Miscellaneous Fall Stuff

Pizza with the Pastors at Cornerstone

Hannah invited Miss Jen

Matthew invited Pastor Josh

ice cream with friends after school one day

 Scott and I had talked about taking the kids to see Grove City someday.  When my friend Megan from California said they were going to homecoming, we decided this was the year.  Megan and I have kept up with each other by reading each other's blogs, but it's the first time we've seen each other since 2002!  It was really fun to catch up and see her kids in person.

It was Matthew's turn to have the kindergarten bear "Corduroy" for the weekend, so we showed him around campus.

Micah went on an overnight field trip with the sixth graders from school.  

The kids and I went to a bigger pumpkin farm one day to play.  Then the whole family went another day to a smaller local place to do the corn maze and pick out pumpkins to carve.

Hannah Soccer

Hannah played with the Mighty Kicks club again.  Like Micah, she also was playing in an older age division.  Although Hannah (and several other girls) was only 8 when the season started, they played in U11 in order to include a few older girls that wanted to play.    We really appreciate how positive and encouraging her coach is, and it's a great group of girls.  Hannah is improving and gaining confidence.  We are so proud of her!  Her team made it to playoffs, but lost in the first game.

waiting for the throw-in from her good buddy Stella

yes, yes she is the cutest soccer player you've ever seen.

cute, but fierce!

Micah Soccer

Scott coached Micah's team again this fall.  Unfortunately, they were placed in a U14 league, even though all the boys on the team are 12 years and under.  Despite the challenge, the boys grew and persevered.  They were one goal away from making it to playoffs!  Micah didn't play goalie much this season.  Partly because his team needed him in other positions, and partly because he's just not tall enough for the bigger goals.  He continued to be a key player on defense, as well as improving his skills in the midfield.
(Most of these pictures are from another parent.  I'll add his team photo when we receive it.)

The one tall boy in this picture was not actually on their team.  He was a guest player from an older team.

This was not the exact moment, but in this game there was a similar play where Micah dove for the ball.  The other player was unable to stop.  Micah took a pretty hard hit to the head and had visible streaks of bruises on his leg from the opponent's cleats.

Pretty much every game, the opponents were head and shoulders taller.

Micah is also running cross country.  Now that the soccer season has ended, he can put in a little more training to try to cut some seconds off his time for regionals next week.

Notre Dame

For the past few years, Scott and Micah have gone to a Notre Dame football game together.  This year we decided to make it a whole family experience.  Friends watched Baby L for us, and the kids skipped school on Friday.  We drove to South Bend and had a lot of fun on campus, ending with a pep rally in the evening.  We stayed in a hotel, then went back to campus the next morning for a few more events.  Once it was game time, Scott and Micah went to the stadium.  Matthew, Hannah, and I went to a nearby mall.  We entertained ourselves easily for a few hours before going back to get Scott and Micah and driving home.  We had beautiful weather, got to spend some time with our friends the Smiths, and enjoyed the family time.

I almost didn't post this so I could use it for our Christmas card.  I still might...

 One of the fun things we found to do at the mall - play with puppies!  Even Hannah, our die-hard cat-lover, admitted that it would be fun to have a dog.  :)

Hannah's birthday

For her ninth birthday this year, Hannah chose to have a kitty-themed party.  All the girls in her class plus our neighbor went to a park right after school.  They burned some energy on the playground, ate snacks, played a game that Hannah planned, and opened presents. 

I bet you've never seen a mint chocolate chip caticorn birthday cake before.  Well, now you have.

The girls spontaneously added "meow, meow, meow" to the happy birthday song.

On the day of her birthday, she chose going out for breakfast at a local place that serves chocolate covered bacon.  That afternoon she brought ice cream to share with her soccer team after their game.  Some of her teammates gave her extra passes to try to get her a goal on her birthday.  While she didn't get a goal, she had a lot of great attempts!

Miscellaneous Fun

 While Baby L was at a visit one day, we fit in a family bike ride.  It was my first time biking since my surgery.  And it was Matthew's first time doing a ride on a busy path with no training wheels.  I think we both did great.  :)

Matthew has half-days on Wednesdays and Fridays.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather one afternoon with a trip to the zoo.

 Our good friend Roy turned 40, and his wife Kerri planned a surprise party for him at a giant driving range in Columbus.  We had to get a little creative with childcare, but we were so glad we got to have a fun night away with friends.

First Days of School

Matthew and Hannah were first to go back to school this year.  Micah got a few extra days of summer as construction finished on the new middle school building.

Matthew is in kindergarten with Mrs. Kropp.  I think they've had 4 or 5 field trips already. 

I love how excited he looks!

Hannah is in third grade with Mrs. Hawes, who is fantastic.

Micah is in sixth grade, and is enjoying more freedom and responsibility in middle school.  He has some advanced placement classes to keep him challenged, is learning trombone, and loves walking home from school if he chooses.  (It's about a mile, including crossing a busy road.  So far he has done very well being responsible and safe.)

   A family that we know from Cornerstone lives right next door to the middle school.  They are incredibly gracious about opening their home to the community, including a pancake breakfast on the first day of school.  The boys ate their fill, then walked over to school.