Happy Thanksgiving

 Finally Brenna's time arrived to have her Thanksgiving Holiday Feast. The last time we were at it was with Matthew in Kindergarten and Brenna was only 2..She went and sat with him the whole time.  It is amazing that now it is her turn….she is growing up so much.

Nothing like some Niagara Falls Fireworks to kick off the Holiday Season 

Nanna Theresa with Matthew on Thanksgiving night at the Gipps house.

Thanksgiving Night - Snow flakes were so big and fat and the kids kept catching them in their mouths!

Dress-Up Time

This year we went to a Halloween Party and came up with this costume -- Struck By Lightning.  

This was as crafty as I get -- whipped up this awesome lightning in about an hour and then had fun destroying a shirt for Brett

Then a week later is was the kids turn..Matthew has "Harry"..Brenna as "Elsa" and Joshua as "An Army Guy".

 Funny thing is this army theme has been repeated for quite a few years but never grows old.  

Fall Catching Up

So what have we been up to this fall…lets see.

Another 1/2 marathon was run.  This year the weather was hot and a bit windy but still lots of fun.  To make it even better our great friend Brian ran his first 1/2. Huge thanks to Sara and the kids who showed up every few miles to cheer us on--loved it!!

We have played a ton of street football this fall.  Not sure why I have not bothered to take some pictures with daylight, but did capture some this evening.  Often there is a game taking place with or without the parents.  Yep, even I get in on the action.  I think 1st it was to prove to the boys that I can throw a spiral and then because it is just plain old fun.  Plus, I am the only mom out there so they better not complain!!

Brenna had her first field trip - to our local market - for apple picking.  

I have gone with all 3 kids on this field trip so it was a bit sad to do it the last time this year.

One sunny afternoon, with nothing else to do, I took Sophia and Brenna up to town to check out all the scarecrows.  They wanted pictures taken with each of them and it turned into such a fun afternoon, including a trip to the coffee shop and bakery for treats. No wonder they wanted to go with me.

For all those who have traveled to visit us through the years we have taken you all here.  A beautiful view across the mouth of the Niagara River from the Canadian side looking out towards Lake Ontario.  Fort Niagara is seen in the background.

This is a top favorite Sunday outing for us.  The kids run the shore of the river, we get coffee in town and walk the streets, try on hats in the hat stores and always make a stop at the chocolate shop unless its summer then its gelato.  

The great reliably fun Strong Children's Museum of Play.  

The kids have loved going here since they were so little.  Now that they are older, it is fun to find something new that they never noticed and fun to watch them remember all the times they have played with something before.  I love how every time we walk it they head right to the huge fish tanks before we start to explore. This year LEGOs is the theme.  Josh has the big red dragon that was featured as a big exhibit so he was thrilled to see it so large.  I loved the castles that they featured and the kids played forever with the interactive games.  

Finally, look how big they are now at the Lincoln Log House.  Growing Up - for sure!

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