Busy Kids

I love autumn time, the weather has been so perfect and we have just been playing and playing. Genevieve got to go with Neal to his school one day because he only had to turn in an assignment. They rode the train, and drank hot chocolate at the school, and it was the coolest day ever.

We helped with Palma's garage sale.

Genevieve was the best helper of all.... 

she provided the entertainment.

She had a blast just playing with all the treasures all day long.

There is nothing like a good pair of pumps!

We decorated Halloween cookies with Amber and her kiddos, 

it was a frosting and sprinkle party for sure!

We made some pumpkins to put in the front window,

Genevieve cut out her shapes all by herself. So cute. 

I've been playing on a co-ed volleyball league lately [finally!]. I subbed for this random team that was looking for help, and then one of their players quit and they asked me to stay on the team. Woo! Now I have a really great game to play once a week. Our team is fun, it feels good to get out and play hard, and apparently I get some air when I serve. Neal was off of school last week, so he got to bring G and see me play with my team. I loved having them along, they are such good sports!

To jump in a pile of Leaves

Aunt Elisa joined in

[flossing with a blade of grass]

We left the pile of leaves on the front lawn for a few days.

Every time we went to or from the car G had to do a mighty jump.

She has totally mastered the art of jumping in a pile of leaves.

It's one of her favorite things to do these days...

The Orchard

We went to an orchard with my cute cousin and her family,

they showed us the way to do things

starting off with some brats cooked in apple cider

Genevieve learned that apples grow on trees

And we also got to go on a hayride

pulled by a tractor

(insert memories of the Dell and Grandpa Patten here)

G got to slide down the orchards brand new slide

it was so big, and she totally loved it

We also got to pet the "wambies"

and climb on the huge haystack.

We finished off the evening with

a gallon of fresh apple cider, oh yum!

It was a perfect autumn adventure!

We went on a hike

Minehaha creek, on our way down to the Mississippi

Check out how big those tree trunks are!

Lock and Dam near our house,

aren't those autumn colors gorgeous?

The Mississippi is really low right now,

in comparison to the floods earlier this summer

{babysitting a baby}

We have had a whole week of amazing weather here 

Our windows have been open constantly

and it's been around 78 degrees.

It has been so beautiful and so perfect,

we can't stand being inside!