Fearfully and Wonderfully: Fall Fun

The fall has been full of fun things, both at school and around where we live. I am very thankful that we live somewhere that there is actually "fall," where the leaves change and the weather is cool but not cold. As of this week it already feels like winter unfortunately, but we enjoyed lots of fall themed things over the past months.

Gabriel's class took a trip to a sunflower farm. Corban and I came along as well. I love that Corban can come along and be a part of things too. Most Tuesdays we go and help with lunch in Gabriel's classroom and then stay for recess right after. When we got there this week one of the other kids hugged Corban and when we were playing "hangman" during lunch another wanted the hidden word to be Corban's name. Corban is excited to start Kindergarten at "Gabriel's school" next year.

I am so thankful for Gabriel's teacher. Much like his teacher last year, she is patient and even tempered. Gabriel had a hard time one day last week and she called to let me know that she was praying for him and wanted to know what she could do to help.

Gabriel still loves school and his friends there. One thing that he has said many times that makes him nervous is the school spelling bee in the spring. They had a practice one in the class one day and I think that contributed to him being very nervous and emotional. We have told him that he doesn't have to do it if it makes him too scared. Other than that he thinks that math and reading are fun and really looks forward to STEM every week.

Gabriel spent a good part of October coughing. I had pneumonia and then both boys got colds. Gabriel continued to cough and cough, mostly at night, and it started sounding pretty bad. After three weeks of coughing we went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with bronchitis and pneumonia. Thankfully an antibiotic finally gave him some relief.

Field day happened in the middle of September and I had fun helping with that. I like volunteering for things that like because I get to spend time with Gabriel but I also get to get a better feel for the dynamics of the kids in his class.

"I look cute. Take my picture."

Hike with the youth group

Enjoying a game Corban got for his birthday

Corban loves the coin collection at Wal-Mart. He was having so much fun with it that
one day an elderly woman walked over and gave him more change to put in it.
Corban can be very still and observant. He loves "Look and Finds"
and the "Spot the Difference" activities in the Highlights magazines.

Corban is still occupied most days by being a cat, singing songs (some he makes up, some are from preschool and children's worship), narrating elaborate stories about what his Legos are doing, and just overall being silly. We've also started working on learning to read. A couple days ago we asked him before bed what he was thankful that God made. He said "kitties, puppies, and the pumpkin patch."

Another time recently Corban said "I can feel myself getting bigger every day" *(he then feels the air around him)* "Put your hand out Mommy. Can you feel it too?"

Corban had an ear infection in the middle of October. He didn't go to preschool for one day and he said "How come I never go to preschool anymore on these days?" He says "these days" a lot when referring to things. Speaking of his ear infection, Corban's biggest fear in life is having his ears cleaned out. He had a bad experience having them unclogged at the doctor about a year ago and he still gets very upset about it. His ears tend to make a lot of wax so this is sometimes a big issue. He at least lets me put drops in them now.

Another thing that I've noticed lately is that Corban may not be so sure about talking to kids his own age, but he has no problem striking up a conversation with any adult. In line at the dollar store today he was telling the cashier all about Batman. Then he was talking to the elderly lady behind us about Gabriel's upcoming birthday. The lady asked if he would come to her house and keep her company because she was enjoying talking to him so much.

Actual bars of soap from Grandma Cheryl.
Corban insists they are called "soap krudge."

Lynchburg Children's Museum

Breakfast date at Panera

Thornspring Farms Pumpkin Patch:

Scary little pumpkins

Gabriel made Halloween decorations for their room

Besides everyone being sick in October, we got rear ended on the way to Gabriel's appointment where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Everyone was fine, and besides the annoyance of having to get the car fixed everything was fine (I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful the other drivers insurance, the collision center, and the rental car company were). The boys thought the whole experience was fun. They got so excited when the police car arrived and the policeman talked to them for a long time while we were waiting on the other driver to find insurance information. They thought a rental van was pretty exciting too.

To round out October we also found out that Loki is in liver failure. She tried to bite a couple people (unprovoked) over the course of the month. I took her to the vet and they did some labs, showing crazy high pancreatic and liver numbers. She is on a medication now to help with encephalopathy. Her appetite and attitude seem to have improved some, but she has some days that I'm not so sure about. She spent quite a while one day recently growling at a bone, not sure what it was. Basically, she's confused. We have been told that once she starts getting worse it could be a quick decline, but she seems stable for now. At least we have been able to prepare the boys with the news that she is sick, and knowing what is going on has also made me more patient when she's acting strange or confused. She still likes to play and eats well so we'll do what we are doing for now.

Gabriel building "Bag End" in the Shire. He recently finished listening to
The Hobbit with Taylor and it's his new favorite thing to pretend.

Barnes and Noble storytime

Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Patch with the youth group:

School field trip with Daddy

We certainly took advantage of all of the Halloween activities around here. On Tuesday we went to a trunk-or-treat at Gabriel's school. On Thursday (Halloween -- it was pouring rain), we went to a trunk or treat at Corban's preschool and then to a local assisted living home. On Friday Corban had a party at school and we went trick-or-treating in downtown Blacksburg. On Saturday we went to a friend's house for a party. Gabriel wore his Bilbo costume to all of these things, but Corban was Optimus Prime, Darth Vader, Captain America, and Batman (all pulled from our home costume bin).

I for some reason I feel that this picture depicts each of their personalities well.

Gabriel wasn't sure about entering the town costume contest but Corban really wanted to do
it and they were in the same age category. When he didn't win he was kinda bummed.

Open gym at Virginia Techniques. Corban loves this trampoline.

Class party

Another very exciting thing is that our local Children's Museum opened again this past week. It has been closed since January for fundraising and a location change. I even went a few months ago with the director to the Christiansburg Town Council meeting to ask about funding. A few months before it closed last year the director asked us to come with some other families to play at the museum and do a photo shoot for promotional things. I took the boys, since a couple years ago Gabriel really liked doing this same thing and ended up having his picture on their fundraising cards. This time Corban took the magic picture. This picture was on their most recent email and is one of many hanging outside the new museum. I can see why they used it. He's pretending and learning at the same time. I did not consent to have MY picture used though.