Autumn has come and gone!

At the end of Halloween night, Dave and I decided that it just hadn't been a scary enough Halloween for our kids....so we dropped them off on this street that looked like that street in the Legends of Sleepy Hallow. We had them walk about a 1/2 mile down a VERY dark road. While Dave and I were parked down the road to wait for them, a policeman pulled up behind us and wanted to know why we were just parked there and loitering around. So, it was a little embarrassing to admit we had just left our kids on some spooky street...is that bad?
Bella was the "grudge" girl.

Michael was "in character" the whole night.

Our friends got some super cute little puppies! (no, I still don't want a dog)

This Halloween was so cold that the costumes were chosen by "what can you put on over your snowsuit?" Some of our great friends here, the Selle's, had us over for chicken noodle soup before trick-or-treating. Jane picked it up really fast and would even push all the kids out of the way, so she could get to the candy first. It was hilarious to watch!

So we named our van "white trash" and here's the family that fits it perfectly!

Here we are, freezing to death, at Tommy's football game.

Rachel

Michael

Bella

We have the best leaf pile in the neighborhood!

I don't know how, but Jane knew that she was supposed to jump in the leaves and wanted everyone to bury her.

This is the crazy-gorgeous tree in my front yard (picture taken 2 weeks ago...now there is not 1 leaf left on it!)

Last year, our fall lasted about a week...this year we had four whole weeks, so I'm not going to complain...much...

We Have a TEENAGER!!!

It's the end of a fabulous football season! Tommy rounded off his year with a touchdown and an interception in the last game. He also had some amazing runs and tackels! I'm not going to miss driving him to practice every day, but I will miss the games.

Just so you know, Tommy is now known as Tom...(but not to his family!)

Tommy just turned 13 on the 19th of October. He is growing fast. He likes to cook his own food, program things on his laptop, play four-square with the neighbors, play football, hang out at the YMCA, play computer games and the WII, tease his brother, camp with the scouts, play with Jane, watch Glen Beck with his mom, and do any kind of activity with Dave.

He really is enjoying 7th grade...he likes his tech ed class...girls like him...