Fall is in Full Swing

Well, fall is officially in full swing. The weather has definitely changed with the much cooler days and nights. We've had some rain, but lately have been having some of those beautiful sunny fall days, although I think rain is back in the forecast. We took advantage of the nice weather earlier this week with our annual trip to the pumpkin patch on Monday. We had a gorgous weekend, but didn't even think about going to the pumpkin patch until it was too late Sunday night. Next weekend, we'll be too busy, and you never know what the weather will do, so we took an impromptu trip while we had the chance. The kids had a great time running around to find the perfect pumpkin, especially Owen who just thought it was the coolest thing. Hannah and Justin of course picked some really big ones. Now the constant nagging about when we're going to carve them begins.


Amazingly, school has been in session for about a month and a half. Justin has adjusted quite well to Kindergarten. He likes being one of the big kids walking up to school with his sister. I wish I could say they were walking on their own, but Hannah has actually had a little bit of a harder time adjusting to 2nd grade and is not comfortable walking up on her own. We're not really sure what is going on, but she puts a lot of pressure on herself and for some reason has a lot of anxiety. She has been doing better, but is never very excited to go to school in the morning. Her teacher says she always gets settled in quickly though and participates great in class and has a great day. She always comes home happy, so that's something. Overall she is doing very well. I just want her to be happy and excited to go to school each day. One thing she is excited about is that she gets to pet-sit the class guinea pig, Shadow, over Christmas break. She's been wanting a guinea pig, so this will be a good trial run to see what it entails. she already has spot cleared off on her window seat for the cage.


Other than school, Hannah and Justin have both been playing soccer, another annual fall activity for the third year now. Hannah is on an all-girl team again this year (in a coed league) with the same coach from last year and some of the same girls, including her good friend, Maya. They have moved up an age group and playing with 8 and 9 year olds, and pretty much get trounced every week, but they're having fun. I'm proud of her for even being out there. Justin is on a team coached by our good friend Denton and assistant coach, Daddy (Hannah is not happy that Dale is helping out with Justin's team and not hers). He scored his first goal this year during the 2nd game. He's come close other times, but no more goals so far. I know there will be more to come. He's a little go-getter out there. Owen keeps me occupied by running onto the field during games and all over the place. I think he'll be a great soccer player when he gets the chance in a couple years.


Hannah has also started Brownies and loves that. They've only had one real meeting so far, but they do crafts and other fun activities, and there will be all kinds of camps and things that I know she will love.


As for Owen, he is growing up so quickly. For a long time, he has been speaking really well, pretty much able to repeat anything you said, but he constantly surprises us with new phrases he comes up with. Just about 3 days ago, he started saying "No thank you" when he doesn't want something you've offered him--hopefully that will become a habit. He also has finally started saying "please." I guess he's going through a polite phase. My favorite though is that for months, I have been trying to get him to say, "I love you," be he just would not. I guess he just wasn't ready to commit. Finally 2 days ago, when I said I loved him, he responded, "I wuv you, Mom." (He's also taken to calling Dale and I mom and dad instead of mommy and daddy). Anyway, he just melted my heart. Sometimes I so wish I could just freeze time and hold onto this phase of childhood for many months. Ask me in a few months, though, and I might change my mind. Along with all his sweet attributes, he has also developed quite a little temper, but for the most part, he is just a sweet little boy. It's just sad when I think that we will never go through this phase again. He just loves to play with his trucks and race cars and whatever else "brudder" is playing with. Give them a year, and those two are going to be crazy together. Owen has also become obsessed with Dora the Explorer. He would watch it non-stop if I let him. His favorite thing to do after we take sister and brother to school is sit with his juice on the couch and watch Dora. He also still really loves books, especially any with animals in them. He's my little zoologist.


I will leave you with some photos that I took at the pumpkin patch.





And one photo of Owen with the popcorn bowl on his head.