The Fall Report

If you go by the calendar, you'll find that Fall doesn't start until the end of September.  

And around here, if you go by the weather, you'll find that Fall doesn't really start till sometime in November. 

But, if you have ever been a kid in school (which is all of you :)), then surely you know that Fall officially begins the day after Summer Vacation ends.  Which is also known as: 

The First Day of School!

(a lot of our special days begin at our local starbucks)

I was really nervous to get the day over with (My first baby was off to Kindergarten!),  

but Oliver could not have been more excited and I am not sure that the other two had any idea what the big deal was.  

They were just happy to get a juice box :) 

Back at home, I tried to take some pictures on our front step to document the occasion 

but I think the sugar from the juice was kicking in...

And boy, was he ready to go!!

One last squeeze!!

And, POOF!! 

He was gone.  Just like that.  Into a world that I am not a part of.

But before any mommy-tears could be shed, I turn around to this little spunky nut, stripping off her clothes...

...and doing her street gymnastics before running off to climb the structure.
She is so good at brightening up my days :) 

The next week was Elliott's Big Day.

It was finally HIS turn to get to go to "Puppy School" 

(two years is a long time to wait for someone who is only three :))

Kiss...

Hug...

And off he goes!! 

(Seriously, this place is the BEST!)

***

Fall also means it's Soccer Season!

I loved discovering that not much has changed about a Saturday Morning Soccer Game in the decades (!!) since I played.  The sounds, the smells and even the crisp, golden autumn light...there were so many reasons to love this season with the Orange Ninja Warriors :) 

Conveniently located across the street :)

(mostly) Fun for the whole family :) 

Orange Uniforms

A chance to try out all kinds of awesome new moves.

Learning to work together.

Opportunities to experience the satisfaction of success after working hard for something

Awesome Coaches
(and mascot? :))

New Friends

Loved ones who came to watch...

Discovering that it is fun to be a part of a team
(which is not always easy for my control loving, independent little guy)

And, getting to know some awesome families in our community.
It is fun to think that we will likely cross paths with many of these people for years to come as our children participate in youth sports :) 

Thanks for a great season Orange Ninja Warriors!!

***

And what Fall would be complete without a trip to Apple Hill? 

This year, we enjoyed a surprise visit from some grandparents,

Old Friends,

Delicious apple pastries for all...

And, my personal favorite, wide open spaces.  Ahhhhhhh!!!!

One...Two.......Three.......Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Lover of all things tiny, 

Elliott found this adorable little apple and then took care of it for the rest of the day.

 Lucky little Baby Apple :)

And while Elliott was off tending to his baby apple, 

Oliver was enjoying some much needed wrestling with Hayden.

Oliver was 5 months old the first time we took our family picture in this orchard :) 

See you next year!!

***

Sean and I have a million reasons to LOVE Aggie Football, but Oliver has zero.  

Ever since he was a tiny baby, he has been terrified of football games.  Like the bury-his-face-as-deep-as-possible-into-my-neck-while-crying-and-clinging-desperately-to-me kind of terrified.  We have attempted at least one game each season of his life without success, but with free tickets from Sean's work, Oliver's self proclaimed bravery, and some very low expectations, we took a chance on the first home game of the season.  

Well....here we go!

And the verdict is....

He LOVES it!!!

 And now he gets to discover the million reasons why we love it for himself...

The one year olds had the best seats in the house :)

Walking laps at half time

What is there not to love? 

So thankful he came around :)

So we went to every home game and now Oliver is OBSESSED with Football.
He doesn't take his eyes off the game and seems to have a better understanding of the game than I do.

Hoping to get the ball after a field goal.  So little and so intense.

In heaven...

...so Sean is too :) 

Looks like we have many more seasons of Aggie Football to look forward to!

***

Fall also brought the rain....and Halloween!

Oliver's Kindergarten had a Zoo Phonics Parade

I had purchased this costume at Costco and hid it away for Elliott's December birthday, but 

we ended up giving it to him early because he insisted on wanting to be a knight for Halloween.  

It couldn't have suited him more perfectly. 

I am so thankful for his protective spirit and his desire to fight the bad guys.

My brave knight, my agile Ninja Warrior and their fiesty baby dragon....all ready to Trick or Treat!

***

We did some playing inside, 

But Davis in the Fall has beautiful weather and so we spent most of our hours outside:

Making homemade bows and arrows (and targets) with Daddy

Building, and then conquering, obstacle courses in the backyard

(crossing your arms is hard to do when you need one of them to hold yourself up :))

This little girl turned TWO!!

My sister passed on a bin of baby dolls, clothes and accessories to us now that her girls are older.  This little baby carrier was mine when I was three and it brought back so many memories as soon as it caught my eye in the bin.  It warms my heart to see her enjoying it.

Looks like she inherited my love of babies!

I already knew that Elliott did :) 

I love it when an afternoon walk in the arboretum turns into a live theater production!

And I also love it when a family wedding turns into....

...a cousin sleepover!!

An afternoon at the park with these old friends 

made us all a little bit sad that Tennessee is so far away from California :( 

Just another day in my happy backyard :)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at my parent's house-probably the best I've had in years- but came home without a single picture.  But I don't really mind, most of the things I loved about Thanksgiving can't be seen- only felt. And sometimes it's just better to just be in the moment instead of trying hard to capture it.  But when the boys both came home from school wearing their fancy Thanksgiving hats and complimenting each other on how "cool" they both looked , I knew it was a moment well worth capturing :)

    (my favorite is the ink on Oliver's nose)

And as if our fall season wasn't full of enough wonderful adventures and friends, we left our kids in the loving care of Grandma Gloria and spent the last Saturday in November at the highly anticipated wedding of two of our favorite people.  Or three, if you count Ava :) 

We pretended it was still our anniversary (seven years on the seventeenth!) and ate delicious food, danced to great music, mingled with wonderful guests and soaked up every minute we had alone together and surrounded by so much love :) We came home the next morning feeling rejuvenated, a little bit silly and ready to tackle the next season.    

Because everybody knows 

that the day after Thanksgiving weekend is officially

Christmas Time!!!