Fall: pumpkins, beef & falling leaves

On Monday, we carved our pumpkins.  My hands were too goopy most of the evening, so I didn't take many pictures.  But I got this cute one of Torah with her pumpkin.  :-)

On Tuesday, Torah & I drove up to Arlington to pick up our beef for the year.  Every year, we buy a farm-raised, grass fed cow, and we split it with a friend.  It will usually last us close to a full year.  This is what half a cow looks like in our meat freezer.  

Nathan bought a little electric fireplace for his Bremerton office.  He put it together in our living room.  Torah LOVED it and would play in front of it for hours.  It cracked me up to hear our little millennial 4-year old say, "Baba, can I plug in the fire?"

This is the fall progression of my favorite sumac tree in our front yard.  This was over the course of about 3 weeks. 

4-year old daydreams of ponies.
This picture was actually from last week - at a birthday party that Torah attended - but a friend just sent it to me & I absolutely love it.
(Click on it to see it bigger.)  

Today was Micah's first Sunday blessing the sacrament.  It is tradition in our ward that the boy's father helps him for his first time.  It was neat that his best friend, Russ, was up there with him also.  The only thing better would have been if Jared could have been there.

Fall Fun and Torah's 4th birthday

We had a Relief Society dinner and for the activity everyone painted a picture of a pumpkin.  I have never painted before and found it very intimidating, but also extremely relaxing and enjoyable.

Last Saturday, Micah referee'd Adana's soccer game.  It was fun to see them both out on the field together. 

We had so much fun wandering around Suyematsu Farm, looking for our Halloween pumpkins. 

Torah was invited to a birthday party at a horse farm.  They all got to take turns riding ponies.  She LOVED it!!
Little girls + Ponies = Too Adorable!!

Saturday night, as Torah's birthday cake was baking, our oven exploded in a flash of sparks and sputtering flames.  I just carved out the uncooked part of the cake and heaped on extra frosting to fill in the gaps.  I don't think anyone even noticed.

My little cake baking helper.

4-year old Torah!
She waited patiently all day long before opening her presents.  (We had to wait for Baba & Micah to get home from Utah.)

Torah's birthday celebration with the Hamners.

Instagram Update

First day of preschool.
#BethanyLutheranPreschool  #Grasshopperclass

Happiness is ... a lovely breakfast on a quiet, sunny morning.
#figs  #dolma  #brie  #egg  #cucumber  #contentment

Only on Bainbridge ... we wanted a yummy, healthy lunch, so we headed to the local Chevron gas station.
#organic  #homemade

Found this heartbreaker in Adana's writing journal.
#sheREALLYmissesherAbi

Happy National Chocolate Milkshake Day!
#LotsofFoodPostsLately  #foodisgood

Sure beats the bus!
#coolestBabaever

Happy National Cheeseburger Day!!
#jakespickup

Keepin' it classy.
#Fridaynighthighlights

As of today, I have been a mom for 18 years.  He's a man now - handsome, smart, devoted to his family, his faith & his country (yay, he can vote now!)  But he'll always be my "little" boy.  I love you, Abi!  Happy Birthday!

Just attended Women's Conference with my sweet girl.
#womensmeeting

Fantastic half marathon with wonderful friends!
#timeforaburgerfriesandashake

Also got to reconnect with my high school BFF at the race.  It's been 24 years!

'Twas a lovely day for the theater!
#RikkiTikkiTavi

Because a trip to Seattle is always about the food.
#sweetpotatomaplebutterandbaconsandwich  #MollyMoons

Leavenworth Half Marathon

(Random stuff that didn't make it onto Instagram last week...)

Adana was in charge of our Family Home Evening lesson last Monday.  She had us reenact the story of Naaman from the old testament.  He was the guy who had leprosy & was healed by the prophet Elisha.  Adana gave everyone a part & carefully picked out our costumes.  Emma played the part of poor Naaman, who not only suffered from a vivid case of spotted leprosy, he also apparently had red-checked hair & wore a spiffy fedora.

We CAN NOT get enough of our fabulous weather!  

This was around mile 9 of the Leavenworth half marathon that I ran on Saturday.  It was a beautiful course and, except for these occasional slight hills, it was delightfully flat.

Our Leavenworth Half team after the run, waiting for our BURGERS, FRIES & SHAKES!  Sporting our lame swag (we thought this race was giving hoodies - boo on just getting a cheap-o baseball shirt) and our sweet medals.