Double the Fun

October was a full month for us.  We had several friends visit, starting with the Heavilands!  The hardest thing for me about moving from Seattle was leaving some very special friends.  Jessie was no exception.  I am deeply blessed by her friendship, even on the other side of the world, and did a happy dance when she called to say they bought their plane tickets to come visit!  With a total of six kids, all under the age of five (until James had his birthday on their last day with us!), we opted to do a lot of hanging out, playing, talking, eating and a little bit of sight-seeing!  

Bridgette and Harper - five weeks apart

Gretchen and Saisha - 3 months apart

Rooke and James - 3 months apart

We celebrated Jessie's birthday with a day exploring Cambridge.

We spent Ryan's birthday at the gymnastics gym in the morning, then cooking hot dogs over the fire, watching the OU game and enjoying the fall weather with some carrot cake

When we first became friends, Rooke and James were just under one year old.  We've been busy!

And just like that, I blinked and the visit was over and I had to take them to the airport to continue their tour of the UK in Ireland.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect visit with my very dear friend and her wonderful family.  Thank you, Mark and Jessie, for making the trip happen.  

October Phone Shots

The girls playing at the gymnastics gym with their friend, Harper

Bridgette and I had a fun day together traveling to London to get her visa application completed.

I think he looks so handsome in his uniform!

Sharing an ice cream cone in the car?  What sort of parents are we?!  I love how Gretchen's hand is formed as if she's holding a cone as well.

Rockin' the headband

An eggnog latte went perfectly with our pumpkin painting

New clips encouraged the ponytail to last longer than ten minutes - thank you Hurt girls!

Our storyteller

Super Rooke and Super Gretch on their way to trick-or-treat for the first time on base

A very special 24-hour catch-up with Callie, our dear friend from college.

Westminster Abbey

 I love these kids!

The Leaves

The girls and I walked to school to pick up Rooke with the intent of staying and playing in the leaves on the village green for a while.  It was a fun way to enjoy the Fall days we've been having!

Pumpkin Day

We started last Saturday with our annual family trip to a farm to pick out some pumpkins!  The farm dog tagged along with us. 

The pumpkin patch was pretty much a giant mud pit, so I ended up being the designated pumpkin-finder since Gretchen and I were the only ones wearing wellies and she didn't want to get hers dirty.  I don't blame her.  They're super cute.  (We have since purchased wellies for Rooke that actually fit him so he doesn't miss out on any more messy fun!) 

In our family, we like to paint our pumpkins.  At least for now.  I trust my children more with a paintbrush than with a knife!  While the pumpkins were being painted, pumpkin spice muffins were being baked and a sweet husband was making an eggnog latte for his tired wife.

And after all the farming and baking and painting, some serious bath playing was in order!

It was a great Fall day of family fun!