Our Fabulous Fall began with soccer! Both Patrick & Nate played NYSL in Lawrence. Patrick was coached again by Uncle Marc, and his team called themselves the "Black Knights." Nate LOVED playing on a team, wearing uniform and getting a trophy of his very own! His team called themselves the "Volcanoes!" Here are some pics of the boys in action!
Here's Nate, #5, throwing the ball in and below, waiting to receive the kick!
He loved the end of the game or practice, when they would put their hands in to say "go Volcanoes!"
Patrick, #2, enjoyed his second season with Uncle Marc and learned a lot!
I love this photo, where he knows I'm taking his picture!
The boys had a good time, and enjoyed playing in the backyard, using the swingset as a goal. Ethan got in on the action and randomly will hold up his hands and yell "goal!" He's definitely got a future in soccer:)
I love this photo, where he knows I'm taking his picture!
The boys had a good time, and enjoyed playing in the backyard, using the swingset as a goal. Ethan got in on the action and randomly will hold up his hands and yell "goal!" He's definitely got a future in soccer:)
Then came the Pumpkin Patch! Brian and I enjoy our trip to Stonycreek as much as the boys do. It was fun to watch Ethan explore this year.
We have a very similar photo of Patrick doing exactly the same thing! Ethan loved the donkey. We even got to hear him "yee-haw."
The fam on the hayride...Ethan was not sure what to think - he looked a bit dazed the entire ride to the patch and back! Next year, he's going to love it! 
Here are Nate & Patrick enjoying Jasper... by Halloween, it was as if Jasper had always been a part of our family.
The boys love to cover Jasper with his blanket. Jasper loves this bed...it's funny to watch him drag it around the room!
Halloween was great again! We enjoyed the Beam Reach parade, ham & beans, and lots of friends to help us celebrate.
We have a very similar photo of Patrick doing exactly the same thing! Ethan loved the donkey. We even got to hear him "yee-haw."
The fam on the hayride...Ethan was not sure what to think - he looked a bit dazed the entire ride to the patch and back! Next year, he's going to love it! 
Here are Nate & Patrick enjoying Jasper... by Halloween, it was as if Jasper had always been a part of our family.
The boys love to cover Jasper with his blanket. Jasper loves this bed...it's funny to watch him drag it around the room!
Halloween was great again! We enjoyed the Beam Reach parade, ham & beans, and lots of friends to help us celebrate.
Patrick was a ninja!
Nate was FLASH!
Ethan was a lion! At first, Ethan screamed at the crowds and yanked at his lion's mane. But, by the second house, Ethan was walking up on his own to the door, taking candy and saying thank you....then he'd march onto the next house, hardly aware that Brian and I were even there. He is so funny!! We love watching his independent spirit lead him.
Some day I will get a photo of all the kids, but here's a sampling!
Nate was FLASH!
Ethan was a lion! At first, Ethan screamed at the crowds and yanked at his lion's mane. But, by the second house, Ethan was walking up on his own to the door, taking candy and saying thank you....then he'd march onto the next house, hardly aware that Brian and I were even there. He is so funny!! We love watching his independent spirit lead him.
Some day I will get a photo of all the kids, but here's a sampling! Officer Eli & Emily!
Madam Knight Megan
Ninja Patrick with Skeleton Max!
Flash (aka Nate) with his buddy Sam, the Wolverine, & Princess Abby to the right! Funny story with Nate...just before the "parade" began, I asked Nate what he was going to say at the houses (tryingt to prompt him again to say thank you,) he replied..."Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear!" Who wouldn't laugh...he had a sparkle in his eye that told me he was teasing me. So, I laughed, then reminded him that NO, that's not what you say... so we settled on trick or treat, smell my feet and thank you. Then, we said to the boys that they need to stay with a buddy and not run off alone....Nate put his arm around Sam (aka Wolverine), and said..."I choose this buddy." Sweet fella.
A few weeks later (after the Election, of course), we took the family to Brown County for a weekend of swimming at the Abe Martin Lodge, hiking in the park and browsing in the stores of Nashville. We had a BLAST! Brian said later...."Having all 5 of us in the hotel room went very well. But we came home to Jasper, who woke up at 6...hmmm" Then, he reminded me that Jasper was my idea. Oh well! Here are a few pics of our family in the park - we went to the two lookout points in the park to watch the sunset... it was wonderful.
On Saturday, we went on the "Discovery Trail" after checking out the nature center. Poor Nate quickly became scared that a bear or mountain lion would find us, but Patrick and Ethan loved it! There were 27 places, where we stopped and read a short blurb about the nature around us. Patrick, with notepad and pencil in hand, did an observational drawing of at least half of the spots. Needless to say, we did not move very quickly along this trail - but all in all, we had a great time.
Ahhh...my cup runneth over. Happy Holidays.
Madam Knight Megan
Ninja Patrick with Skeleton Max!
Flash (aka Nate) with his buddy Sam, the Wolverine, & Princess Abby to the right! Funny story with Nate...just before the "parade" began, I asked Nate what he was going to say at the houses (tryingt to prompt him again to say thank you,) he replied..."Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear!" Who wouldn't laugh...he had a sparkle in his eye that told me he was teasing me. So, I laughed, then reminded him that NO, that's not what you say... so we settled on trick or treat, smell my feet and thank you. Then, we said to the boys that they need to stay with a buddy and not run off alone....Nate put his arm around Sam (aka Wolverine), and said..."I choose this buddy." Sweet fella.
A few weeks later (after the Election, of course), we took the family to Brown County for a weekend of swimming at the Abe Martin Lodge, hiking in the park and browsing in the stores of Nashville. We had a BLAST! Brian said later...."Having all 5 of us in the hotel room went very well. But we came home to Jasper, who woke up at 6...hmmm" Then, he reminded me that Jasper was my idea. Oh well! Here are a few pics of our family in the park - we went to the two lookout points in the park to watch the sunset... it was wonderful.
On Saturday, we went on the "Discovery Trail" after checking out the nature center. Poor Nate quickly became scared that a bear or mountain lion would find us, but Patrick and Ethan loved it! There were 27 places, where we stopped and read a short blurb about the nature around us. Patrick, with notepad and pencil in hand, did an observational drawing of at least half of the spots. Needless to say, we did not move very quickly along this trail - but all in all, we had a great time.
Ahhh...my cup runneth over. Happy Holidays.
