Fall 2015

It was a beautiful day to be at the orchard!

Keith Urban at the great Minnesota get together.  Need I say more? 

Jacob has really been enjoying Taekwondo!  

We celebrated 14 years with a lame lunch date.  Sorry, honey.  Honestly, in my head I was thinking it would be a really special lunch...just a nice lunch together - no need to make a big event out of it.  We talked about kids and work - what did I expect?  It was the middle of the day in the middle of the week!  LOL.   I'm going on record...anniversaries ARE a big deal and you'll be sure our celebration next year won't be over lunch.  

Jacob's first day of 2nd grade!

Nathan's first day of pre-school! 

This is one of the most surprising and interesting things I have done this fall.  Scott encouraged me to take a watercolor class with a local artist that has his studio downtown.  I forgot how much I enjoy painting!  I don't have a lot of experience but have learned a lot - and most importantly I enjoy it and actually don't mind the learning process.  

We surprised Sarah for an impromptu birthday dinner for her special day on 9/14.  

Our family bike ride.  We went 7 blocks and then had to stop because Nathan got dust in his eyes.  We had a few more meltdowns over the next hour or two.  It was fun.  I think that was our last family bike ride of the season.  

Other than coming home with a horrible sinus infection - pretty sure I was contaminated while swimming in the hotel pool...we had a great training weekend in Moline, IL.  We are facilitating a class at our church starting in January.  It is a fantastic class and we are feeling quite blessed to be able to participate in this.  We are passionate about marriages!  

We had a great time at the annual HPAAC (Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council) Gala which is an annual fundraiser for this group.  We bid and won an evening of Wine and Watercolor with Andy Evansen!  

Remember how great our fall was?  We had a perfect night for a bonfire with a bunch of our friends.  

We got Lydia for a long weekend - she painted my nails and I got to put her in a dress for church.  

Hey - we're already one week out from Thanksgiving!  What the heck!?  You know what they say...time flies when you are having fun.  This fall has been amazing to say the least.  We've had mild temps and lots of warm sunshine.  Just the way I like it.  Next week we're hosting Thanksgiving (low key, no fuss...let's be real...my mom and dad do most of the "work" - I don't clean out turkeys), walking / running The Gobble Gait, and enjoying some time off of school - one of Jacob's complaints lately is that he just doesn't have enough time to play.  More on Thanksgiving after Christmas.  Just kidding...I'm going to try to be a bit more diligent about keeping this up to date.  I'm talking to you, self.  But for now, enjoy some recap pics of the last couple of months.

Fall is in the air

Although I absolutely adore summer, there is something about fall, right?  

Jacob is at the end of his second week of school and loving 1st grade and everything about it.  His teacher is truly fantastic.  God bless her and all of the teachers out there.  We've eased back into the routine pretty easily.  Nathan knows when it is homework time and he joins in to do his homework as well.  It's pretty darn cute.  

The first weekend of September is our annual block party.  With a giant dog bounce house, a visit from Hasting's finest and their K9 pup, Ozzy, riding in the street and lots of good food and catching up with neighbors...what could be more fun!?

The most interesting news of the fall is Jacob's future with the orthodontist.  He's unfortunately got his mom's ample teeth and small mouth.  He's having three baby teeth extracted in the very near future to make room for his permanent teeth that are trying to come in.  In about a year or so he will start an expander and then eventually have braces when his teeth are in.  He had a great visit and seems to like the idea of getting his teeth straight and together.  He also knows his older cousin Noah had braces so it's kind of cool.

I hope you are enjoying the season.  Thanks for checking in!  

First day + first grade = Success!

Dad helping combat some early morning butterflies.

Nathan offering his support.

"Mom, can I please go to school, too?"

All settled in! 

It was a great day!

Jacob had a great day.  Before bed tonight he told me he was pretty sure he wasn't going to have butterflies tomorrow.  But, just in case, I could meet him at school for 2 more days.  His favorite part of the day was recess although it wasn't long enough.  First grade, here we go.

First day of Kindergarten

Nathan is very excited to "see bus!" and watch his big brother start his first day of school.

September 3, 2013
1st day of Kindergarten

There he goes!  Mom was able to keep it together...until the bus was out of sight.  ;)  

Bus ride was a success!  All smiles coming into school.

Jacob's classroom

Jacob had a great first day of school.  When we asked what his favorite part of the day was he exclaimed "Everything!".  He also informed me that "he didn't even have butterflies".  Amen.  I very much remember my horrible butterflies during my early years of school and I have been praying for him that he doesn't experience that.  Jacob's classroom is vibrant and fun and his teacher, Mrs. Lindstrom is truly a gift.  We are very excited for him.

I had hoped to get a picture of Jacob getting off the bus as well, but turns out we still have yet to find out which bus brings him home.  We've got a few logistics to work out but in the next week or two we'll be like a well oiled machine.  I'm also happy to report that even I got up and going and was not standing at the bus stop in my slippers and pajamas.  Although, there is always that possibility.