Fall Has Arrived!

With the drop in temperatures, we are in the mood for fall.  The kids are finding it fun to put on long sleeve t-shirts and jeans.  Mikayla is having fun with her winter shoes (and so is mom.)  We are jogging in the pleasant cool mornings and actually having to work up a sweat.  I am sifting through clothes and closets once again to do the inevitable bi-annual sorting, organizing, and trying on.  The bike ride to school in the morning is pleasant and much more enjoyable.

This weekend, we finalized Halloween costumes, ordered Luka's birthday invitations, visited the pumpkin patch, made pumpkin ice cream, and roasted pumpkin seeds.  This week, we have pumpkin sausage pasta, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin pie on the menu as well, due to the fact that after spending much time deliberating about the perfect pumpkin to choose, TJ promptly dropped his on the driveway upon exiting the van.  Thus the need for pumpkin recipes to use up the fresh pumpkin I baked this afternoon.  I've also been making soups all week, a sure sign that cooler temps have arrived.  We are living outdoors, enjoying one last play excursion each day before bed, and before the time changes, eliminating this possibility.  Riding bikes, playing basketball, jumping on the trampoline, and riding the wheel shoes usually top the list for the boys, while Mikayla typically enjoys just practicing walking up and down the street.  Pictures at the pumpkin patch, of course are an annual event for me. 

We actually got Mikayla to smile for a few pictures today, (though it took Scott stuffing grass in his mouth to do it...desperate, right?) And, we learned today that she clearly makes an attempt not to smile, as you can see by the little smirk on her face in a couple of these.  Little Stinker!