Bye bye summer, welcome Autumn!

In the mornings it is cold enough outside for coats and even mitten if the kids will allow it.  Here is Shipton headed out to check on the garden and raspberries.

This cracked me up.  Le insisted on a t-shirt, but put on his boots and mittens.  It has been tricky to dress kids with cold mornings, but hot afternoons.  He didn't want to change twice and knew he would be warm enough like this (Le).

I have no idea why, but Shipton stepped up to the sink, put the dishrag on his head, then played with the faucet head for a good 20 min.  

Gavin reading

Shipton stacking biscuits.

Gavin

We have been consistently holding piano lessons this year and this girl practices hard!  It has been fun to wait to start her until she is older.  I cannot believe how much easier it is than the 5-year-olds I would try to work with as beginners.

Leland picked corn from the garden.

I never cease to be amazed of the things the kids come up with.  In just the past 2 weeks off the top of my head they put on a rodeo (part pictured above with Leland riding in his "chariot" with Sennika as his horse), turned our house into a hotel including room numbers and keys, cow boys in the wild west.  This is just our everyday lives and I. LOVE. IT!!!

And now Gavin riding the chariot too.

Shipton was talking to the mixer.

A rare moment of all 4.  Enjoying lunch at the counter together.

Here they are dressed up as cowboys (and Senn a cowgirl).  As Mark and I planned out our full Saturday last week, we didn't have the wild west on our list.  After breakfast, all 3 big kids came running upstairs dressed in cowboy attire and asked us if we wanted to play.  Mark and I met eye and both smiled about the same time and headed off to find the right attire.

Shipton playing

Leland announced "Let's take a family picture."  This is the picture he took with Mom's steadying hands.

Playing rough with Dad

Gavin

Selfies mastered

The kids have been playing star fall lately and getting the biggest hoot out of it.

Shipton helping Dad to rake pine needles.

Gavin playing on the play set

With Senn

and Le

Shipton with the fall colors in the mountains near our home

Gavin

Sennika

Leland (He was the happiest kid to get his picture taken.)  I love how he just stepped right up and stood tall.

Dad and kiddos

Mom and kids

Family picture on the timer

Another Mom with kids

One more family

More Le on his chariot

I think we are getting better at selfies.

This was another funny, almost unreal activity.  Leland decided to "go fishing."  He took some floss and a carrot and went fishing for Shipton.  Shipton played along pretty well.  Then Leland's face lit up and he said, "Mom, get me an apple."  We all know how much Sennika loves apples.  After he had tied an apple to the floss, he called Sennika up from downstairs and giggling, he held out the floss.  She cracked up and they spent about an hour switching places back and forth between "the fish" and "the fisherman."  It's moments like this that remind me what a fun job I truly have.

See?  Selifie fun. :)

BUT, Gavin and I are still mastering it together.  HE IS SUCH A FUNNY KID!!!

Gavin and Leland reading together

Gavin got a kick out of his enlarged nostrils and teeth.

We have started to have a few rain storms in the past few weeks.  Senn and Shipton looking for lightning with Dad.

Then Senn thought it was funny too. :)

Shipton playing with his trains.

Shipton singing.  He consistently sits down to play and sings, "Too many airplanes."  I am not sure  where that came from.

I LOVE this one!  His sweet and handsome smile!