Snow/Sleds/Canoes, Pumpkins

This past week we slipped a bit further into the fall. For the past two years, it seems that falls in North Dakota are short. The snow comes before we plan it to and the crisp days with leaves and harvest moons fleet away quick. 

We were notified on Wednesday night that Grady has been a close contact, which encouraged me to do a drive-thru testing with both kids. They've done this with us before. However, when we did it, it was only Matt and I that got tested. The other time we did a drive-through was for flu shots. I was concerned they'd think this testing was similar. I had a secret weapon with me. A bag of Doritos. Here's how this played out. I told them about said bag o'chips. We went through the drive-thru event and before it was our turn I told them after we were done, they'd share the chips. This may have been the smartest thing I've ever done. They didn't want the kids out of the car so they sat in the front seat with me for their test. E was nervous despite the techs convincing her to show them her tongue and stick out her chin. I told her she could hold the chips. Grady was the same and very reluctant to expose his throat. They attempted to coax him by encouraging a dinosaur rahr. I was able to secure the win with the threat that if he couldn't open his mouth, E would get all the chips. I've never seen that mouth open so quickly and so widely. The chips didn't last the drive home. The tests all came back negative a couple days later. 

The close contact forced him (and then also us) to quarantine him at home. Daycare was closed for a week and a half and we arranged our schedules. Matt was lucky enough for the city to provide some quarantine time, shifting a little more of the responsibility to him. The snow helped and hurt as it shut us in a bit because of the cold BUT on Saturday, we headed outside to burn a little energy. I convinced Matt to take down the sleds from the garage storage. Ains sat down immediately and E pulled her a bit. G ended up getting in one too. We went for a "walk"/pull around the loop. Luckily no one had shoved and there was enough to make it a great morning. They even pushed themselves down the outer loop side. This year may be interesting as they've figured it out. When we went to put the sleds away, Ains was MAD - she was perfectly content sitting and being pulled around the yard. 

Saturday night, we carved pumpkins. Each got their own pumpkins. Vern and Sue had given us a few and we carved them. It was a bit unorganized this year keeping everyone moving. G thought it was great. Ains just wanted to wash hers down and E was interested in doing what everyone else was. We did get it done and each picked out their own design - well, Ains went along with what Matt determined for her. 

 

 

We played it lowkey on Sunday. The kids have started playing "with" each other. I say that loosely because it seems there's always 2 vs 1. E and G decided to make a fort in the corner so they could play "mom and dad". The problem with this, besides the obvious, is that Ainsley was destructive to their "house" so they were sure to build with the main objective of blocking her out. Her size works against her in situations like this. We are, after all, not quite 20 pounds yet. 

EER see sleds - there are three total.
EER: What are we going to do with these canoes?
As we pull them on the sidewalk, she begins to sing to herself and ARR

EER: Canoeing, Canoeing, I love to go canoeing

Carving pumpkins
MJR: There all done, what do we think?
All three kids look at their pumpkins.
GRR: I want a face.
MJR: But you picked out a spider.
GRR: I want a face.
MJR: But you got a spider.
GRR: And now a face?
They stare at each other.
ALR: Doesn't your spider look amazing!