A Glorious Fall Day

I'm capturing past days for the blog...this folder was titled "family dinner," but I remember nothing about dinner.  We were home from church as it was a "covid week" for us....we have noticed this year we are constantly being notified we are "close contacts"...and so we dutifully do our 10 days. Our natural immunity is holding us well. CyRi and CoRielle have just had covid in their homes and were good to visit. 

I remember a glorious fall day. Cy brought Willow to meet Millie. They did pretty good. 

Carrie has been working the night shift and many weekends, but she had time off this day. They called and came out. CoRielle dropped by as well. It didn't take long before Liv and Benny had us all working towards their vision...so many leaves to rake. 

Arielle has been wanting to try colors on her hair. Cory did a thing for her. 

Cory, Danny (11 months), Arielle 

Such a good Dad! 

Hello, sunshine! 

So many leaves - a kid's paradise. As we went through the day Benny and Liv kept returning to the leaves. The pile was jumped in, moved to beneath the slide and slid into...and finally there was the great leaf war of 2021. 

Swimming in leaves

Michael brought a load of wood over to the fire ring...of COURSE we had a fall fire and s'mores. 

Benny LOVES to help Papa and his Daddy with chores. 

GG and Stacia chilling by the fire

Arielle, Benny, Allie, Livie, Cy and Willow

Warming up chocolate while the marshmallows roast

Stacia, Cory, Arielle, Danny, Allie

Cory, Arielle & Danny 

Someone got a great idea...but maybe it's an idea whose time hasn't quite come. An Oreo S'more....

Papa's new wagon is going to be GREAT for dip-netting, but it's also wonderful for hauling so many things around here - including grandblessings. 

Livie and Benny get an assist from Papa

Go Livie!

We love fall. In recent years I've begun to dread fall as winter gets a tad bit long in our area. This year, rather than dreading fall signaling the advent of winter, we are working to embrace fall for fall. I put up decorations even though "they'll be covered in snow soon." We are enjoying each day and trying not to think, "This may be the last fall fire," but seriously, I do think this was our last fall fire. LOL  Soon we'll be moving into winter bonfires. 

Fall Magic & Fun

 We woke up this a.m. with lots of leaves on our trees. A slight wind began to blow.... At one pointed I looked out the window and leaves were falling and floating, like the cherry blossoms do in Japan. It was magical.  

I walked out to the hammocks to watch the falling leaves.  

I stood in the middle of the woods and watched as leaves floated to the ground all around me. Unfortunately, the photos don't do justice to the falling leaves. 

This evening our trees are bare, and the lawn is carpeted in leaves. 

The Grandma tree is bare

Arielle and the boys stopped by this afternoon. Millie was too excited to behave mannerly and had to go outside. 

Such a pathetic puppy - watching the fun from the window. 

Danny's unique art technique. 

Benny's drawing. 

Loving Fall!

Fall is gorgeous in our part of Alaska.  Fall is also the season where we frantically exert energy to FINISH PROJECTS before winter.  We have learned in the last few years - winters are long. If a project doesn't get finished it WILL wait for spring. We are intentionally choosing to embrace FALL this year. To get outside as much as possible and to store up as many memories as possible to carry us through the upcoming winter. 

Fall walks are stunning...lots of colors, leaves to play crunch and play in....

Allie, me, Stacia

Millie does NOT approve of flying leaves on walks

Michael and I are attempting to use our respite hours to be outside rather than simply eating out each week. There are plenty of upcoming dates which will need to be based in doors. Today, we stopped and walked along the Matanuska River. 

Our muscles ache at the end of fall days. We are content to relax inside with hot drinks and another escape room to be mastered by these three. 

Lazy Afternoon with NOLAN

 Nolan is off work today...in fact, Nolan will be off of work for the upcoming week.  He is SUPPOSED to be working 30 - 35 hours a week while he is in college full time. Unfortunately, this seems to translate to 45 - 60 hours a week.  The VA is paying for Nolan's college. They mandate he take 18 credits a semester and that he make a certain GPA.  Nolan decided the only way to get the time off he needs would be to take the week off. 

He kicked off the week by attending church and reconnecting with us. It was a gloriously lazy Sunday afternoon.