Pumpkin Carving Party

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
-George Eliot

Last Friday we had some of our favorite friends over for a pumpkin carving party...it was a blast! The rain even stopped for the evening so we got to be outside in the crisp air, drinking apple cider, sitting by the fire, and participating in some competitive pumpkin carving. Justin brought power tools, Kyle spent the day finding designs on the internet, and Heidi brought accessories for her pumpkin! This is why we love our Wenatchee family! Kels B even made roasted pumpkin seeds out of our pumpkin guts :-)

Petra brought her own little green pumpkin from her garden, Mason wore his monkey costume, Libby was the judge for the contest, and Jack ate some pumpkin guys saying, "mmmmm tastes like carved pumpkin"!

Hot cider in the warm house

Kyle gettin' the guts out

Justin making Minnie Mouse with a power saw

Posing by our pumpkins

Sarah brought a monkey to the party!

Libby the judge

Eating snacks by the fire

Had to move the party inside once it got too dark

Jack loves pumpkins!

Hard at work!

It was wonderful spending an evening with great friends. We are so blessed to have all these amazing people in our lives. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Libby chose "Grandma Heidi's pumpkin" as the winner....wonder why?!

Falling in love with FALL!

A cheesy title for a cheesy post...but it is so true!! Fall...you are my favorite!! Although I am kind of getting sick of pumpkin baked goods with cream cheese frosting, but that's probably a good thing. Here are some pictures from my favorite tree outside our bedroom window.

Timothy and the 5K

Since I have never been in a race before (except for Bon Bon and I, superwalkers at Bloomsday!), I decided that I should probably do something before the 1/2 marathon in November so I signed up for the Chelan Chase 5k and ran in my first race ever! It was great but I was a little overzealous. I figured, it's only 3.1 miles...even my shortest training days are more than that...I'm gonna run it in SUPERSPEEEEEEEEEEEED! Not a good idea. It kicked my butt. This cute little Chelan 5k royally destroyed me. I have been trying to pace myself with a 9:30-10 minute mile for the 1/2, but ran the 5k at a 7 minute mile. Yikes! I was dead by the time I hit the finish line. Oh well, live and learn!

We ran into (haha, no pun intended) friends from Whitworth, Kayla and Graham, in Chelan!

These pictures are SO unattractive...but I knew my mom would want to see themAlmost done!

The proceeds from this race went towards breast cancer research so it was pink galore! I had no idea about any of this when I signed up so when I got there and everyone was saying "thank you so much for doing this!" "This means so much to me", I was very confused. Of course, I just went along with it. "Hey, no problem!" "Your so welcome!" Apparently I'm more concerned about stepping stone races than good causes. Geeze Kels!

That night, Kyle opened the door to our back yard and found Timothy, our cute little frog friend! I was watching TV and Kyle came in, watched for a little bit and then said, "I think there is a frog outside that is cold". I ran to the door and there he was, the cutest little thing, frozen solid!! He was so cold he didn't even try to jump when I picked him up. Poor little guy, we had to save him! So I warmed him up a little, got him hoppin' around the house, jumped in to the car, and took him to the Myers! Don gave me a strange/death look and asked why the heck we were bring him a frog. Heidi fell in love like I did and we created a rescue strategy. Timothy is living happily in the Myers indoor plants. He loves it! Well...I think he does. We haven't found him since...

No time to change! Just threw on a robe and went to Don and Heidi's in my PJ's! We practically live there anyways so it was no big deal.

I am THANKFUL!

I have realized this week that I have been a whiner. Life have been hard lately, well, let me rephrase that. My JOB has been hard lately. Has really felt like a job and not a love. Anyways, so I have been complaining about it all the time and I think it is making the whole thing worse. SO....today is THANKFUL day!

Things I am THANKFUL for

• The big beautiful tree that is changing colors right outside my bedroom window
• A big glass of red wine
  
• My crockpot: nothing like coming home to yummy smells and dinner already made!
• My relationship with my mom. We have become the best of friends since I have been married and I am so thankful for her.
• Homemade bread
  
• Casual Friday
• Thomas my autistic student who always makes me laugh
  
• Nights with nothing planned. When I can just come home, snuggle with my husband, read a book and watch a show on HuLu.com
• Pumpkin ginger cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
• Bubble baths and a book club book
  
• Crisp air and needing to wear a warm coat or cozy sweatshirt
• The smell of new babies and holding a newborn (I love you Sunny!)
  
• Girlfriends that are more like family
• Dancing in the kitchen with my husband while doing the dishes
• Big Train Chai
• Alone time
  
• Getting mail
  
• Long distance friendships that are not tainted by the miles
• When a student decides to care about their education and gets their grade up
• Long runs that are refreshing and relaxing
  
• Clean kitchen
• Kids getting off the bus in front of our house and imagining them going home and telling their mom all about their day
• When Kyle knows exactly what to say and when to say it
  
• October
  

Fun Times with Good Friends

This month has been filled with good times with wonderful friends! The first weekend in October the other work crew bosses from Washington Family Ranch came and spent the weekend with us. It was a blast! They are such good friends and are so dear to us. We feel so blessed to have them in our life. They are the type of people who you can sit around with, do nothing at all, and still pee your pants laughing and have the time of your life! It was a wonderful weekend!

The whole gang (minus Kyle, who had a YL meeting) in Leavenworth

Jim, Mattea, and Jayme
The girls (Mandy, Shannon, Jayme, Mattea, and I) plus Jim who jumped in to the background!

Additionally, I got to go to California to visit one of my best friends Brooke and my new sister Jessie! Brooke is going to Azusa Pacific University so I got to see the school (it's beautiful!) and hang out on campus. It made me miss Whitworth and my college days so much! Just goes to show, you don't know what you've got till it's gone. Brooke is doing so well and I loved that I got the opportunity to see her in her "new life" as a college student. She is such a light to me. She has a way of speaking truth into my life in a way that no one else can and I am so thankful for her friendship. Brooke continues to bless everyone around her with the love of Christ that radiates through her. Such a blessing that I get to love her and be in a beautiful relationship with her.

Brooke and I also braved the public transportation system of California and made our way to LA to visit Jessie. It was wonderful! She has an AWESOME apartment right downtown, complete with a roof top pool. We went to a yummy sushi restaurant, toured Hollywood, and spent the day at Santa Monica Pier. It was the best! I feel so blessed to have Jessie as a part of my life. It was a definite perk when I married Kyle ;-) She is beautiful inside and out and so down to earth, making those around her feel loved and beautiful as well. I continue to be amazed with Jessie's patient spirit. She is the type of friend that would do anything for you and have a good time doing it. Her confidence inspires me and she can keep me laughing forever. Whenever I'm with Jess, I know I am going to have a good time. I appreciate sharing good conversations, fun memories, and lots of laughs with this girl. I love her and I am so thankful to have her in my life.Jessie and I on the Ferris Wheel

Brooke, Jessie, and I in front of Manns Chinese Theater

Santa Monica Pier