Fall Leaves

This has become a tradition in the fall months and usually peaks in November for us:  the raking and collection of leaves in our front yard.  At least once we will rake them all into a pile and have some crazy runs and jumps into the pile.  The bigger they get, the more leaves are needed to pad their landing...

We buried ourselves in the leaves for this picture.

Ready, Set, race to the pile.

Leaf Fight!

Christmas is coming

Why is Christmas starting in November?  Well there are a few days after Thanksgiving in November this year, so we can be legitimate.  We did start decorating our house for Christmas and soon we will get our tree too.  The kids love this time of year and are asking to wrap presents for their cousins and for each other.

Can't wait for these stockings to be filled...

Then we found this hide-out at Savemart.  Could this be a time-out chamber?  Not likely.

Griffin 5y 7mo

Griffin is part of the double-trouble that our kittens experience lately.  They get carried around slung over shoulders, nestled into bed with, read to, and generally smothered with affection for better or worse.  But the kittens keep coming back, so they must be enjoying some aspect of all the attention.

Griffin is still the little ham of our family, making little jokes regularly and trying to be funny, so we have captured a few of those moments for you to enjoy as well.

I am the masked bacon man, turkey bacon that is...

The cats are actually staying in my lap, and I am only lightly grabbing their fir to be sure they stay put...

I am ready for Movember. Who do you think I am?  Abe Lincoln or Brian Wilson?

Is there room in this bed for me too, Leia?

Come join the crazy leaf party!

Bryce 7y 4mo

Bryce wrapped up his soccer season last of the three boys.  His team finished the season with a win, just like both of his brothers' teams did.  He also scored his second goal of the season in his second to last game of the season.  Overall, his team went 6-3-1 and Bryce chipped in a number of assists when he made great passes to his teammates on crosses that turned into goals.  He really grew in his knowledge of how to play the game and enjoy having teammates who can complement his abilities.

Mom, can you capture me flinging my shoes off?

Was that too fast?

...okay how about just my landing?

Coach Francisco and his daughter did a wonderful job with Bryce's team this year.

The whole team celebrated a fun season at a local pizza place.

I got my second goal tonight!

Garrett 9y 6mo

Garrett is only six months away from turning ten.  Wow, that sounds old.  He enjoyed a memorable month as his soccer team, the Earthquakes, went into the playoff tournament having only lost one game all season.  Garrett played left defense all season and helped shutdown the opposition, giving up only 12 goals all season in 9 games.  They went 2-0-1 in the 3 game playoff to earn a spot in the championship game.  The championship game was against the one team that had beaten them in the regular season.  The game started out with an exchange of goals, but then by halftime, the Earthquakes broke out to a 4-1 lead.  While this would seem to be a large lead, this was the same lead they had on this team in the regular season, before losing 6-4.  In the second half, they kept the pressure on and extended the lead to 8-1.  With 7 minutes to play, Garrett was moved to left forward.  Shortly after moving off of defense, the other team scored their second goal, making it 8-2.  Then, Garrett had three scoring chances in the next 4 minutes, putting the final goal in the right side of the net with his right foot.  This was his first goal of the season, and it meant that everyone on the team had scored a goal during the season.  They celebrated their convincing victory with their parents and siblings.  This was the first championship any of our children have won.

After soccer season, I had to take up a new hobby, so that seems to be leaf collecting for now...

During warmups, getting ready for a big kick.

The parents and siblings dressed up in "Go Earthquakes" shirts to cheer on the team in the playoffs.

Garrett with Noah and Ryan, the last three goal scorers on the team came up with a combined 7 in the final four games.

Ryan, Leland, Zachy, Dillon, Trell, Brett, Garrett, Jake, Drew, Jackson, Noah--missing from the picture, Jack.

The stalwart at left defense stands ready.

The back row of coaches:  Josh, Charles, Dave with the champs.

Jackson (left) and Garrett teamed to log most of the minutes on defense.  They were a great duo.

Jake (middle), the goalie, and Dillon (right), defensive midfielder were the rest of the defense who got goal-side and cleared the balls back down the field to the forwards. These three have played together every year since Mike's Mini Men at 4 y/o.

Dad, where is the champagne?

Loved sharing a championship with one of my best friends, Noah.

The final bracket and scores for the championship Earthquakes of U10.

Thanksgiving Activities

Thanksgiving has become quite an eventful day for us.  We started out with a 5K run, which we didn't perform so well in last year.  So we had our kids training on the treadmills to get some practice in before the big race.  We dressed up as 3 pilgrims and 2 turkeys for the event.  When the race was done, the five of us finished within the top seven places out of 25 participants.  Then there was a little informal basketball game followed by a yummy breakfast.  After a brief break, we took to the football field to play flag football.  The game ended in a tie, but all of us either caught or threw a completed pass.

Later, we enjoyed some time with Brett's family in Tracy.  We had a delicious dinner and shared five things that we are thankful for.  The cousins practiced and then performed three skits for the adults, what fun they had.  Now they are planning their Christmas edition.  We also celebrated Grammy's birthday this day as we were all together to honor her.

The invitation to the 5K run, breakfast, and flag football game.

A race bib for the 5K run--we came out strong.

Turkeys:  Joy and Griffin, Pilgrims:  Brett, Garrett, Bryce

Do the pilgrims catch the turkeys on Thanksgiving?

Breakfast after the run while watching a certain sponsored parade.

Brett, over center, is ready to receive the ball from Bryce.  Yes that is a cellphone on his butt...his excuse...he was on-call.

The after game, let's play again crew:  3-on-3, our boys against Ben, Jack, and Molly.

Our team had to play some man to man defense...Will and Jeremiah get their instructions from Joy.

Griffin takes a turn at playing center, this play was going to be a quick hitter to Andy.

Happy Birthday Grammy!

Thanksgiving with Family.