Preschool Party

Today Jadon's preschool class had a Halloween Party.  All the kids dressed up and paraded around the YWCA.  They trick-or-treated in a couple offices and then went to the gym to play games.  Afterwards they went back to their classroom for a snack.  It was all very adorable.

Boo at the Zoo

On Sunday we met up with Brant, Amie, Kylie, and Dylan at the Niabi Zoo for their Boo at the Zoo event.  The kids wore their costumes, saw animals, explored some fire trucks, and trick-or-treated at booths set up around the park.  Jadon got a kick out of the big fox.  Another highlight was this little monkey that came right up to us and sat on the window sill.  I also saw my friend Wendy there with her kids.  We would've visited longer, but it was getting very cold and windy! 

Halloween Party at the YMCA

We took Jadon and Leah to the Y on Saturday for their annual Halloween Party.  Jadon enjoyed playing the games and running around with his friend Brecken.  Leah didn't care for her costume since it inhibited her new skills, crawling and standing up.  She had fun at the Y watching all the commotion, though.  I included some pictures from home.  We are still in awe at how Leah gets around for being 8 months old!

Leah Crawling

Weekend in Gurnee

We spent the weekend in Chicago.  My brother Jeff recently moved his business, Pins Productions, out of his house and into a Chicago office.  Brian spent Sat. and Sun. helping him install a ceiling.  Meanwhile, the kids and I hung out with my parents in Gurnee.  They bought a new train set for the grandkids and Jadon was the first to use it.  He had so much fun playing with the trains and all the other toys downstairs. Leah has started crawling and trying to pull herself up on things.  This weekend she also moved beyond cooing into babbling.  She showed off all her new skills for Grandma and Grandpa and we were all quite entertained.  We can't wait to go back at Thanksgiving!      

Apple Picking

We spent a little longer in the actual orchard this year.  Instead of picking a bag of apples, Jadon and I just ate a couple.  Dylan enjoyed an apple, too.  We walked through the pumpkin patch and took a hayrack ride.    

Tanners 2

This was our second trip to Tanner's Apple Orchard for the season.  This time we went with Deb, Brant, Amie, Kylie, and Dylan. We really enjoy this family tradition.

Pumpkin Dash

This weekend was full of fun fall activities. On Saturday morning we went with Deb to the Pumpkin Dash here in Sterling.  It's primarily a race where kids run in heats according to age and get a pumpkin and goody bag. For the second year in a row Jadon had to be carried to the finish line. We'll get 'em next year Jadon!  He had fun otherwise.  He rode a barrel ride and played in a bouncy house.  He and Leah both enjoyed the petting zoo.  Later that evening, Larry and Cindy came for a visit.  After dinner we took them down to our new pedestrian bridge in town.  It opened a couple weeks ago and I've been running across it with the jogging stroller.  It goes over to Rock Falls and hooks up with the path along the Hennepin canal.     

Selmi's Farm

Today I went with Jadon on his very first field trip. We went to Selmi's farm with his teacher, Ms. Kim, and the 5 other kids in his class. He played on the outdoor toys, fed the farm animals, took a hayride through the fields to see where the crops grow, walked through a corn maze, and picked out his own pumpkin. I really enjoyed sharing this special day with my Jadonboy.