Hayden Gardner #20

Hayden's football team chose to have the end of the year party at Mason Bowl. Very fun for these cute boys! Hayden had a strike his very first throw. That started the night out great.

Coach Ken and Coach Eric giving Hayden his medal. I'm so glad we signed Hayden up for football. He absolutely LOVED it. He had a smile on his face during all the practices and through all the games. During the 3rd game our main QB got hurt and the back up was mad and didn't want to go in. So they put Hayden in. He ran the ball for 3 touchdowns that game. He found his new position...and never slowed down. If he could break away from the crowd not one could catch him. At the this party Coach was saying how much fun he had and how much he learned about the boys..."like who knew Hayden was so fast".

Hayden Gardner #20: Led his team in touchdowns. Proud of our Guy Smiley!

Isaac Gardner #68

The boys have LOVED every minute of football this season. And I have to admit, so did I. I am so thankful we decided to do it. As with most sports, Isaac was a natural. He had a fabulous team of coaches who taught them the game well, but more importantly taught them responsibility, effort, integrity, goals, and teamwork. They took time out of every practice to discuss a virtue and how they were going to implement it as a team and at home. Every game and practice started and ended with prayer. I thought it was great!

End of the year party

getting his metal and picture from head coach Jeff Neubecker

Isaac#68: led the team in touchdowns. proud of that boy!

(Hayden's party is next week...more to come on that cute player)

Halloween

Happy Witch. The only Halloween costume picture I got this year! I know...bad mom...the kids took off with me running behind them, without a camera...life is busy!

carving pumpkins! Don't you always do it in your swimming suit? I told the kids to change into old clothes. This is what Halle came down in...classic Halle.

Finished product: a monster. Dora. Vampire

Although Fall is my favorite time of year...I will be the first to tell you I don't like Halloween. However, Liberty Township has changed that. They have rules. Trick-or-treating only from 6-8 on Halloween night. Everyone come out and sets up "camp" on their driveways. chairs. fire pits. and candy bowls. A billion kids and parents parade the streets as they roam from house to house. no need to knock or ring door bells, everyone is already out. We even had a "mounted police man" (police on horse back) roaming the neighborhood. It was fabulous. Halle lasted the first hour, then I dropped her off with Aaron and kept going with other kids. Isaac opted to go with a few of his friends and at the end of the night he had 10 lbs. of candy...no exaggeration. It was a definitely a memorable year, and one that has changed my perspective on Halloween.

F is for Farm

To took our preschool co-op to a farm for F week. Lots of animals. Halle and I wouldn't get close them. But none the less we had a good time.

Rachael Wilson showing the kids how to pet the cow...you don't see me (or Halle) anywhere near

Halle finally got close to the turkeys...only because there were 2 fences around them.

All the preschool kids (and 2 of my babysitting kids).

Fall in Ohio!

Mom, Dad and Susie came to visit in October! It was so much fun to have family here! We loved every minute of it. With the kids in school and football taking over our Saturday we did short, close by, day outings. We went to Lebanon Main St...a quaint old town street with boutiques, Ice cream parlors, antiques shops and fun little gift shops. We also happened on "The Golden Lamb", Ohio's oldest hotel. It was a fun little outing for us. We also toured Downtown, but no pics were taken.
I have decided that on of my very favorite places around here is Neiderman Family Farm! It's a huge farm, with animals, corn mazes, a jumping air dome, swings, pumpkin patch, hay rides, tractor rides, and the BEST donuts know to man. Also in the middle of the corn fields you will find 2 big football fields that the Neiderman's let our boys have their home games. This place is a riot!
These tube swings are so much fun. You can put up to 6 people on them and you just push your weight back and forth and you can get pretty high.
Mom and Dad: the Horse and the Cow.

This is the big air dome jumping thing. How cool it that! I had never seen one before. The kids loved it.They also had rubber ducky races set up. You put your duck in pump the water as fast as you can and see who makes it to the other end first.
Look at Caite's and Hayden's faces...serious competition!Hayride to the pumpkin patch

Picking the perfect pumpkin...it's a big decision!

I love fall. It's by far my favorite time of year. I love the crisp air, the fall leaves, the pumpkins, now I can add Neiderman Family Farm, and watching my boys play football to some of my favorite fall time activities.

My own laundry test

Why do the boys practice football pants have to be off-white??? Seriously! Obviously a mom was not put in charge of ordering uniforms. Every Tuesday and Thursday they come home from practice looking like this. Sometimes a lot worse. I spend A LOT of time scrubbing knees with Shout and Fels-Naptha. It seems to work, so I'll keep at it.

Not too bad.

Fashionista

This little Fashionista has always been particular about what she wears. She went from age 2-4 with only wearing dresses and skirts. Then, to her great disappointment, she was restricted to wearing uniforms to school...my dream come true. Now with our new school, she has the freedom to choose what she wears. My oh my! School shopping was FUN! Needless to say, she has style and the personality to match. She's one cute girl! We love our Caite McCall!