Pumpkin carving and seed harvesting commences after nap
Ella peers in for a good look inside
Dad showing Desmond his classic/signature/one-trick-pony carving technique
Desmond practicing his knife skills
Mom starts sketching Ella’s request for “cat” and “baby”
Serious kudos to mom’s creativity and execution for the improvised “baby cat” pumpkin
These two little pumpkins with their pumpkins
After pa’s retirement breakfast, the kids are over the moon with their balloons
Exploring the terrain outside of the Joslyn
Desmond’s portraits lean more abstract than purely technical
These digital art easels are really engaging, especially with the virtual viscosity of the paint, where you can manipulate and smudge around globs of paint
More “stop(ped working)” than “stop motion,” mom takes a single snapshot
Magnetic doll activity Ella seemed to enjoy (and spark a Christmas gift idea- though a magnetic woman with various career uniforms)
Des saw some train tracks and got to work straight away
The many expressions of Eleanor- all attitude and silly goose
Got to position the new cat friend just right…
Ok, perfect
About sums it up- Des and mom look at the video installation, Ella goofing around towards brother
Stop #2 at family friend Bill Hoover’s gallery open house. These two do a surprisingly good job of avoiding touching any work, though snacks help
Des modeling all the Halloween rings from yesterday’s grab bag
Slime!
Heading to the zoo in costume for Spooktacular has been a fun family tradition, ever since Des’ first trip to the zoo.
Not sure why Des posed with the whistle, was he going for “here dinosaur, dinosaur!?”
The cousin squad in full regalia
Snuggling with grandma
Unlike her brother’s trepidation at this age of all non-human characters, Eleanor was all about the new faces. Also clearly long past her issues with stranger danger, she has absolutely no problem giving a stormtrooper a high-five
Negotiating holding a hand, holding her bucket and having a spare hand to grab candy was an ongoing challenge
The key to Spooktacular is to go right on time and start with the trick-or-treating
Of course you’ve got to stop for the various entertainment along the way (drum line)
Ella was also enamored by large costumes, like this high school mascot
Buckets full of candy, it’s time to enjoy the zoo in reverse- the desert basement is lit and the jungle is dark.
Up close and personal with one of the bats
Des nervously checks his gear after entering a massive bubble pit
Dinosaur Scientist at the Disco
Des and Cal fraternizing with the dark side of force
Eleanor has apparently been sufficiently immersed in Star Wars recently that she felt so compelled as to run up to Darth Vader and give him a hug. For weeks following, she would tell anyone that would listen, “I hug Darth Vader!”
And then there was this for months to come-
Dad: “So what did you dream about last night, Eleanor?”
Eleanor: “I dream about Darth Vader!”
Mom and dad are only mildly worried, though think now she’s playing everyone for the response 🙂
The elusive Ellasaurus and the Dinosaur Scientist (yes he knows what a paleontologist is, but he prefers his alternate title), ready for another year’s Halloween parade
The cutest little pink-chucks-wearing dinosaur you ever did see
Parading
Ma’s handmade costume has a quality last appearance
What started as a joint venture slowly turned into a one-man con job on dad to complete a puzzle for Des’ viewing entertainment
Oasis Hummus – Good to the very last lick
“Can we do bath drops tonight, dad?”
Des and Ella learning that flying kites inside is big trouble
This year’s pieces for the original artwork gifts
Eleanor just doing her own thing, with a stack of reading materials
Des test-fitting the accessories for his upcoming “Dinosaur Scientist” costume
Ella doing her thing of nuzzling her head under dad’s chin. She’s starting to reach maximum clearance, but she’s a bit too persistent to listen/care
Foraging in the front yard
Ella playing “leaf pile” with the neighbors, laughing all the way
Eleanor picking a reading book while Des is getting out of the tub, seems like it’s been a lot of Daniel Tiger recently…
Not sure what to make of ma and pa’s skeleton decoration
Building the birthday Millennium Falcon
Piloted by the coolest Chewbacca minifig ever
Go strap yourself in, Des is going to make the jump to light speed
Eleanor proudly showing off her artwork
Poke bowls!
There had been big talk and practice for Desmond’s first camping trip, but unfortunately mother nature wasn’t quite cooperating for a the perfect fall overnight (rain, low temps). Dad had taken the day off to chaperone Des’ class trip day to the very same pumpkin patch as Monday, so he floated the idea of having a special adventure- going out to the lake, canoeing, picnic, hiking. Des’s decision was instant, and turns out, it was the perfect fall day for a lake adventure.
Dad has been canoeing a lot in his life, including the merit badge for which he tipped a canoe over on purpose, flooded it, then emptied the water from it while treading water. But Des sitting ready mid-hull gave dad pause, much like that first time driving your first born home from the hospital and fear reassesses one’s driving skills. Instinct kicked in quickly though and the first father/son canoe shoved off.
What do you do after the newness of paddling in the middle of a lake wears off? Go scout the coast for wildlife. “Ahoy captain, there be turtles!”
It was also quite windy- the canoe was facing north when dad had pulled the paddle out of the water and due west in this picture.
Arrowhead Lake is about 25 minutes east of Council Bluffs and the first spot dad camped with grandpa, just beyond the right side of the photo-
There will be other days for learning camp cooking, this was a picnic for maximum fun and yumminess
When dad had returned from packing the car, Des was just chilling in his chair, watching the geese
He’s clearly ready to go hiking
Scoping a few good spots for the (hopefully) nice camping trip in the spring
Starting what ended up being a fairly long trek
Critter stop, as you do
Des surveying the campsite dad and his friends usually select
Another caterpillar! He was pretty excited to see so many furry friends
Have to have a good hiking stick
Photo credit: Desmond, via the remote
Dad pointing out where he first camped
A core memory for sure.
“Sure Des, you can walk down and throw stuff in the lake.” This could have ended poorly, but didn’t.
Dad: While I felt in denial of this adventurous boy turning four (mourning or whatnot the bumbling toddler days clearly past), today’s new experience left me so giddy for the future. Though the perfect fall weekend for his first night camping wasn’t in the forecast this year, it was the perfect fall day for a lake, canoe (!), picnic, hike and nature exploration. My soul is finally at peace with our Desi turning four- and all the new days, treks and conversations it will bring.
He was out before completing the first mile on the interstate
Ella continuing her joy/fear relationship with the car wash, this time with preemptive hand-holding that began before even entering
“Hey sister, try to bounce on this balloon and pop it!” It ended just as you would expect.
