Indoor sports

With the cooler weather, the kids are moving inside.  With soccer done and football just about done (the Jr. High has playoffs this week) basketball has started.  It is an adjustment when football ends and basketball starts.  The boys have to get used to a different shaped ball and throwing it with a different touch. They are doing great with the change though, and they are on some fun teams.   Basketball is just as aggressive as football though, my word it is a rough sport.  So I feel safer with them playing football because they have pads and a helmet.  Gator is just starting basketball this year, with a developmental league.  I have said it before and I will say it again, this is where I belong.  Less stress, more smiles and laughing and less competition.  I am definitely a TBall mom! 

Picking out Pumpkins

This morning we went and picked out some pumpkins.  Such a simple little thing, but I love the memories we made together in that 30 minutes.  I think I have a new favorite picture of my darling kids, I'm such a lucky mom. 

And because I always go for the underdog, we picked out some misfit pumpkins to bring home too.  The lady laughed at me and asked if I like the "Charley Brown" Christmas trees as well.  And to that Owen just chuckled and nodded his head.  We had to display both of these little orphan pumpkins (seriously they were orphans they were on the outside of the pumpkin patch and looked so sand and alone) upside down to get them to stand up.  I love them though.  The "cat" one is the girls choice, it looks like a strawberry, but upside down it kinda looks like a candy corn.  Owen and Davis looked for the ugliest pumpkin they could find. 

Waterfall Canyon

I got another "fall day" today.  With the kids on fall break at school, we gathered up a group of friends and went hiking up Waterfall Canyon.  There wasn't much water to speak of, but the fall colors were beautiful!!  It took us a long time to complete the hike because I wanted to stop every 10 feet and take another picture (ok, and catch my breath those kids zoomed right up that mountain, my friend and I were a little slower).  There was a breeze, and it was so pretty to watch the leaves falling to the ground.  Utah has a smell in October.  I don't know how to explain it, but it's one of the things I missed most when I lived in Seattle.  The smell and color and crisp cool air of fall. 

Jump-a-roo

All 3 of my kids absolutely loved the "johnny jump up".  It was a sad day when they grew out of it. 

Can't stay away

 We've been going to Lagoon every weekend.  We kidnapped Josh and Rachelle's boys and brought them a long with us tonight.  I absolutely love these boys, but I still haven't quite gotten used to 13 year old humor.  Luckily Owen and Collin walked through the gates of Lagoon and we turned one way and they turned the other, and bonus they took the "little" boys along with them. 

  

 The Hackenslash makes Gator pretty nervous.  She decided to take matters into her own hands and bring along some protection. 

Fall Colors

I look forward to this day all year long, I love fall.  My kids know that on conference Sunday, we pack up a lunch and spend the afternoon driving through the leaves and enjoying all the beautiful colors.  It is one of my favorite days ever. 

 There were ladybugs everywhere, and they weren't shy.  Owen had them crawling up his shorts.  They were all over our clothes and faces. 

 The mountains had their first snow during the week.  There was still a tiny bit of snow in spots, and of course that is where the boys went as soon as they got out of the car.  They had their first snowball fight of the year.  You can see that each of them have a snowball in their hand. 

Good run

Football season ended today for Davis's Jr. PeeWee team.  They had a great season, some tough things for 10 year old boys to handle, but they did awesome, and had such a fun time! 

Double Cousins

Gator loves to tell everyone that Krissy and PJ's kids are her double cousins, and I guess in fact they are her double cousins.  This evening we spent some time with our double cousins and had a fun time and left a big mess at Training Table. 

Hanging out

The last few weekends, we've been hanging out at Frightmares at Lagoon.  I love this time of year, and I love spending the evening with my family.  Lagoon does an amazing job, and we hope to be back a few more times before they close the gates for the winter.