Combine crisp leaves, chilly winds, and a few rays of sunshine.

Blend in four siblings. Stir well with dirt and air.

Throw in a football, 2 brooms, 15 pieces of broken chalk into days with empty hours.

Cover in jackets. Let cool outdoors until people start crying or the sun sets.

To serve, place Autumn Fun on a blanket, enjoy with a runny nose and side of muddy shoes.

Love,

Jess

Claire and Leah swinging on the deck.

I hope you have a great weekend chilling and grilling!

I’ll be back next week with a great salsa recipe and pictures from our first couple weeks homeschooling.

Love,

Jess

I’m committed to my cause, but if I didn’t take a minute to stop and smell the flowers, I’d have to be committed.

Love,

Jess

Proverbs 31:21

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

Hats, boots, mittens, snowpants….check

This Proverbs 31 “studying” is becoming very fun!

Love,

Jess

Last week, I battled Bronchitis and morning sickness. Neat Pete took off a day of work to watch the children.

I, in turn, spent my day watching TV and eating candy taking turns trying to sleep and/or breathe.

Here are some of his iPhone pics he captured from playtime at the park.

Just for Memories Sake:

Pete convinced Ryan that there was a naughty boy named Hooligan that came to the park at night and covered the slide with rocks.

Molly can climb up the chain ladder by herself at 22 months (the sign on the equipment says 5-12 years old).

In Order:

Sledding in newly fallen snow

Painting for the sake of getting messy

Watching a dormant summer patio

Reading, watching, admiring…all the fantastic blogs out there (blog in my reader? The Inspired Room’s post Quick Room Makeover)

Freezing my fingers off taking photos of the fresh layer of snow

Studying and writing a presentation about loving kids for my MOPS group

The photos below were just taken this afternoon. I left my camera behind the evening of Halloween. Sometimes I just need to be in the moment and not behind the lens.

Molly really “got” it when we took her out for trick-or-treating. She insisted that she go up to every door instead of stay back in the stroller. She held out a little pumpkin purse to collect goodies and refused to have anyone else touch her treats. She was a happy lil’ pumpkin.

My knight in shining armor! Here Ryan is posing to “look tough” for his role as a brave knight. He loved to stomp around in his “king” boots and charge with his sword through the leaves with his friend Jack. He wore black clothing for his original costume. Today however was unseasonable warm and he was in shorts!

Here are some delightful images from less than a week ago that are infused with warmness. So I say “Nee-ner-Nee-ner” to today’s weather!

Ryan running the 'surf' on Prior Lake.

Molly went tubing with Mommy in Big Bertha.

Molly's favorite hobby is rock picking.

Ryan and Mom at the Swing Bar at Captain Jack's lakeside restaurant.

Peter and Ryan watching the lake.

A great way to end a boat day! Fresh corn and Davanni's Pizza.

Ryan and Molly are sitting on a rock that is situated at the end of our townhome neighborhood’s property. This small boulder has become a highlight of our evening walking route.

Little do they know that the rest of the neighborhood calls it Poop Rock because all of the dogs in the area gravitate to it for their daily constitutionals.

Bikes are like an icon for all of childhood. Bikes bring transportation, fun exercise and empowerment to a kid. I think riding a bike is a big deal. I can clearly remember the rush of the pavement beneath my tenuous bike wheels as I learned to fly across the world on my blue banana seat two wheeler. Peter rode his bike everywhere all the time as a kid – even in the winter!

It is official. Ryan is a big-kid. Well a kid-kid at least (he still has training wheels). He rides his bike around our long driveway and turnout. He has gone on two long bike rides which in tale traveling around the block or to the park. Our neighbor James is a bike enthusiast and spend a whole day working on Ryan’s Spiderman bike (from Target) to enhance its performance! I don’t know too many kids that have their first bike’s chain greased, brakes aligned and spokes adjusted.

It has been so fun to watch Ryan’s determination as he pedals around. Very cool.