Pumpkin Festival

We met up with Grammaw, Gabriel, and Hannah at the Pumpkin Festival one day last month to pick out some pumpkins and have some fun.

First G helped pick out a pumpkin. He liked dragging the wheelbarrow around while we considered the pros and cons of a large number of pumpkins. We finally selected a nice one. (Which I think later became the minion pumpkin at Halloween.)

 

They also had a ton of things to do...bouncy houses and slides, petting zoo, cupcakes, balloon animals, and a photo booth. We all had a lot of fun!

How To: Make a Kid Happy

...and Give His Mother an Anxiety Attack

Gabriel BEGGED to eat outside at Sonic tonight. 

I am beyond uncomfortable. He is beyond happy. 

The things we do. 

Halloween 2015

Gabriel told me about a month ago that he wanted to be Ant Man for Halloween. I was dubious...but he was committed...so we got his costume, and he loved it. 

He loved trick or treating with our friends from the neighborhood, too...though they didn't do a great job of posing for this picture. 

Left to right:

Good Witch, Strawberry, (I forgot what she called this), Balloon Boy, Ant Man

We went door to door as a group while J stayed at our house to hand out candy. He was kept company by the pumpkins we carved earlier in the day. 

Minion:

Batman:

It was a really fun day!

Peace means...

Gabriel's definition of peace is really nice. 

"Put flowers on your knees" is the phrase they use to describe resting your hands on your knees with fingers pinched together toward the ceiling. 

"Bubble in your mouth" is how they tell the kids to hold air in their mouth and not let it out, a physical reminder not to talk. 

Johnny Appleseed

Gabriel's class recently learned about Johnny Appleseed. They each made a page about what they would plant.

Gabriel is a big fan of carbs. 

Two of my other favorites:

Smiles

Cheese

Chalk Walk 2015

On Saturday we went to the Chalk Walk Festival to check out the drawings, food trucks, performances, and vendors.

Gabriel got to try out the boxing gloves at the Title Boxing Club booth. The gloves were a little big for him, but he was a fan of sanctioned hitting.

Next we went to watch the dancers from Paint Horse do a traditional dance. We had started to walk away when they invited people to come join them for the last dance. Gabriel turned around and hopped on the stage faster than I could blink. When you gotta dance, you gotta dance!

Dad woke up with a pretty miserable allergy attack, so we did not end up staying very long. I had already mentioned getting snow cone, though...so after going home for a nap, I took G out to Kawaii Shaved Ice for a treat.



Kawaii is not far from the area downtown where the festival was happening, so he asked if we could go back over there. We rode the little train together, even though he is really old enough and big enough to do it by himself.

Then we bought a square of pavement to do our own chalk drawing.

I'm told the top part is a scary monster that poops candy. If you require further information, I must defer to the artist.

Always Planning Ahead

He packed for "our next trip." He put his suitcase and backpack near the door so they'd be ready. 

Don't know where we're going. Or when. But he's prepared. 

I need to check the snacks he packed; there may be fresh produce. That's not going to make it through customs.