Winter Break

Christmas may be over (and we took our decorations down in record time), but we can still wear the Santa hat.

On Winter Break, Noah did the nature center's winter camp again and I took Charlotte and Noah to one of their drop-in programs one day too. Wyatt was off with Grandma and Papa on a special overnight.

Everyone really loves the nature center's guinea pig.

One night over winter break, I took Noah to a Harry Potter event (his first!). I finally had the kids watch the first HP movie so they (and especially Noah) knew what it was all about. They all really liked it. It was an event hosted by the wildlife rescue center, so it was centered on the animals and animal spells of Hogwarts. It was a fun night and our HP loving friends also came.

Noah was so brave and actually enjoyed holding this beetle. I am forever scarred by those bugs from The Mummy movie, so no thanks.

Professor Snape had the most most enjoyable class. These weren't actors, but animal rescue staff, and he did a really fantastic job staying in character.

Fleur Delacour gave us an owl lesson.

We also met Bellatrix Lestrange

And Nymphadora Tonks brought out a few snakes for us say hello to

Finally, we met this fun gnome whom I'm guessing is a part of the Magical Creatures movie that we haven't seen yet.

On Saturday night, we all went out to see the Spiderverse movie.

And on the last day of winter break, we watched the Bears in a heartbreaking game

We found a way to amuse ourselves despite the loss

Octoberings

One day, we made homemade scarecrows at the nature center. We used Noah's old clothes since they fit best. Noah drew his own face (see center scarecrow).

We spent a few evenings at the library for their Jammie Jams program. Curious George Night:

Halloween Costume Night, wearing alternate costumes out of our costume bin

I signed Noah up for a flag football instructional class because I knew doing the league was a little too much for him. He seemed to enjoy it even if his flag was always captured right away. We need to work on his running speed.

Noah had a lot of fun at his Tiger Scout activities such as the night at Haunted Trails, doing his popcorn fundraiser (which he was awesome at), and the Pack Night where the mayor sat in front of him and blocked his view.

Then there's this goof

 It was still warm enough in late October for a trip to the park in short sleeves

 

And since it was so warm, we had to get ice cream of course

I took each of the boys on a special date. Noah and I went to see a Disney show

And Wyatt and I met all the pups from Paw Patrol

We had to meet Rocky first, of course. He's Wyatt's favorite.

Chase

Marshall

Zuma

Rubble

Everest

And Skye

We went to Olive Garden for my birthday. We had our own private room with what Wyatt decided was a climbing wall

Wyatt and Charlotte really enjoyed the cupcakes I made for my birthday

Toward the end of October we went on a Haunted Walk similar to the one we went on last year. They took us through the woods by lantern and actors performed a story about Bigfoot. Needless to say, Wyatt has been obsessed with Bigfoot ever since.