Walks and Snuggles

When we haven't been running in all the directions, we've been enjoying a lot of walks in perfect, sunny weather, and snuggling up with piles of blankets as the weather turns colder.

Laney loves to park herself on the newest and most recently laundered piece of fabric she can find on any given day. This woolen blanket came from Bolivia, and she loves it!  Jason said she could have it. 

Walking buddies!

Not a walk, but a lovely day outside with treats from Grandma!  This delicious meal turned into a catastrophe when I flung garlic butter dipping sauce (which I have never bought once in my entire life) straight onto Leah's pants. Chaos and pandelerium ensued, and, eventually, a replacement pair of pants were purchased. 

I'm pretty sure we live in a postcard. 

This is the biggest leaf Noah had ever seen! The size of his face!

And one day we definitely found Sylvester and tried to activate his magic pebble.

Poor Emma took a GREAT fall on one fall walk- she bailed off a speeding scooter and went flying!  I'm amazing and so grateful she wasn't hurt any more than the general ache she felt for days afterward. 

One day I couldn't find Laney anywhere.  She was hiding!

Another non-walk happy moment- these girls love creating together and they come up with the funnest activities!

Someone is not ready for the cold. 

My favorite portal to peace. 

City walks!

Same spot, just separated by one week and daylight savings time. Both magical. 

Colorful views out every window are slowly giving way to stick season. 

Some days aren't colorful at all, but are still perfectly beautiful. 

I am soaking up the sun every day I can!

Laney is clearly also worried about the long nights and cold days ahead.

And she hates wearing a sweater.

Let! me! in!!!

Dat moose ate my pumpkin. 

Give me all the sunshine.

Puppy time out. 

Angelica and Eliza are back!  But where is Pecky?!

Snuggling up in the fall is fun!

Jester Park Field Trip

On a perfect fall day, I got to join Noah at Jester Park for a field trip of hiking, canoing, and pond creature catching! It was so much fun to spend the day with him and his friends. Noah is one popular dude!

No worries from this experienced little paddler!

How many memories do we have at this very spot?  It's one of our favorites in all of Iowa. 

A City Date

 One Tuesday afternoon Emma and I took Noah downtown for his symphony rehearsal.  We tried to get to the top of the tallest building in DSM, with no luck.  But we had a great time trying!

1000% Emma is my spirit animal.  It's easy to laugh when we are together. And we met City Squirrel too, off to the office for another day of hard work. ;) 

An Extra Special Temple Trip

 In September the kids and I hopped into the car for a trip to the temple.  Sometimes I go into the baptistry with the big kids while Noah watches a movie and FaceTimes with Grandma, sometimes I stay with him while the kids go in by themselves or with Daddy. This time Noah and I stuck together! 

It was a beautiful evening, and one of the last chances we'll have to wait outside the temple while everyone else goes in.  We walked around the temple grounds and looked at the pioneer headstones and the big trees and asked the man who was taking pictures of the biggest pioneer statue if we could take a quick look at it.  It turned out he was a Church photographer and he asked if he could take pictures of us!  We ended up having a sweet little photoshoot- maybe some day we'll see these pictures in one of the Church magazines! 

I love these pictures but this one might be my favorite- Noah tolerates being hugged or holding hands, but just barely. His stiff pose cracks me up- I get this reaction every day! I always tell him that some day he'll find a girl that he's more than happy to touch!

We love the temple!  It is so very easy to get swept up in the busy-ness of every day life, but the temple is the perfect pause button to remind us about what matters most in this life and in the life to come! And it's just a few more weeks until these four can go to the temple together! (I'm sure I'll still tag along though.)