It's Fall Y'all

Our first Fall down here in the south, and I have to say, I'm very happy to be here and not back in Illinois!  We had 80 degrees this weekend!  We enjoyed a night under the full moon and stars, camping in the back yard.

Fall is full of Family visits! 
Early in October, my Dad and his Mom, my Grandma Trude... who will be 90 this year... drove all the way out here from California for a week!  Dad always has to keep busy, and I always have at least 5 projects going at a time (guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) in any event, he was a huge help!  He put in wood floors in my master bedroom and closet, both of which were necessary after the dog decided the carpet was her chew toy and piddle pad. 

He also fixed and finished my chicken coop... complete with hen boxes for laying! Donnie came out to help his Papa Thom!  Sweet boy!

And wouldn't you know, the girls started laying as soon as they were give a proper spot! 

 

Speaking of Donnie... we also had a nice visit with all the Kern's!

It was so heart warming to see my children get to know and love their Great Grandmother, just the way I did as a child... and still do!  And to see my daughter snuggled up in my Dad's arms, was almost like looking at myself and my Dad, if I were to have a time machine and an aerial view! 
So sweet! 

Thank you Dad, and Thank you Grandma... for all your help with the house and kids!  And for making the looooong drive out!
We had so much fun and will treasure the memories!

 

Just before Halloween, we had our annual visit from Aunty Tricia and Uncle Mark! 

We didn't get to spend Halloween together this year because poor Uncle Mark needed to get back for a hip replacement surgery!  Glad to hear all went well with that!  We had a really fun visit! 
As usual, we packed a lot in to a short amount of time!  Thank you both for taking the kids out for the day and for taking us all to a new pumpkin farm this year.  The kids enjoyed a train ride, hay maze, hay ride, and feeding the goats and long horns before picking out their pumpkins!
Uncle Mark, thank you for carrying and carving the pumpkins, I know that was a workout! 

 

 

 

The boys enjoyed an intense game of Monopoly with their Uncle Mark!  Maddie enjoyed a good snuggle!  Tricia and I enjoyed the big thunder storm over a good drink and some good conversation!

 

 

It was so nice visiting with you both!
Thank you too... both of you for teaching Brynlee how to resemble a respectable dog!  She now knows how to walk on a leash and heel in one short walk with Uncle Mark!  We're still working on keeping her off the furniture and getting her to her bed.  We once coined Tricia the Baby Whisperer and now Uncle Mark is the Dog Whisperer. 
Here's a video of AJ picking the pumpkin he thought he could get to the car... so funny!

For Halloween, Jeff came to have dinner with us and go trick or treating.
Maddie and I were Flappers, the boys were Gangsters... they held a lot of unsuspecting people up for all the candy they had... while Maddie flashed her dimples and took home more than her share!

 

No, I didn't cut my hair... it's a wig! ;)

Jeff and I mediated on the 11th of November with out going to court, which was nice.
Paperwork will be filed after the New Year, since we're so close anyhow we decided to finish the year so we could file jointly on our taxes for 2013.

In conclusion, I am very happy and very proud of Austin and Jack!
They both got Straight A Honor Roll awards at school, they've both had perfect attendance so far and received awards for that as well!  And AJ took home an Art award while Jack got an award in Math!
So proud of our boys!

Next up?!
My Mom is coming in town for a visit at the end of this week!  She'll be here until December 3rd, her 60th Birthday!!  Jeff is taking the kids this weekend and Angie, her Mom, Barbara, my Mom and I are going on girls weekend to celebrate!  Can't wait!  See ya soon Mom! 

To all our family and friends far away, we hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving! 
We are grateful for you all and love and miss you lots!
Mel, AJ, Jack & Maddie