IDEA Project

I was super excited to volunteer at Kaitlyn's school last week. The IDEA project folks (interactive disability education awareness) were at her school. This program is a week-long learning event and starts off with a 40-minute, grade level-based assembly during which students discuss different abilities. They also participate in interactive group activities, and watch a short video. Lastly they cycle through activity stations that simulate different types of disabilities.

I was lucky enough to work on one of the activity stations that the kids cycled through. I led groups of 2nd graders, 4th graders, and 5th graders (Kaitlyn's class!). It was so fun to be at the school and be able to be a part of this. It's a really well done program and resonated with all the kids - they love it and learn a lot every year.  So thankful that I got the opportunity to be part of this (and that Kaitlyn still loves having me at her school!).

This was the activity station I was asked to run

Kids were asked to say out loud, each of the lines as
quickly as they could. They soon found that it wasn't an easy task
and that the brain can sometimes make things challenging for us. 

This second activity was really hard and made the kids think
a lot about how hard it is for someone who has a learning disability or
processing challenge. On this one, the kids were asked to say the color
of the word out loud, not the word...they really had to stop and think and
many times they still said the wrong color! Try it - it's hard!

Veteran's Day - Honoring Papa Dirt

Kaitlyn's school put on a Veteran's Day assembly last Friday. All 5th grade families and all veterans were invited. Kaitlyn was thrilled that Papa Dirt and Grammy Jill were able to make it up! Kaitlyn performed with her class, singing several different patriotic songs. And she now knows the songs for all the branches of the military.

Mr Aaby and Mr Lange's classes performing for the assembly

Papa Dirt giving some details about his service time
and super cool, giving a shout out to Kaitlyn!

Life Changes

The last weekend in October had us heading down for a quick trip to Northern California. We hopped on a plane Saturday morning and came back Sunday afternoon. Why, you ask? Well because we surprised Kaitlyn and got tickets to the Thomas Rhett concert. It was one of the closest places he came to us with his 'Life Changes' tour. Now Kaitlyn can officially say she's seen three musicians that were her absolute top requests...Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, and Thomas Rhett!

It was SUPER fun! So happy we all got to go. Our hotel, a Kimpton property, was in a great location and we could simply walk right across to the arena. There were fun stores around and we got to hit up The Yardhouse for dinner before the concert. A fun and memorable weekend!

No surprise - first stop out of the airport
 was at In and Out!

Our hotel was in a really cool area. This lawn
area had all life sized games - connect four,
checkers, corn hole, etc. 

Ready for the concert!!

Here we come!

Next morning we headed to old Sacramento and Steamers cafe

Under the Wire!

On Monday, Kaitlyn and I spent the afternoon decorating and carving all the pumpkins from Papa Dirt. Not sure how Halloween snuck up on us but we knew we needed to get the pumpkin patch on our front porch all set for the special night. Turned out fabulous!

All Treats

After nine fun years of celebrating Halloween at the Mosers, we broke tradition this year. Although we missed seeing Emily and Luke in their costumes and hanging with family, Kaitlyn was really excited to trick-or-treat in our neighborhood with her friends. It was a little misty and not super warm but the girls lasted for two hours and ended up with way too much candy! I was especially shocked by how many houses gave out full size candy bars - wowza! 

Thank you to Grammy Jill and Papa Dirt for heading up to see us and enjoying dinner together. It got a bit chaotic when KP's friends arrived for trick-or-treating so I didn't get a great picture of her in her costume (a ghost). Nonetheless, she had a blast so that's all that matters. 

Kennedy, Addie, and Kaitlyn excited 

to start trick-or-treating!

Addie's little brother, Zander, came with us for a bit.
He wouldn't hold anyone's hand but Kaitlyns.
SO cute!!

End of the night - 'oh shoot, I haven't
gotten a picture of KP in her costume yet'
which by this point was tangled and hood was off

Let the sorting and trading begin!

Pretty happy with her stash!