Fall Break in Minnesota

Fall break hit in the middle of October, and we decided to try our luck flying standby to Minnesota.  Emmaline is walking, and we needed to see this in person.  After missing the first Salt Lake flight and the first Minneapolis flight, we got into Rochester in time to see Emmy for a short time before going to bed.  

She checked us out pretty carefully, but warmed up quickly.  

(We came bearing birthday gifts.  That helps break the ice.)

Emmy loved these hand-sized stuffed animals we brought.  

The whole time we were there, she worked on carrying all four of them at the same time.

She soon learned that carrying one in the mouth was easier than two in each hand.  

She didn't like the books we brought as much as the barn animals, but she was gracious enough to pause once in a while and listen for a moment.

 Grandpa was ready to sit and adoringly gaze at his granddaughter.

One of the few times we saw Emmy when she was not standing upright.

We visited the Oxbow Zoo, a cute little zoo with animals that were native to Minnesota.  Did you know porcupines mutter to themselves?  They sounded a lot like the jibber-jabbering sounds Emmy makes as she walks around!

 Emmy was ready to get down and hit the road running.

 

We're holding her back.

 

 

 Enough of this picture taking.  She's off and running.

 

Emmy loved walking on the boardwalk.  She looked at the animals, but mostly looked at children--and followed them if they were laughing or looked like they were having fun.

 

The turkeys were a favorite.  They looked so big compared to Emmy!

 Saturday morning Emmy, Alan, and I went for a walk in the IBM park.  

Emmy wore her BYU hat to show her spirit for the BYU game later in the day.

We got everyone BYU shirts.  Emmy's will probably fit when she starts kindergarten.

Emmy decided to practice driving her formerly-scary walking toy.
She parallel parked, angle parked, and did some serious ramming into the toy chest.
If the toy won't move--push it harder.

She didn't sit on our laps very often, but we grabbed the camera when she did.

 Okay, I guess we got to hold her a few times.

Fun times in Minnesota!  It was so fun to see Nathan and Briana.  They are wonderful hosts and we love them so much.  As usual, Briana fixed delicious food, lovingly prepared.
Emmy--kisses and hugs for you.

Halloween Party for Four

Camden and Maris spent a weekend with us, so we decided to have a four-person Halloween Party.
We started by seeing Maris' gruesome dance recital where she was a "darling Chucky."

We walked through the fun festival at Benson Gristmill where Maris performed, and then headed home.

 

  After we transformed Maris from a redhead to a blonde, we started our Halloween festivities.  Maris put on her favorite costume from Alicia's assortment of dance costumes, and Camden choose to be a leprechaun.

We played an eyeball relay but unfortunately,Camden felt like Maris was cheating, so he dropped out.  

He did not choose to participate in becoming a mummy.

 

 

Maris went trick or treating to each bedroom door and had a great time, but Camden was still unhappy.  Finally, using my school teacher voice with my grandchildren for the first time, I said there would be no one calling anyone a cheater, and we started the party over.  Grandpa was very wise, telling them there would be a boy winner and a girl winner in the eyeball race.   Things worked out much better after that. :)

  Camden, the mummy.

Treat or treating (bedroom) door to door.

 

 

 Finally, we made incredibly gooey, highly decorated ghosts and pumpkins.
Happy Halloween!