Happy Birthday T. man!

Its Great to be Eight! Or so he says.

 We had a herd of wild friends over for a party. And the scavenger hunt was a success although it was snowing and really cold and a few of the party members ran too fast and got hurt. Boys!

 He was as happy as could be with his buddies around to celebrate with him. 

 Then 2 weeks later he was Baptized and Confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by his daddy. What an exciting happy day. He had been looking forward to it for the entire year of 2013!

Happy Boy with some of the family members that were able to attend. (Minus his Merrill Grandparents who were there but I don't have on my camera)

Another Fall Tradition memory

This is the first year I just watched as the kids, who were up to the challenge, carve their pumpkin into a Jack-o-lantern. 

I definitely love this new role as mom-supervisor instead of mom-slave. I enjoyed all of the benefits of pumpkin carving, which are not really many, and didn't have to stick my hand in any guts.
We toasted the seeds (benefit) and I watched their cute little expressions (benefit) from beginning cuts to candle glowing inside from the porch. And it didn't even matter to them that it was the day after halloween!!

Halloween stuffs

Halloween just goes on and on. Starting with a piano dress up recital, then a family party, then the elementary school parade and finally the Trick-or-treating. Im exhausted! Anyone else?!

Too much makeup, too much costume hair, too much sugar! Thats my take on it! I did end up with a perfect stash of Snickers so I should not be complaining. Everyone else loved it, as far as I can tell.

Sundays every other weekend with the Merrills

We are incredibly blessed to live nearby the Grandparents. And even more blessed that they continue to let us come over weekend after weekend! Typical Fall Sundays looked like this: 

The girlies snuggled up to Grandma and her iPad.

 Blowing off some steam with a game of catch or dodgeball in the beautiful weather.

 Reading the Sunday Comics and other magazines while dinner is prepared.

 Being entertained by this adorable guy!

 Being Attacked and Kissed to death by him too!

 Theres always something to read or watch and always conversation about cars once the menfolk settle into the couches.

We love the tradition of seeing the Grandparents and almost always a Cousin, Aunt or Uncle too!

Fall Break

Luckily we had some relatives who live far far away (yes Minneapolis feels that far!) come to visit over the school break. I knew I would be busy chatting and snacking for hours and I wanted some pictures to remember the day without missing out by leaving the main gathering. I asked Z. to take the camera around and take a photo or 2 of everyone. Here is what I ended up with: 

Girl-Cousin Photoshoot in the leaves!

Looks like they had a grand time getting to know each other and posing each other. I may not have pictures to remind me of all the grandparents,aunts, uncles and cousins and their kids but I do have happy memories of talking to them and seeing their faces again. Blogs and updates just aren't enough. We need these get- togethers! Family is just the best!!

Fall

We have had wonderful, surprising weather this Fall. Dry, warm and sunny. The best. It actually feels like we got a Fall season instead of a fall month. Love it! Here is some of the Fall stuffs:

T. helping daddy make cookies on the weekend (every weekend?!).

"Go out and play! Its a beautiful day!" We don't have a good leaf pile tree of our own so we borrowed the neighbors. No one lives there right now so its not trespassing really. 

 Other kind neighbors let us take a billion apples off of their small orchard. Yum. Andrea and I continued our Summer canning right into Fall and made applesauce.

 Z. owns a cute little donut maker. Everyone loves donuts. I also love that they're old enough to do it on their own. I am so enjoying supervising instead of doing for the kids. They share with me AND clean up afterward. Now this is the life!

 T. and Z. went to the P.G. cemetery to decorate Great Grandpas grave marker with roses for his death anniversary. Then they went around looking for family graves. How cool that our family ended up in the town Great Greats helped to settle. 

 We got to babysit this little adorable guy for 2 weeks. S. thought he made a pretty good playmate. Holding him was a great reminder for me to keep up on upper body exercise. After just a day or two I was sore! I forgot how much muscle mommys need to lug around babies!

Soccer season is over

It was fun to go to the games and watch the kids skills improve. The volunteer coaches were great this season!

 Post games/Post airport pick up. We haven't had a family picture taken yet this year. This one just may end up on the Christmas cards. Oh Yah, I don't do Christmas cards. Whew, that relieves some embarrassment.

Daddy went to France

 Vantage sent him. For work. Or for fun. OK, it was a conference. But it was a memorable week. I wish he had taken some "selfies" everywhere he went. We now have a ton of scenic picts of Paris and French countryside. We missed him at home and hope he missed us a little.

 Art projects with the other Legrand peeps.

 Castle on the grounds where they had their conference.

 Catacombs under Paris. Creepy. So is the lack of shaving.

Next time I get to go. Right? And maybe have it be in Italy.

The new yard ornament

Some people love old rusty stuff. Im okay with that. And I'm okay with trying to be okay with loving it Myself. Fortunately for me 5 out of the 6 of us are really excited to have an abandoned 1951 Cadillac on the side yard. That will eventually make me excited too. Right? Majority rules. Not always the momma.

It wont be so bad once its been cleaned up a little. By which I mean a LOT. And at least it isnt parked on the front lawn huh?!

I must say that I have seen the work and effort and smarts my hubby can put into a project and create a near miracle. I'm hoping to see all that come together once again. Once the yard projects are done of course!

The only good thing about the gov't shut down:

Free access to AF canyon!! 

We went for a Sunday drive to go see the gorgeous fall color here in our mountains. 

What a fantastically beautiful place God created that we get to be a part of! I just LOVE it! 

This is Cascade Springs. Always has been a favorite spot.

 Funny with the furloughed parks employees the bathroom facilities were locked up but the Outhouse was open, and plenty busy. And Yes, I am in my PJ's. It was comfy.

 D. and I spent a few hours of our Honeymoon 17(!!!) years ago here. Since then it has been ravaged by wildfire and then grown back just as beautiful. I think I have a picture of us on this same bridge, I'll have to go searching.

 Z. took several great shots of the scenery but my favorites are the ones she is in. Beautiful family. Beautiful place.

I fear I may be raising survivalists, dang Netflix!

The kids adore watching Man vs Wild and the spin off Man Woman Wild. They are trying out their new found tv knowledge daily. Oh Boy! Im not sure the branches and twigs they planted in the "someday sandbox" worked out as well as planned. They were hoping to at least be able to accomplish rule #1which is create a shelter. There imaginations are keeping them occupied and thats what I like to see. Out doing stuff, not in on the beanbag watching episode 1000.

Maybe Uncle S. could teach them a thing or two about adventures in out of the way places. On second thought, why not let the backyard be their adventures as long as I can help it?!

I hitched a ride to Colorado

And it was wonderful! S. and I found out Gma and Gpa A. were driving out to see Uncle T. and Aunt R. We immedietly got to work figuring out how to tag along. Alittle planning and a lot of help from loving family later we made it to Kremmling.

 S. was so happy to hear Uncle T. say that he once had climbed thru his own doggy door that she had to try it for herself. Then she only quit to sleep. She loved it. Now I know what to get her for Christmas.

 We enjoyed smores out in Adamsons backyard with a fire pit.

 S. enjoyed snuggling and irritating the dogs while she watched episodes of Disney shows. Much more fun than school would have been.

 Then it even snowed! Im not sure I could live there unless I loved skiing. Too much cold, too early!

 Of course that early Fall snow never lasts long and soon enough we were sightseeing and playing tourist at Grand Lake. What a Beautiful place they live and a wonderful trip. I want to go again already!