Random October

Patterson Panther Dash:  My boys had lots of fun running laps at school to raise money for a new computer lab.  I was really proud of them for participating and for running so well.

Emerson's class dressed up as "Mr. Holmen's Hippies"

Townsend's class was "Ms. McClain's Zoo"

Julian was part of the "First Grade Flash"

Chess Club: All the boys decided to join chess club this year.  I love how much Julian is learning and I'm proud of my older boys.  They always tell me they win!

Emerson

Townsend

Julian (it was "crazy hat" day, that is why he has an alligator on his head)

Book Club: I hosted the October book club for my group.  We read "Frankenstein" written by Mary Shelley.  I had a lot of fun putting this all together.

Spooky spread

Bits and pieces:

Julian's yearbook finally came in the mail from his time at Forest Hills Lutheran school last year.  I took him to his old school so his friends could all sign his yearbook.  He was so happy to see his old friends again and they were super excited to see him.

Townsend being super silly

We all made a Christmas card for Taylor Doxey (who is serving a mission in Arizona)

I cut off 10 inches of hair and donated it to "locks of love"

20 Year High School Reunion

It's crazy that it has been 20 whole years since I graduated from high school.  I had a fantastic weekend in Buffalo, NY visiting with some dear friends I haven't seen for many years.  At first it was a bit awkward because you haven't seen these people in so long but after a while we just turned into the same fun loving, goofy, dancing and singing class.  It was wonderful.  I always knew I had a unique high school experience but seeing all these people again just reminded me how great I had it in high school.  From a graduating class of 100 students there were about 48 that came to the reunion.

My home sweet home in Buffalo, NY.  This house was painted green when I was growing up but I think it looks great as a gray house.

From my house I walked down to Cazenovia park.  We used to come down here almost every day during the summer to play in the splash pool and get lunch.

I also walked all up and down my old paper route street on Coolidge.  It was so crazy being in a place where I felt so much of my past and I had so many memories but yet I felt so far removed from them.

Lunch at Abbott Pizza...???

...yes please!!!  I don't know why other places in the country can't make proper Buffalo chicken wings but it was sure nice to taste a bit of heaven while I was there:)

I met up with two of my besties...Pam (Snapp) Cecich and Sara Dickey.  I have known these ladies since 4th grade and it was really a highlight of my weekend to spend some time with them catching up and having fun.

We explored around downtown Buffalo.  So many memories climbing around on these lions in front of City Hall.

We had to get a picture of us in front of our elementary school where we all met.  Bennett Park Montessori Center.  I loved this school!

Reunion time!

All of the theater majors that came to the reunion.  We were missing quite a few of our dear friends but it was awesome to catch up with these ladies.

Mr. Fradin was our Assistant Principal and Ms. Marshall was one of my theater teachers.

The homeroom crew.  We all had 1st period homeroom together.  So many great memories:)

And of course a trip to Buffalo would not be complete without visiting with my "other" family.   I was constantly hanging out with my friend Pam and her extended family.  It was wonderful to see all my "Aunties" again and to see how everyone is doing.  I really do love these guys and they were just as welcoming this weekend as every other time I hung out:)

I had a few hours on Monday morning before my flight so I headed down to the harbor.  I have memories of touring this big battle ship from when I was a kid.

There was a brand new boardwalk and shopping center along the harbor called "Canalside" and I guess if you visit you just have to get your picture with "shark girl"  I'm not quite sure the story behind this statue but I guess it's a thing.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

October 9-11:

We decided we needed to take our tent trailer out for one last campout before it got too cold and rainy.  Hyrum found us a great campsite in the crater of a volcano...how cool is that?  We camped on Paulina Lake in the Deschutes National Forest near Bend, OR.  The only bummer is that we wanted to hike through the lava river cave but it was already closed for the season.  I think we'll just have to come back another time:)

Adventure #1: we ran out of gas:) We didn't realize the elevation we were going to have to drive over plus the added drag of a tent trailer.  We sort of miscalculated our gas.  Luckily Hyrum was able to hitch a ride into the closest town (about 8 miles away) and then hitch a ride back.  We were all set and back on the road in about 45 minutes.

Because of the delay we didn't get into our campsite until it was almost dark but we did get this beautiful sunset as we were setting up our tent trailer.

We had a fantastic camp site surrounded by trees and just a few feet from the edge of the lake.

Emerson and Julian with a giant pumice stone they found while hiking around the Lava Lands visitor center

They had a really nice trail through a 75,000 year old lava flow.

We all agreed this old tree stump looked like Loch Ness!

Julian hanging out on the trail.  It was a pretty windy day

Jules and I hiking around the lava flow

We drove to an obsidian flow just a few miles from the lava tunnel.  It was an amazingly huge field of obsidian and other rocks that the boys loved hiking around and climbing on.

We thought this piece of obsidian sitting on the rock looked like our cat, Peter:)

One last stop for the day.  We drove to the top of Paulina Peak Summit.  It was super cold and windy up there but had a fantastic 360 degree view of the lakes and surrounding volcanic features.

All those bumpy hills in the background are volcanic cones and vents that have formed over millions of years.

Hyrum and I at the summit.  The cone between the two lakes is the remains of the largest volcano in the area.

Our last night camping was a bit treacherous.  A big wind storm came up and blew our tent trailer around until about 3:00 AM.  I didn't get much sleep, I kept thinking of all those tall trees around our campsite...BUT, in the morning all was calm and there was this beautiful fog over the lake.  It really made us wish we had brought the canoe along, the water was pure glass.

Soccer

For 8 weeks a year, from the end of August to the beginning of October, our church sponsors a soccer club.  It's only $5 to participate and it doesn't involve giving up any of our Saturdays so I am usually happy to have my boys participate.  I really was amazed at how much Julian has improved over the last time he played.  I guess he is getting older and understands you don't just have to chase the ball around the field with the whole group of kids.  Townsend and Emerson continued to amaze me with their speed and skills.  I'm so happy they all got to play this year!

This is what our garage looks like for 8 weeks a year.  There is lots of gear when 3 boys are all in soccer at the same time!

Julian!

I love that his tongue is sticking out.  Action shot!

Townsend taking the ball down the field.

Emerson makes his move:)

Random September

We took the boys to an indoor rock climbing gym.  They loved it!

Hyrum built a new fence for our yard

Julian and Daddy staining the new fence

Julian found his Halloween costume!

I ran a 1/2 marathon relay.  There were four girls on my team and we each ran a 5K section of the 1/2 marathon.  We were dressed as Wonder Woman...it was lots of fun!

At the start of the race, all ready to go...

At the end of the race, so happy to be done!

Julian always wants me to push him on the swing when we are at the playground.  I was getting a little grumpy with him because he is 6 and should be able to swing himself by now.  Then I stopped and thought about it for a minute and I realized he won't always ask me to push him on the swing.  One day I will push him on the swing and that will be the last day I ever push him on the swing.  It made me feel really sad and I told myself to appreciate the time I have right now with my boys and not always wish for them to grow up.