Fall 2023

It's almost the end of the school year so maybe I should update things.  Here is collection of pictures from some of the fun things that happened in the fall

Gabriel's class went on a field trip to a local camp location.  They did team building
activities and scavenger hunts.  It was good to see them all learning to work together.

Gabriel jumped into Cub Scouts with Corban this year, so we had a Bear and a Webelo.  They took part in the yearly popcorn sale and made enough money to pay both of their scouting fees for the year.  Some leaders in the pack have had the great idea the past few years to sell popcorn in parking lots to people tailgating before VT football games.  They have no problem selling plenty.

Packing bags for Micah's backpack, a ministry that gives bags of 

food to kids for the weekend when they can't get school lunches.

Working his way through the obstacle course for the VT Corp of Cadets.  The members of the Corp that were there were so great about encouraging the Scouts.  Back in the right of the picture is Corban's Scout buddy, Reid.

For one of their belt loops, the Bear Den put together a fall carnival for the pack with games that they made.  They brought candy to give out to the kids who played their games.   Corban had a lot of fun making his ring toss.

Church drone picture

Corban is one dedicated and excited bingo player at school bingo nights.  

He won a gift card to Carol Lee, the local donut shop.

Gabriel and I were wandering the mall and he wanted to take a picture with the picture
 of Corban that is still hanging outside Wonder Universe (the children's museum).

This about sums up their relationship:

Gabriel's class led chapel one day close to the beginning of the year.  They did two skits, one of 

which had Gabriel as Moses.  He loved walking around with his staff sounding authoritative.

Corban and Evan at fictional character day

For Halloween Gabriel wanted to pull out his LOTR cloak, get a new sword to be "Sting" and a buy a pin of a leaf like the ones that hold together the cloaks in The Fellowship of the Ring.  Corban wanted to be a ninja and spend quite a while pouring over costume options.  We went to the trunk or treat at school, went trick-or-treating in downtown Blacksburg, and then finished off the night watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and handing out candy.  Corban really enjoyed giving out candy and seemed sad when it was time to call it a night.  We went to a pumpkin carving party at a friends house a few days prior and the boys did a great job finding templates and carving their pumpkins.  Corban wants to do a Ninja Turtle and Gabriel did Shredder.

Church Hike

Monthly Home Depot project (and yes, we bought that
snowman next to them. It dances and sings "Ice Ice Baby"

Corban is the master of pearler beads.  His first grade teacher, Mrs Wilson, used to let them make things with them when they had free time.  The beads usually come with templates or patterns.  Corban uses those every once in a while, but he mostly makes these creations from his own imagination and then I iron them and he pretends with them (he makes weapons and other gear to go with his characters).  He has Sonic, Ninja Turtles, Mario, and I'm sure other things on top of that.  His creativity with them impresses me.

Gabriel had a violin recital and played with Taylor and Mr. Matheson again.  How much he has improved this year amazes me.

Aela's mom (Ms. Tabi) is all about doing parties for Gabriel's class.  She said as long as they enjoy them she's just going to keep on doing them.  She always has creative games and everyone brings snacks to share.  Apparently their fall party involved some pumpkin smashing, after which they said "at our next party can we blow something up?"

We had a whole week filled with family planned for Thanksgiving, which didn't exactly go as planned.  On Tuesday Taylor got a stomach thing that we aren't sure was due to something viral or some questionable cole slaw that he ate.  Everyone waited an extra day to head to our place just in case, and as of Thanksgiving morning everyone was feeling fine.  We had a fun day of cooking, kids playing, and celebrating Stephanie and Gabriel's birthdays.  In the middle of the night on Friday (Gabriel's actual birthday) Gabriel woke up sick with whatever Taylor had on Tuesday, so everyone headed home.  Thanksgiving day itself was really nice though.

One of the family pictures from a session that I booked for the fall on the first night Gabriel was in the hospital back in May.  I have a former co-worker with a photography business on the side, and when I was awake that whole night in the hospital I saw her post some mini sessions and grabbed one.