SFD Academy- Week 19

Yes...I know.
I am way behind on this blog, but if Sean can complete a 20 week academy, than surely I can complete 20 weeks of blogging about it :) So here we go...

By the end of Week 19, with only days until graduation, I felt like it dawned on me for the first time that this was really going to happen- this intense chapter of our life was actually going to end and Sean was going to finish successfully and he was going to have this job that had felt like nothing but a far fetched dream for so many years (10!).  I could feel the momentum of our life was really picking up and yet there was so little information about what was going to happen next. All the nerves were mixing with all the excitement and the question marks and the reality that we could still lose it all if he did poorly in his final week of testing...and oh man, it makes me sweat to even write about it all! Basically, I found it hard to concentrate on anything other than finishing the academy.
But life with little kids doesn't allow for too much checking out, and so even if my mind was somewhere else, our family life carried on as usual and so I did too. And I am glad, because it turned out to be a pretty fun week!

It might still feel like Summer around here, but at least Week 19 looked a whole lot like Fall!

First soccer practice of the season for Oliver...

...and, for his debut season, Elliott!!

 Let's go Roadrunners!

Go Green Dragons!!

During Oliver's games, the other kids roam (relatively) free. 

Summer stays close and will check in regularly to give the report of what she has been up to.  

Here she is describing the "giant bugs" she found and how she stopped playing with them because they "didn't move anymore". Sounds more like a confession to me.... :)

And Elliott and his trusty bike ride as fast and free (and as far!) as can be on the blacktop.  

He is always up to something! Can you see him?

This cutie pie turned SEVEN

...and we celebrated this Fall baby with a Summertime birthday:
Outside, at night, tee shirts, shorts and bare feet and with Popsicles!!
And surrounded by friends, of course :)
We love you so much Siena and wish you a very happy year!!

And what could be more Fall than Football?!

This guy was more than ready for the Aggies first home game- Go Ags!!

What can I say...

she loves the band-uh!!

And we topped the weekend off with our annual trip to Apple Hill.  It was delicious.

Keeping in tradition!!

Although we may need to find some new chairs to take their picture in next year.

Ready to Pick!!

There are probably hundreds of families who come here to pick apples every year, but I am pretty certain that we are the only group who has a traditional post-picking-wrestling-match :)

See you next year, Apple Hill!

But not everything was seasonal.
Some things that happened this week were just worth noting :)

Elliott changed his clothes "to be camouflaged in the couch" so that he could "surprise people" when they came in to our house.

I can barely tell that he is there...can you? :) 

It was Grandpa Jack's birthday and all on her own, Summer went through her treasures and decided that this was the perfect gift for him :) She folded it up and carried it with her all morning and told everyone all about it so I snapped this picture.  Eventually I put it somewhere "safe" so that we could mail it to him, but I haven't been able to find it since, so this will have to do...I hope you like it, Grandpa Jack!!

And speaking of Grandpas, Grandpa Ben came up for a quick visit and a game of Candy Land

We all hope he stays a little longer next time!

Aaaaand, most note-worthy of all this week, Sean came home from his last day of training.  

He still has a whole week of testing ahead, but the course curriculum is officially complete.  

Amazing job, babe!! 

Celebratory dinner with the kids at Chipotle...woohoooo!!

Cheers, to us.  

For making it this far :)

Sean, of all the crazy things you have had to do over these last 19 weeks, I'd say that I am most impressed by your ability to give everything you have got to your training, yet still have time and attention to give to us.  We love you so much.

19 Weeks Down and only ONE MORE to go!!