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.