Happy October!!!

As of right now, Sam is going to be a Ninja and Nic is going to be a pirate for Halloween, that is if the costumes make it until Ocotber 31st :)

We spent some time this weekend at a pumpkin patch - it's an October tradition of ours and is always so much fun. Sam and Nic had a great time bumping along on the hayride to pick out their favorite pumpkins, pick some cotton, and play hide-n-seek in the field. Mom and Dad had fun also!

Sam is playing on a Little League Baseball team and... for the most part... loves it. He's got a great swing and a strong throw and is learning to field the ball. He has a good coach and a fun team. We're looking forward to a good season. Sam calls baseball "my new sport."

Our beautiful little Nicolas! It's been great having more one-on-one time with Nic. We've had so much fun together. The picture below is of Nic and his good friend Nathan, enjoying some great weather!

We spent a morning a the pond with playgroup and the kids had a great time playing in the water! They did start out fully clothed, but when the muddy water became just too enticing we decided to lose the clothes and let kids be kids! Who needs bathing suits and towels anyway???

This is Nic and his friend Solei showing their muddy toes.

They caught tiny baby fish with their nets (along with mud, rocks, sticks, and goo!)

Sam's first day of Kindergarten!!! We were all a little nervous :)

Sam's been waiting for years to "walk to the school bus with Stephen." He finally got to do it! After Sam got on the bus, I had to go cry a bit on my neighbor's shoulder. I can't believe he is 5. He's almost 6 and I still can't believe he's five!!! I felt like part of my heart was walking away, beyond my reach, too far away for my comforting hand to strecth. Who will take care of him? Who will help him when he's sad, walk him through the emotions when he's frustrated, hold his hand when he can't get it just right, listen when he's excited, cheer when he's triumphant, clap when he takes a bow? I suppose it's time to trust the angels and believe in God's loving, watchful care. It's such a great thing for him, for our family, it's the right time, etc. etc. but it's the end and the beginning of an era. And I will miss him.

This is a picture of Sam after he got off the bus on his first day of school! All went well :) He had a great day. He loves his teachers Ms. Anderton and Ms. Bernard pictured below, he loves his neighborhood friend James in his class, and he loves his class pet bunny Dudley.