The weekend was busy for the girls. Both had fun fall parties to attend on Saturday. To start out the weekend, Shelby went to the Haunted Trail with her friend Quentin. Normal Parks N Rec puts on this annual event on the Recreation Trail. The first weekend they have a kids version. We were out of town. I got a text from Quentin's mom (Sarah also) seeing if Shelby wanted to join them for the "scarier version". I kept telling her she didn't have to go just to see him, they could get together another time. She said she would talk to Quentin at school and get his opinion. She decided she would go. It wasn't long and I got a text from Sarah saying Shelby wasn't scared at all and she was laughing going down the trail. They got their faces painted at the end. It was fun for her because the trail ended where she had theater practices all summer. The face painting was done there as well. To top off an already great night, they went to eat at her favorite- Cracker Barrel!
Saturday, Shelby had a Fall Party at a park with her Sunday School class. When I went to pick her up, she went home with her friend Ella to play for a couple hours. (No pics from this party).
Morgan was so excited for her first party as a Kindergartner! Her friend and classmate Kate invited her to her house for a small fall party. I lost track of how many times she asked me if it was time to go. And the party didn't start until 3:00! She had a lot of fun. She keeps talking about bobbing for apples.
Kate
Morgan and her mask she made at the party
She told me she looked like a Musketeer! :)
We all went to pick Morgan up from the party and headed to buy a pumpkin to carve. Papa's crop didn't produce a large enough pumpkin to do that this year. That will be the topic of the next post.
Fun times. If we only knew what was to come we truly would have enjoyed ourselves to the max! Who knew the flu bug was just waiting to attack less than 12 hours later?!? Yuck!
Thankfully Shelby's teacher moved her class party time up an hour so they wouldn't lose their technology time in the library. That was perfect for me so I could help in each class instead of going back and forth. And since their classrooms are on opposite ends of the school, I'd waste a lot of time just going from 1 class to the other.
We headed home and got some homework done before round 2 of costumes, face paint & hair braids. 
Our first stop was at Jenn and Seth's new house in El Paso. It was fun to see the new place. And last year there was no Truett at Halloween. Morgan loved messing with him and all his stuff.
Last stop was Mark & Pam's. More fun there. A few years ago we enjoyed sitting around their beautiful backyard fire pit with them and Ray & Karen. I think the 1st year we visited, Shelby enjoyed looking at all of Jordan's books from when he was a kid. She really liked his favorite "Little Witch's Big Night"so Pam got her her own copy. She dated the book, 2007. It is still 1 of her favorites to read with her dad. Pam continues the tradition and always get them books to go with the candy. Mark retired as an ISU Communications Professor last year. On top of still teaching 1 class at ISU, Mark volunteers his time to read with students at the girls' school. It is fun for them to see him around there.
We took this picture outside in the dark and rain drizzle. I couldn't see until later that it's not perfect but it works.
Jenn was our babysitter when I worked. Seth played baseball for Nate in his first years of coaching in Gridley. We reconnected with Seth the summer Shelby was a baby. We have known Ray & Karen and Mark & Pam for a long time. Their sons played baseball at Parkside Jr. High, Normal West HS and summer collegiate ball for Nate. They are great friends and people for us to know in this community when we have no family living close by. Thanks to all of them for letting us celebrate a day early. We had fun, as usual!
Officially ready for the big night!
Nonny Martha made it home from the hospital. We got to visit a little more with her before heading home. Another fun weekend. Although Morgan will not be able to be a farm girl. That corn dust and her asthma just don't get along!
Papa Jay is building a reading room on top of an old silo for Nonny. We went over to check his progress. The stairs are the old cat walk from the college. I may have used the thing once in college but even 15-20 years ago that thing was already a little rickety! 
Saturday, Shelby had a Fall Party at a park with her Sunday School class. When I went to pick her up, she went home with her friend Ella to play for a couple hours. (No pics from this party).
We all went to pick Morgan up from the party and headed to buy a pumpkin to carve. Papa's crop didn't produce a large enough pumpkin to do that this year. That will be the topic of the next post.
A fun weekend with cousins and perfect weather. Happy Fall!
