Celebrate Safe Communities

We took over planning a block party for the residents on our street this year. It's normally been hosted by a woman in her 70s who is recently widowed. We still held it in her front yard, or rather, in her garage and on her front porch because of rain. But Josh and I made up fliers and handed them out, and we purchased hot dogs and brats and grilled them for the party. Neighbors brought side dishes and desserts. It's always a great night.

The police always stop by to visit, and the kids got goody bags with coloring books, stickers, crayons, erasers, pencils, and suckers. We also got a visit from our city councilman for our ward. The fire department usually stops by with a truck, too, but rumor had it they were busy with calls because of the rain, so we didn't see them this year.

Just Us

Both girls engrossed in something on the telly.

Pack and Plays: They're not just for babies.

A little bedtime reading with daddy.

Little Sick Girl

Megan has had what we're pretty sure is the flu for the past several days. She ran a fever of around 100-101 for three days straight and has yet to recover her voice. She mostly speaks in a whisper. She's also exhausted. Even yesterday, her first fever-free day, she got in trouble about something and we sent her to her room. I found her there ten minutes later fast asleep in her bed ... and she slept for 13 hours straight the previous night. The girl is wiped out but hopefully on the mend. This photo is from Friday, when I kept her home from preschool and she camped out on the couch with Popsicles, her water bottle, and cartoons.

I should add that, through it all, Abigail has been completely healthy. I pray she remains that way, because we would all be miserable if she were sick, hoarse, and feverish for days like Megan has been. I credit Abby's good health to the fact that I nurse her and pass on antibodies that way. Just another benefit of nursing. 

Another festival weekend

Josh and the girls and I headed to a festival this evening at a church a few of our friends and neighbors - and Megan's preschool teacher - attend. Megan got her fill of inflatable slides and bounce houses. A local Mexican restaurant had a food booth there, so we enjoyed steak tacos and steak nachos for dinner, and we shared a funnel cake (Megan's first) for dessert.

Harvest Festival

Our community has a parade and fall festival each year, and Megan's preschool always has a float in the parade. Here's Megan with her teacher and a few friends before the parade started.

The parade kicks off! Megan's float is turning the corner out of the parking lot.

The kids threw candy to the crowd along the parade route.

Abby and I walked along behind the float.

Afterward, Megan declared, "That was awesome!"

The parade ended at a park where the harvest festival was set up. Megan enjoyed several inflatable slides and obstacle courses.

There was also a free petting zoo. Here's Megan petting a bunny.

A tortoise!

Abby was afraid of this camel. She cried. She also does not like noisy goats.

Sparky the Fire Dog. Megan is slowly getting over her fear of costumed characters.

Blue raspberry shaved ice, and a blue mouth!

We finished the day with a free pony ride.

New Preschool Year

Megan started the new preschool year last week. Here she is ready to head off to her first day. 

Grandpa Bill and Grandma Cathy brought dinner over last week and spent some time with the girls.

Faust Park

Abigail loves this stuffed Bear in the Big Blue House toy. She loves any large stuffed animal really. Josh theorizes this is because big stuffed animals remind her of the cat. She crawls and climbs all over Bear, drags him around the house, buries her face in his fur, and generally has a lot of fun.

Abigail looking pretty in the stroller at the Butterfly House at Faust Park. We met friends there today.

Megan up close with a butterfly.

Abigail tried on a fancy headband at the Butterfly House gift shop. She mostly wanted to pull it off.

The park gardens were beautiful, and it was so nice to see thriving flowers after our summer-long drought.

Riding the carousel at the park.