Halloween Tricks and Treats!

Some of the same Halloween traditions, but in a different setting. We carved pumpkins and with Aunt P's help we decorated the lake. Then went with Star Wars-themed costumes.

Instead of trick-or-treating we went to the Hansen's house in Atchison for some Halloween tricks and treats, including hay rides, a pinata, and the favorite for these city boys, feeding a baby calf and calling in the cows. There were also some virtual Halloween get togethers at school too, for another weird holiday in an upended year.

 

First Snow

 The boys were so excited to have our first snow on October 26. We got snow pants and winter clothes just in time for the boys to go out and enjoy!  Today, the internet at our "office" stopped working and our babysitter told us she had been exposed to COVID (though it was after we had seen her, so it didn't affect us). It seemed like all signs were pointing to us leaving the lake for the Independence house. 

Fishing Obsession

As teh days got a little cooler the boys started becoming obsessed with fishing. That and they started watching a YouTube show called Catfish and Carp. They would jump up at 7AM and already want to run down to the lake.  Then they started acquiring more gear, a minnow trap, more poles, a tackle box with all of the needed accoutrements. And the fish followed.  

The biggest catch were 2 cat fish, each around 7 pounds, which Foster insisted on cleaning the second one with Uncle Allen's help. The first big catch was a catch fish on the trout line, which Foster found right before he had to get online for school.

Then bas and crappy and lots and lots of blue gills followed.

Throwback to when Mom caught her first cat fish!

 

Kai's First Time Riding His Bike

 Kai was a rockstar on his balance bike and even got a new big kid bike for his 5th birthday--but he still hadn't lost the training wheels. And this fall we decided it was time. He had the skills, but needed to just try it out and Grandma and Grandpa's cul-de-sac was the perfect place.  It didn't take much time before he was cruisin' around.

Dinner on the Pontoon Boat--Happy Grandparents Day

 One of Grandpa's many stories is how Whitney and Mom made an anniversary dinner for him and Grandpa on the pontoon boat. As a thank you for all they have done for us and on what happened to be Grandparents Day, we treated them to a floating dinner, from appetizers to dessert, a good memory.

First day of School 2020!

It goes without saying that this new school year is nothing like we've ever seen. Computer screens swapped for new backpacks and shoes. But the silver lining has been that we're still at the lake and Grandma is an amazing teacher. We are so appreciative of all of Grandma's materials from her teacher days, lots of books and even a desk for Kai. After the school day is over, the boys are still fishing away or swimming and boat riding. There are so many different bugs to catch and identify and phenomena such as fog rolling in over the lake in the morning, or watching a school of over a hundred fish swimming about. 

Our escape to the Lake is continuing much longer than we had planned, but grateful to be living in this bubble away from the realities of the world. Although we've missed seeing our friends and teachers in person, we're making the most of this crazy world and feeling lucky to be attending Lake Lotawana school, with a beautiful view.

Digging for worms

Morning class and breakfast--Kai's morning meeting was at 7:30, hard to wake up, but Cheerios and Nemos make it better.

Taking advantage of the last few times of swimming.