....  but her teacher is wonderful and the nurse was so kind!  I knew she'd be taken care of at school.  Kelsey is now her backpack carrier and helps her get on the bus.  She had help at lunch from the staff and a good friend.  She did great and had plenty of energy left over for trick-or-treat that evening. 

 Bat Girl and Spider Girl!

 



Pumpkin Decorating!

 Kaitlyn and Kelsey picked out two small pumpkins for themselves and one big one for Bob! They all had a good time drawing faces and carving their jack-o-lanterns!

 

Kaitlyn's trip to the ER!

 Kaitlyn fell at school and broke both the bones in her forearm.  She fell on her belly and her arm.  Bob called me at work when he was on his way to the ER.   When I saw her, I still couldn't believe it and I still had hope that it wasn't broken!  Now, looking at the pictures, I see what a little noodle of an arm she had that afternoon!  Poor thing!  She was so amazingly brave and cooperative for everyone that worked with her.  The ER staff was incredibly kind and quick to help her. 

 She only cried when they put the IV in her arm.  She doesn't remember the doctors setting the bones and bandaging her up.  She woke up about 45 minutes later and had a popsicle.  When we left the ER that evening, she said "Now I know not to be afraid if I ever break my arm again"  She is completely amazing!  She slept very well that night and then off to pick out a cast in the morning. We were so lucky that the doctors did such a wonderful job setting the bones and no surgery was needed!

It's going to be alright!  6 weeks and she'll be back to monkey business again!  Kate the Great!

Autumnfest at Seven Springs!

 Kaitlyn was so happy to find out that she could ride the Alpine Slide by herself!  Kelsey was very sad to find out that she is now too tall to ride with an adult.  She had it all planned out that she would ride down the first time with Nana and then ride by herself.  She was really afraid to go down on her own.  Kaitlyn had no fear, just excitement!

 Kaitlyn was picked to participate in a card trick.  Too bad we haven't taught our kids cards yet - they weren't sure what he was talking about with the hearts, spades, etc...  Guess we better get to poker lessons soon!

 Yummy Autumnfest buffet and haunted houses back at the condo!  With a little help from the moms and grandmas!

Halloween Party Night!

 We had David and Ryan over for the weekend while Kirstin and Paul went to the Eagles versus Steelers Game in Pittsburgh.  Luckily, the YMCA had a great party night planned for Halloween!  Lots of giggling around the house...and chasing...then also a bit of screaming...then finally......sleep!

 They had crafts, dj, haunted house, and lots of food for everyone!  Ryan wanted to do every craft available.  Kaitlyn and Kelsey helped to make sure Ryan got to do all of the crafts.  Then Kelsey and David spent a lot of time dancing/chasing each other around.  They all wanted to see the haunted house room and were very impressed by the mind reader's ability to read David's mind!  It was pretty fun, until it wasn't fun and I realized Ryan was crying.  He is only 4 but he really tries to keep up...he got scared at the Frankenstein actress in the Haunted house room and we all agreed to get out of there for him!



Valewood Farms

 They had "Angry Gourds" shooting at Valewood Farms this year.  Kaitlyn needed some help slinging the gourds at the target.  Kelsey did it all on her own - so quickly that I missed the picture!

 Cute Picture Poses in the pumpkin patch!

Apple Dumplings!

We had David and Ryan over for a visit on Sunday afternoon and decided to make apple dumplings.  David was very particular about matching up his corners and making his look good.  Kelsey was a lot like David and then added a dough "K" to be sure to find her dumpling again.  Kaitlyn and Ryan just dug in and enjoyed playing with the dough and cinnamon!

Homemade Fun

 The girls wanted to make play dough this weekend.  So, we found an easy recipe and made four colors of play doh.  It was a fun afternoon.  We learned later that home made play doh only lasts for about a week if you leave it at room temperature.  I brought it back out in a week to decorate a pumpkin for fun with some neighbors and everyone ended up heading home covered in sticky globs of doh - oops!  Lesson learned - play fast with this stuff!

Happy Birthday to Pappy Dave!

Happy Birthday Pappy Dave - Lots of love!