Fall Catch-up

My friend across the street took some really cute pictures that I've been meaning to upload. They have some great trees for dropping leaves in their yard and they let us come jump in the leaves one day. It was such a perfect day, weather-wise.

My boy

Looking at this baby face makes me want to freeze time:

Don't grow up and become a man, just stay my baby forever.
Not possible? Well, I guess that's OK.

All smiles

Mid-conversation with his little friend, Sydney:

Too cute

Working hard on that leaf pile:

Playtime!

I thought this one was funny...

So sweet

I was messing around with the camera the other night and took these...

I had no idea he was smiling like that. So funny.

Natalie all ready for the ball, with homemade crown, veil and everything.

Elizabeth finished her soccer season off with a team pizza party:

In line with some teammates for her trophy:

My beautiful soccer star:

Next up: Thanksgiving and Natalie's birthday.

Surprise Visit and Halloween

Last Thursday, we got a surprise visit from Grandpa Tom and Grandma Lorna. It was so fun to see them and we were glad they made the long drive out to visit us.They got to come to Elizabeth's soccer game on Saturday and Grandpa got some good pictures.

Look at her running after that ball!

Natalie loves to play her own soccer game on the sidelines:

Playing together at halftime:

The fans

The littlest fan

Grandma was also a lifesaver when it came to Halloween. She worked hard and made Elizabeth an apron and an underskirt for her Alice in Wonderland costume and it turned out so perfect!

Here's Alice next to one cute little witch:

Alice and the rabbit with the witch:

With her broom:

Not too thrilled about the costume:

Just for fun, here's a baby bunny comparison:

Nate

Natalie

Elizabeth

We all went to a Trunk or Treat and the girls had a blast and scored quite a bit of candy. It was a good thing, too, because we didn't buy any extra candy since we didn't get any trick-or-treaters last year. We got a few this year and the girls were SO excited to hand out candy that they didn't even care about giving away their own. We'll have to take them out for some real trick-or-treating next year.

GOAL!

Here's a video of Elizabeth's first goal. As you can see, Daddy was very proud. I walked up just in time to see it, also.

I suppose she should have passed it to one of her teammates but they don't really enforce that rule this year and Elizabeth took advantage! :) It's fun to see her really getting into the games this year and running hard.

Photo Shoot

We had a fun photo shoot the other day. Nate was being so smiley. I loved it. I can't believe these three are mine. How amazing is that?






And here is Elizabeth's soccer picture. I thought her smile was so great. Is it possible to show more teeth in a single picture?

Growing up

Elizabeth started soccer this week. It seems like a big milestone to me. Maybe just because I remember playing soccer at her age. Plus she looks so big in her (albeit tiny) shin guards and cleats. It was so fun to watch her.

I love this picture because it shows her laughing.
She was really having fun:

During one of her water breaks, she ran back to us and said "I love soccer practice!" Hopefully the love will continue. It has been unbearably hot. It's funny to see her get all red and sweaty because she would never push herself that much if she were just playing outside. This will definitely be good exercise for her.

Our little soccer girl

Someone else is growing up, too. Or at least older :). We celebrated Joe's birthday last week. It was really low-key and of course I didn't remember to take any pictures. I did surprise him with tickets to go see the play Into the Woods. We had fun going to that. Neither of us had seen it before but we love the music. He got a very ugly-looking but tasty lemon cake on his birthday. He also got about 10 homemade cards from his daughters with various heartfelt sentiments expressed inside them (One of Elizabeth's said: "I love you Dady. I really love Dady.").

I am certainly glad that Joe came into this world on that fateful, hot and humid day in Indiana 28 years ago (Sidenote: For once I can somewhat sympathize with Marsha--being pregnant in the summer is no fun. I am looking forward to someday being cool again. Or at least not covered in sweat. Still, I have no room to complain. California is no Indiana). What would I do without Joe? I wouldn't have someone to patiently fulfill my random pregnancy wishes. To get me laughing after an exhausting day with the kids. To talk to about anything and everything. I had no idea how good I would have it when, as he would say, I roped him into marrying me (not true :).

I love you, Joe.