the Pumpkin Patch

It poured on the drive to the pumpkin patch.

It poured when we drove away.

God blessed us with 2 hours of calm, even a little bit of sun.

{Even Rhea's "friend" Ben joined us, a first for the family.}

This year we kept it low key.  Not the big Orting patch with the mobs of people.  This year we visited the patch at the bottom of 272nd, across from Smith Dairy.  Not too big of crowd or too much mud.  It even had a fun maze.

fun family memories....(although as you can see, JH was not a happy camper).

Fall Sports {part 2}

And it continues.

For another couple weeks.

Soccer...

And more soccer.

Good thing I'm such a fan....of the sport and my kids.

{is prepping}

For this....

Fall Sports {part 1}

As I may have mentioned, I love fall.
I love the cold crisp mornings.
I love the fog.
I love the shadows of the tree tops from the morning sunrise.
I love sunny days.
I love the color of the leaves and the leaves on the ground.
And I love fall sports.

Typically, soccer has been our fall focus.  They've all had a turn at soccer.  Sofia (going on her 8th year) and JH (going on his 5th) have continued the longest.  This is Lilia's first year.

Soccer wasn't for Alex.  Nor was baseball or tae kwon.  But this year, he thought he'd try football.

And....he's kinda liking it.  That's a "kinda".

I'm really proud of Alex.  He has pushed himself beyond his comfort zone.  He's running (this is the part he does not like), but he is doing it.  He struggles, but is proud too when he accomplishes the work.

Not only has this been good for his body, but just as important {I think} is that he is hanging with a good group of kids and making friendships that I hope will last.

The season goes another month.  I hope he gets some more playing time.  And then up next, wrestling....

October

I love the fall.
I love October.

We spent part of the day decorating for Halloween.

The kids complain that our house isn't scary.

But I like it.

Hey, they got a spider web.

With a big hairy black spider.

I'll work on the scary.