Fall Fun

What a warm fall we had huh?!?  Well that all gone now but it was fun while it lasted.  We spend A LOT of time in the fall trying to stay ahead of all these crazy oak leaves in our yard.  We’ve also started doing our neighbors yard as well.  He and his wife are in their 80’s and it’s just getting to be too much for them and we hate to see them pay hundred of dollar to hire someone to do it.  Plus, he has a nicer tractor than us so Jack and I just team up and get it done pretty quickly.  He pays us in popsicles, sweet treats and an occasional pizza :)

Laila loved riding on the tractor!

This is the trailer Jack built that would hold more leaves so we wouldn’t have to make so many trips in to the woods.  Emma & Jackson are our smashers.  They get in and stomp around so we have more room for more leaves!  Lots of fun!

Also with fall comes Grandparents day at DMC.  Jackson was VERY excited since this was his first grandparents day.  I love it because the school really puts on a production and it lasts all morning.  There’s just also something very cool about having everyone there and praying together.  Papa Tom was there with us but he had to head back to work before we got this picture taken.  We’re sad that every year our group of grandparents get smaller and smaller as it gets harder for some of the great-grandparents to get out and about but we’re very thankful that God is still giving us time with all the great-grandmas.

Another fun thing that’s been going on is that Emma joined Girl Scouts this year.  She’s been having a lot of fun with all the activities although it’s been a little rough for her because all of the other girls know each other from school so it’s a little hard for her feel included but she’s really done a good job of sticking with it.  This picture is of her getting her first couple of patches that she earned.  Anyone want to buy some cookies?????

Emma and I got to go on a fancy date to watch our very special friend Samatha perform in the ballet.  I decided since neither of us had ever been to the ballet we would get all fancy dressed up and make a night of it.  We went out to dinner together and got some great time talking and sharing.  I praise God so much for this amazing beautiful girl God has blessed me with.   She is completely incredible and I know God has some very big plans for her.  She does crack me up too.  She leans over to me about 20 minutes into the ballet and says “aren’t they ever going to talk??”  I explained to her and she got a weird look on her face and then just shrugged her shoulders and started watching again.  We both enjoyed it very much and look forward to going again soon.

 

Our Cantwell friends were there that night to see the performance as well so we had to get a photo of all the girls together.  Doesn’t Sami make a cute little Mouse?!

    

One other all fall festivity if the Hamstra Thanksmas.  A few years ago we started celebrating Christmas and Thanksgivings both around THanksgiving time because it just gets very hectic for so many families to get their schedules together in December.  We had a great time playing games, eating, watching movies, eating, opening presents, eating and…. eating!  I love them all very much!

How blessed are we?!?