Fall Fun

I've been keeping this family blog now for 10 years. 

Here is where it all began

I started my first entry October 2013, pregnant with my sons, and exhausted from chasing around my 18 month old. Sometimes I lay in bed at night and go through the different seasons on my life.

I think of many people who have come and gone over the years, who have shared in the various parts of our family life, in all those seasons that seemed at the time, never ending.

My kids are 9 and 11, and although my head spins trying to get through the homework needs and sports schedules, I know that one day I will be laying in bed reflecting on these times too. 

Caleb is still the sweet, sincere boy he has always been. 

Still playing his violin, he's favorite part is performing. Here he is at school during recess. He brought his violin for show and tell day and continued to "show and tell" it any chance he got throughout the day. 

Levi still continues to be a stud on any sports field. What I'm especially proud about for him this year is he seems to have a good sense on what type of people he wants to associate with. He doesn't want to keep "bad company" and I appreciate his discernment when it comes to friendships. 

Every time anyone sees Evelyn, the first thing they say is, "wow you are so tall!" Although she gets annoyed by that phrase, it's accurate, and every time I look at her lately I see a young lady. She has been working really hard this fall in soccer, violin and all her school work. 6th grade is proving to be a good year so far for her. 

James dreams about the fish behind our house in the Tualatin River. He is a deep thinker and he really has so many interests that he will never run out of things to read about or tinker around with. If only he could catch "the big one".....

School this year has ramped up for all of our kids. Homework has increased, and the math has surpassed my abilities. It is very much of a team effort for John and myself; John takes on the math; I take on the grammar. 

With fall comes all things pumpkin, and I once again took the kids to our town's annual "Great West Coast Pumpkin Regatta." People from all over the West Coast carve out the insides of their huge pumpkins and make them into boats, then race them across the pond. 

It's bizarre, but it's something to do on a fall day. 

Afterwards, I took them to a local pumpkin farm where they picked out their prize pumpkin. 

The soccer season was one of a kind this year. All of our kids were on undefeated teams. Evelyn really shined on the field this year. 

John coached the boys' team. All of the boys were either from the school or the neighborhood. It was a "one of a kind" season, as they played "up" a year against 5th graders, and crushed them all. 

Practices for both teams were ideal, right after school. John and I purchased a huge 12 passenger van this summer, so every Tuesday and Thursday the "Patton Soccer Crew" van picked up the players from school and transported them to the practice field. It was always a lively ride to the park. 

We had many beautiful days this fall here in Oregon. Sometimes I pull my family out on a Sunday afternoon adventure to pick apples and hike in the forests. 

I mean, what's not to love? (my kids would say, "the hiking..")

 

....until they got to the top....

 

Next stop was the apple farm.  We usually spend about five minutes picking because with 6 people, any more than that and we have $100 in apples. 

Once again our church reserved an entire pumpkin patch for an afternoon of fall fun. My kids favorite activity was the one called "pie face." 

Digging gummy bears out of a pile of whip cream-what's not to love? 

Halloween morning we woke up to a very Halloween sky. It was beautiful. 

For the first time ever, Evelyn did not walk around trick or treating with us. She and the neighbor girl traipsed around the streets together. 

It once again proved to be a very successful night. 

There were many autumn October moments that took my breath away. 

I love this slow transition from late summer into fall.