Fall Fun

First soccer games of the season and it rained

Mommy/daughter date- and she chose Russ' restaurant

This creepy pigeon kept trying to fly into our house

New plantation shutters!

Showing school spirit at the preschool tailgate party

Deb and Stephen

Friends since high school

Enedina's baby shower

Showing her sense of humor

E's baby, Nolbi

Future drummer

Apple orchard

Someone found the apples and helped himself

Grandparent's Day

Good grief the blog is suffering!  The thought of sitting down and remembering things makes me a little stressed so I procrastinate and then have to remember even more things.  Oh well.  As I write this the soccer season is done!  Isaac's team had a couple of good players so they pretty much dominated every game.  Isaac had some goals this year and has a good grasp of the game.  Nate enjoyed coaching Isaac's team.  Caleb's coach had really nice things to say about Caleb.  That he listens well and is a team leader.  Caleb had a couple goals this season and was often playing midfield-lots of running.  I did not get good soccer pictures this year, too busy watching Julia and Stephen.  Next year Julia will play soccer.  I can't imagine the busyness of 3 kids in soccer next fall, I'm just not going to think about it.  Poor Stephen.

We had parent teacher conferences for the boys last week.  I am so proud of them!  They are doing well academically, but what makes me most proud is hearing about their character.  Both teachers said the boys are respectful, get along well with others and desire to learn about the Bible.  Puts a smile on my face.  Grandparent's Day was earlier this month and thankfully both schools were on the same day!  Made it easier on my Mom this year.  Unfortunately, Caleb got sick with the stomach flu and couldn't go to school that day, he was very disappointed to miss Grandparent's Day.  But, Mom braved the germs and came and visited him at home.  Isaac and Julia enjoyed showing Grandma around their rooms and singing songs for the grandparents.  

The stomach flu took down the whole family, except for Nate.  Thankfully it was the 24 hr bug, but man it was slow moving.  Took about 2 weeks for everyone to get it here.

My high school friend, Deb visited in September.  We hadn't seen each other in a couple years, it was so nice of her to come out here!  Deb lives in Baltimore and is an ER Physician Assistant.  God has led us down very different paths since high school, but because of our shared faith we've been able to maintain our friendship.  We laughed alot and had many good conversations. 

My sister just visited last week.  My Dad turned 60 earlier in October and all he wanted was a family get together- no party.  Steph surprised him and flew out too.  We had a really nice evening as a family.  Steph watched the kids for a night so Nate and I could go away.  We hadn't done that in probably 1 1/2 years!  It was so nice of her.  The kids had a great time and she was exhausted at the end.  Nate and I enjoyed being able to sleep thru the night without any kids waking us up.  We thought about going places and seeing things, but ended up just reading books and relaxing- it was a great 24 hours!    We all enjoy Steph's visits and wish the time didn't go so fast.

In September we had a baby shower for Enedina, the refugee girl who lived with us over the summer.  She is with a long term foster family in GR.  It was amazing to see the number of women who had been involved in her life in just the 60 days she lived with us.  Enedina was very appreciative of the shower and everyone had fun that night.  Enedina had her baby earlier this month, a little boy named Nolbi.  He is tiny and adorable. 

Earlier this month we had a new refugee boy move in with us.  His name is Ronal and he is 12 years old from El Salvador.  He is such a sweet, fun kid.  He has gotten along with the kids well and it is fun to hear them practicing their Spanish and English together. 

Stephen is 11 months old and changing so much.  I see less of the baby and more of the toddler in him.  He cruises around furniture and can stand alone.  He is ticklish under his arms and gives big belly laughs.  He charms everyone in nursery.  He can do the sign language for all done and more.  He also says mama and all da (all done).  He likes to yell ALL DA when he wants out of his playpen.  He gets into every cupboard in the kitchen.  He has transitioned to formula and this morning was his last breastfeeding.  That makes me sad and happy.  Bring on the dairy for me! We tried giving him lactose free milk, but he had intestinal issues again.  So he may have a milk intolerance.  I'm trying to figure out what kind of milk to transition him to from the formula.  Stephen is stuck in the rut of waking at 5 am and we are trying to end that, without much success.  It has been a week of listening to him cry until 6 am when we get him up.  My usually happy baby is a little more crabby during the day.  I'm hoping that not getting him up til 6 am the next couple of weeks will break the early riser habit.