Now in Reverse...Let's Do September.

I know I just blogged the whole most of the month of October.  But we had several big events in September.   It was a fantastic month.  Let's start with the first day of school!  The first day of second grade for Jack and Wyatt.  Like the first day of school!  We can't believe they have already been second graders for over three months.  They have a great class this year and we are blessed with two wonderful teachers.

Jack at his table sitting next to one of his best buddies on his right with the green back pack.

Wyatt is ready to go.  

 We got settled into the school routine and after school activities and started planning two birthday celebrations.  We had Avery's woodland birthday party a couple of days before her birthday.  It was such a fun theme!  I have only planned August birthday parties for the boys so it was fun to do a fall theme.  I had so much fun picking out invitations, decorations, etc.  We had the party at a nearby park.

Sweet birthday girl.

This cake was actually so easy and I love how it turned out!  I didn't even know for sure if the birch piece would just sink in the cake or not until just before.  The boys and I picked out the animals, tree, and birch piece at Michaels.  I bought the straws online and it just came together.  I love how it turned out.

Avery was so excited about her first big party.  I seriously want to pick her up and squeeze her here; well, all the time.

When I was making these masks (from a kit) I worried with each one that the masks would last just a few minutes before the masks would tear or the kids would just toss them on the ground.

So I took a group shot the moment the kids put them on.  But should have waited...because everyone wasn't there yet (Wyatt was but isn't even in this pic) and they DID wear them.  And really got into playing in the woods pretending they were woodland animals.

We had a fun nature hunt.  My friend Kelly made the nature hunt tags.  They turned out so cute.

Time for cake!

Time for presents!

Did I mention that we had real woodland animals show up at the party?

 So fun!
And here is baby girl on her actual birthday morning.  Happy Birthday cutie!

30 September.  Not only was it Geoff, Matt, and Avery's birthday, it was Geoff's change of command.  He took over the Operation Support Squadron that day.  I mean, can you just sense the excitement on Avery's face?

We are so proud of Geoff.  He wanted a low-key change of command so they had it in the squadron.  Great speeches.

Guidon passed (I found out later they added this so I could have a "photo op").

Exciting morning!

Avery opening cards later that day.    

                      It was a week of chocolate cake for us.  Then we made another two layers for this cool campfire cake I found on pinterest.  Just like Avery's cake, it was SO easy but looked so cool.

    So if anyone has a camping party to plan...make.this.cake.

    I know the boys really look like Geoff...but this picture made me laugh because they really look alike since they are making the same face.

Halloween and October Re-wind

I went back and forth on costumes this year but the boys settled on a Star Wars theme and we went with it.  We ordered some and hoped for the best.  None of our kids have ever seen Star Wars but they have played Star Wars Legos and the Playstation Lego games.  Avery was a sport dressing like Queen  Padme Amidala (Queen of Naboo, folks.)

 We stayed in our neighborhood to trick-or-treat this year and it was awesome - but cold!  The kids could run ahead and it wasn't too crowded.  We just did a loop around the neighborhood and it was perfect.  I became very fond of the new neighbors up the street for handing out take-out coffee cups (I am talking "grande" size in Starbucks-speak!) of steaming homemade hot cider.  

Our Halloween night sky.

I was also thankful our friends had a wagon and there was a space for Avery because I wasn't able to carry her any more.

The weekend prior we were invited to our friend's church "Trunk or Treat".  It was raining so they set everything up inside.  All five of us dressed up like pirates.  

Here are Captains Wyatt and Jack with Andy and Marley at the church.

Geoff and Avery before a Monday day off golfing date.

 Rock climbing fun

 Walking in the rain during school pick-up.

               Cute self portraits of the kids in their class.

Jack and Wyatt's school did a "gallop" walk-a-thon at the new high school track.

The boys played fall soccer this year and it was a way better experience then last spring.  We had great coaches, they only practiced one hour a week, and they all played well together and even won most of their games.  Wyatt scored about five scores this season and was the "most improved player". Jack won the award "best attitude".  The coach said that Jack was happy to play. And happy if he didn't play.  That pretty much sums it up.

    Avery and her friend Norah kept each other entertained on the sidelines.

 Just a fun after church picture.

 Gorgeous fall colors by the school.

The boys left their teeth hanging in so long that at one point their front teeth could stick almost straight out at a 90 degree angle.  Wyatt lost his first one.....

Then Jack lost his two front teeth in 24 hours.  The other teeth were already there.  Wyatt lost his other front tooth a week later.