Gabriel and Claire

October Cities Trip

We went back to the cities last week. While Daddy was finishing up his last week of real estate classes, we explored the Mall of America and went to the zoo. These first two pictures were taken when we were waiting for the cow milking demonstration. Claire said she was afraid of the milking machine so Gabe told her "I will protect you Claire"

They had an area up by the farm called Scarecrow Alley. Mom's favorite scarecrow was this octopus.

However, the kids like Spongebob Strawpants.

Since every time we went to Como this year it was too hot to sit on the turtle. Gabe took advantage of the opportunity to sit on this one in the tropics section of the zoo.

Eventually both kids were tired of walking so Gabe let Claire sit on his lap in the stroller. He didn't want his face in this picture.

The last day we were in Bloomington, we went to Nickelodeon Universe. Gabe got to ride his favorite ride.

Claire enjoyed watching him even though she would have ridden if she was big enough.

Giant Sponge Bob!

Claire is not so sure about the shrimp outside Bubba Gump.

Random Fall Fun

One night we made the kids their first cups of dirt for dessert. They loved it.

We bought a fire pit and spent a few evenings roasting hot dogs and making s'mores.

Claire is becoming quite the gymnast. We will have to get her into some classes when she gets a little bigger.

On another nice day, we went to Oxbow Park.

Banana cream pie is so good that Claire has to lick the crumbs off her plate.

Halloween

This year we let the kids pick out their own Halloween costumes. Gabe chose Ironman (pronounced I-Ron-Main by Gabe) because Daddy watched Ironman 2 with him shortly before Halloween. Claire chose Princess Belle because that's the only princess she knows the name of.

Claire was talking when this first picture was taken. She was asking to see the picture since she hadn't looked in a mirror yet.

We ended up not trick or treating much in our neighborhood. Instead we went to a few of the indoor locations that were allowing kids to trick or treat. At the mall, it was pretty busy so after just a few stores, Claire and Mom went back to JC Penney to wait for Daddy and Gabe to finish walking through the stores. Claire really enjoyed this decoration and wanted her picture taken with it.