Football, Fall & Fun

So I got a babysitter last night and got to go to the homecoming Chelan football game with a girlfriend of mine (who also got a sitter for her little one). It was a heartbreaker as we were leading 10-9 up until the last 30 seconds and Brewster then scored a TD and went on to win. What a letdown for homecoming night. It was a crisp cold evening but at least is was dry (since it had rained most of the day). It was a fun big people time for me.

I am working today for my only working day this month. Rachael is taking the kids to Wenatchee and they are excited to go to Rocky Reach Dam. They love the Visitor's Center and the fish ladder, not to mention the big playground. They also get to go to the pet store to get some more fish for the fish tank, since Mommy has kept the last ones alive. We had to start over and have to add a few at a time. I know they will have a good time and be exhausted tonight.

Last night Rachael watched the kids and they had a campout in Chase's room and got to eat dinner and bedtime snack in the fort they made around Chase's bed. They watched the new Surf's Up movie but got too tired to finish it. Kenzie actually went to bed in her own bed without being rocked and the bigger news is that she slept ALL NIGHT in her own bed. She is so proud of herself and I hope that her pride will lead her to continue this habit. Daddy was excited to hear about that news.

Dave is still in Seattle with his mom. She is being transferred to a nursing home in Mount Vernon on Monday. He went up and toured facilities yesterday to help her make a choice. She has chosen and they are holding a bed for her. Dave is going to the Seahawk game tomorrow night and has decided to stay over there until Tuesday morning so he can help get her settled. She is more confused and her short term memory is bad. They hadn't expected that part. She is having some swallowing problems as well so is having to eat pureed food and doesn't like it so she decides not to eat at all. It will be a long recovery but I know she will like to be back in Mount Vernon where her friends can visit her. Socially that will make a huge difference for her.

We all miss Dave but know that he is doing what he needs to do right now and will be home soon.

It is a beautiful fall day today. The sun is out but it is still a little brisk although the weather forecast is for 70 degrees today so that will be nice.

We get to pick up Alura from Granny Nanny's house in the morning and she will go to church with us and then we will meet Megan and Janson to go to Smallwood for pumpkins. They are all looking forward to that.

Happy fall and may you all enjoy the fall traditions as well.

Sights, Smells & Events of Autumn

Click to play Make your own Smilebox

October is bringing lots of fun things to our house. The kids have enjoyed decorating for Halloween and are looking forward to going to the pumpkin patch after church this Sunday with Sissy Megan, Janson & Alura. Today was Chase's first school field trip and I got to go along as 13 preschoolers requires 3 parents and 3 teachers when walking 3 blocks to the fire station. I have included in this post a Smilebox of those pictures.

Last week, a dear friend of mine posted on her blog (which I love to read) http://www.neighborjanepayne.com/ asking what mean fall to you. Well, I started thinking about that and yesterday the sights and smells of autumn came to me as I was making a bunch of homemade rolls and a big pot of Cheesy Potato Corn Chowder for dinner. I love as the coolness of autumn sets in and a big bowl of hot soup and fresh rolls taste so good, not to mention the smell of both cooking filling the house in the hours before. That makes me remember it is autumn. On the drive to and from Seattle last weekend (I was driving with the kids so no pictures to show of the colors), the colors of the leaves on the trees varying form light green to yellow to red was a great topic of discussion with the kids. At the top of Stevens Pass, the combination of the leaves in all colors along with the fresh snow on the ground was a beautiful reminder of what a wonderful God we serve and what he has blessed us with on a daily basis in the miracle and beauty of the world around us. So I guess this is my not-so-short response to the sights and smells of Autumn. Pondering this thought has brought me to take the pictures of the soup and rolls from last night and plan a scrapbook page entitled "My Sights & Smells of Autumn".

She is here

Yesterday was a busy and exciting day. My sister had the baby and it is a beautiful baby girl - Rachel Jeanne (middle name is Melissa's middle name and also the first name of our aunt). She weighed in at 6 lbs 8 ounces and was 18 inches long. Mommy & Baby are doing well and plan to come home tomorrow morning. The kids and I are excited to be able to go over and see her. We are leaving as soon as the kids get out of school tomorrow about noon.

Dave decided he needed to be closer to his Mom for a few days before her surgery so he drove over last evening and is enjoying some one on one time with her and is able to help with getting her to last minute appointments and such that Kevin and Margaret have been doing for so long. He is very anxious about the surgery and I know he is feeling much better being there with her. The kids and I are making it without him but miss him and will be happy to see him tomorrow.

October is here

Somehow it is already October. I don't understand where time goes but it sure seems to fly the older I get. Kids are settled into their school and extracurricular routines. Mommy is getting settled into the idea of some "free" time two days a week. I know that fall is here as Mackenzie and I saw our first sightings of the big horn sheep on the way home from Wenatchee today. They were crossing the road about 2 miles south of Entiat. Boy did Kenzie enjoy that. Between the sheep being down and the first snow on Stormy this week we sure know that fall is here and winter is on the way!

My sister is having her baby tomorrow morning and we are all excited to find out if it is a boy or girl. Sarah has been excited about her new sibling until the last couple of days and now has decided she doesn't want it to come out yet but Melissa is done cooking it and this bun is coming out of the oven tomorrow!

Betty, my mother-in-law, has her brain surgery on Monday to remove a benign brain tumor that is pressing on her speech center and causing her to slur her speech a lot. We are headed to Seattle on Friday to be over there until Tuesday for the surgery. She will be in the hospital for a week and then to a nursing home for a month or so. Dave is quite nervous about it and rightfully so. He is very close to his mom and her health has not been the best so there are certainly risks involved but she made the decision to go ahead. For those who read and are so inclined, please keep her and the family in your prayers for a good outcome to this.

The kids have their Halloween costumes and want to wear them on a daily basis. Kenzie is being a dragon and Chase a ninja turtle (Leonardo to be exact). They have modeled them for anyone that gives them a chance. They will wear them to their respective Harvest Parties and to the carnival at the school on the 27th and then to trick or treat in downtown on Halloween. I have one bag of candy for here at the house although we have had a grand total of 6 trick or treaters in the 4 Halloweens we have been at this house. Most people go downtown and trick or treat with all the rest of us crazies. Dave will hand out candy at the store while I take the kids around. There is a picture included of the kids in costume with a little friend, Rylee, that we were babysitting. She had to get in on the action so I found Chase's Mickey Mouse costume from 3 years ago and it fits her great. She took it home and I guess to wears it nearly everyday as she thinks she is just the greatest thing in it.

Best Fall wishes to all and I am thankful for you all as friends.