Friends Up North

Growing up in Eugene, one of our neighbors was the Lepp Family.  Ben was one of my best friends in high school, and in recent years I've enjoyed reconnecting with his sister, Katie.  When we found out we were moving to North Dakota, Katie emailed to say they only lived four hours away from our new home.  That's practically next door in these parts! =)  Katie and her husband, Mark, along with their three kids close to the same age as ours, invited us to visit their farm while Ben and his wife, Kewalin, were staying with them.  Ryan wasn't able to get away from work, but the kids and I drove up for a couple of days of farm fun!

Bedtime stories . . . my kids are still talking about this book!

Mark took the kids for a ride on the quad-bike.  The four big kids went first.  This was Rooke's highlight of our time with the Elias family!

The little girls had their turn next!

Ramona and Bridgette are just one week apart in age.  When they were babies, Katie and I would share photos and were amused at how much they looked alike!  Turns out, they still share quite the resemblance at 2 1/2!  

Ben, Kewalin, Mark, Katie, and me

The kids wanted to line up in order of height. . . . which almost matches order of age as well.  (Bridgette is one week older than Ramona.) 

Thank you to the Elias Family for hosting us so well!  We all enjoyed our visit!

First Season of Soccer

Rooke played on a soccer team for the first time this season.  He started off not enjoying the practices that much, but after the team's first game, he was sold!  It was a complete transformation and he came home LOVING the game!  I think it might have had something to do with him scoring a goal =)  

Rooke was the player on the team, but the games were a family affair.  Gretchen told me she can't wait until next year when she is old enough to play.  Some nights the weather was nice enough to run around in short sleeves.  Other evenings, we were completely bundled up, cheering with gloves on, looking forward to our warm house waiting for us.

Rooke's coach volunteered his time and was patient and gentle, two extraordinary qualities for a young man to have when dealing with five and six-year-olds!  

It was a great season for Team Avengers!

Fall Fun

We've enjoyed some nice Fall weather the past few weeks and made the most of it with some quintessential Fall-like adventures.  Apple picking and a pumpkin patch - good times were had by all!

At the pumpkin patch . . .

Playing in the "corn kernel" pit.

Our friends, Sam and Patricia, sitting behind Rooke joined us for the morning.  Sam and Ryan work together.  We are so grateful for this couple and the friendship we are sharing.

Grabbing some corn in the giant corn maze we walked through.  

There was a lot of jumping from hay bales!

September Phone Dump

Our first sign-on-the-door.  Someone was feeling a bit perturbed by siblings.

An extremely thoughtful new friend MADE these precious dolls for my precious girls.  She dropped them off with a jar of homemade raspberry fig preserves and an encouraging hug.  I'm grateful for new friendships.

A neighbor welcomed us to his garden plot.  Thanks to Chris and Claire, our neighbors in England, the kids are familiar with good garden fun and were happy to jump right in.  The veg we brought home made a delicious stir-fry for dinner!

School Carnival: the kids tasted cotton candy for the first time.  

"It's so sweet"  "It tastes like sugar"  "I've had enough" =)

Early morning Blueberry Beauty.

Hooray!  Hooray!  It's Move-In Day!  After nine weeks of living out of suitcases, we were so grateful to see this truck pull up. 

Saturday morning read fest. 

Rooke was so excited to have the chance to explore one of the security forces'  hummers at a Fall Festival on base. 

The firemen were there, too. 

She's arrived.  Bridgette had asserted herself to the point that I decided it was time to let her start choosing her own clothes.  Some day she'll thank me. 

Containers and water.  What more do you need for some warm afternoon porch fun?!

These girls earned a frozen yogurt treat for being stellar patient shoppers with Mommy.

We opened the last box of clothes, which included my nicer dresses.  She loves playing dress-up!

These girls are becoming sweet friends.  I often go to check on them and find Gretchen reading to Bridgette.  

Floating Head!

I was curious why everything went so quiet and grateful to find this explanation.