The Tree Hunt

Another year, another tree hunt. There was snow. There was cold. 

There were sleds.

There were smiles.

There were trees. 

And of course, there were donuts. 

And now, I'm sitting here typing while the smell of pine lingers in the air. I really like real trees.

Thanksgiving Sledding

In my family, Thanksgiving = sledding. This year, the weather cooperated and we even got to sled in the snow. The bad news about that - it was suuuuuper cold.

  But, the kids didn't seem to notice the cold- they were all smiles the whole time.

Veterans Day

The 5th grade students put on a Veteran's Day program at my children's school. Cole has been dreading it for a year because they have to dance, but he made it through. Towards the end of the program, they announced four winners of the essay contest - including Cole. Here is the essay he wrote:

Veterans Day

On November 11, all over America, people set white tables, fly their flags, and some visit graves. Why?

Veterans Day is a celebrated on November 11. This is a day to celebrate our veterans living and dead, whether they fought or not. Anyone who enlists in the U. S. Army is celebrated on Veterans Day.

We honor our veterans because they fight to keep us free. We celebrate those who never fought, because just volunteering to join the army is very courageous. Veterans Day is a day of honor. 

Veterans Day is a U.S. holiday where we celebrate our veterans. On it, we visit graves of fallen veterans, set white tables, and fly flags. This is how we honor our veterans.

Good job, Cole. I was proud to watch you give honor to our veterans and happy you were able to teach me something new.

Fall Breeze Blowin'

Fall Breeze Blowin'

by Annie Rose Griffiths

Lately I've noticed a fall breeze that's blowin'

and yesterday I saw my pumpkin was glowin'

 

and all the ghost, ghouls and witches,

vampires, bats and zombies,

that come out on Halloween, 

tonight they'll all be seen.

Halloween

Halloween felt pretty low-key to me this year. Everyone's costume was easy to put together and we kept our extra Halloween activities to a reasonable number so when Halloween rolled around, we were just happy to enjoy the day. It fell on Saturday this year, which did make it difficult for my little Benny to wait for the action.

So, without further unnecessary introduction, may I present, 

Clonetrooper #1: Ben

Little Ladybug: Molly

"Not Katniss" Bowhunter: Annie

Clonetrooper #2: Cole

The Gang

\

I'm guessing this was probably the last year I'll take just my four kids trick-or-treating without gaining friends or losing some to friends. Benny was pushing pretty hard to just go with his friends, but I kept gently reminding him that wasn't a good plan for a five-year-old.

Molly caught right on to trick-or-treating. She ran as fast as she could from house to house and then spent a long time deliberating her candy choices, which usually resulted in people telling her to just choose a couple {good tactic, Molls}.

Ben was impressed by the houses who had spook out waiting to give out treats, so when we got home, he spent over an hour out on the porch in the cold handing out treats. Funny guy.

Oktoberfest

We were excited to have our first Oktoberfest in the new house the week after we moved in. 

The kids are starting to get the hang of our little pre-dinner chant. 

Their hats are getting a little small, but that just adds to the fun. Floyd picked up this mushroom gatherer hat when he went to Munich last spring, so it has joined the party. 

Grandma and Grandpa Griffiths joined us this year and although it was a little less involved than some of our previous Oktoberfest's have been, it was definitely a success.

One of these years, I think we actually need to go to Germany for our Oktoberfest.

High Creek

We are so lucky to live so close to the mountains. In just a few minutes, we can leave the world behind and enjoy a little solitude. I love it and so do my kids. We love to go up High Creek and just wander around by the river. They have a few favorite places to explore and always make a few new discoveries while we are there. It's good for our souls.

And Ben is happy to report that his name {as well as Claire and Kaden's names} are looking good on the log. I have a feeling we'll be checking that log regularly for the next few years.

The Leaf Pile

I wax poetic {well, not really cause I'm not a poet} about these leaves and this tree every year.  I'll keep it simple this year and just say autumn isn't autumn until we play in the leaves of Grandma Donna's tree. 

Thanks for letting us come out, Jake and Lauryn.

Marriage

We got a new uncle around these parts. Andrea got married in September to Colin MacDonald. The kids were pretty excited. It was a beautiful wedding at Snowbasin Ski Resort. Ben got to be the ring bearer. Colin works at John Deere, so he and Ben are kinda special buddies. The ring "pillow" was a tractor. Ben did good and didn't hardly wiggle while he stood through the ceremony.

And Andrea really lucked out in the flower girl department. Five cute little nieces made for five cute little flower girls {there really were five of them, but Lucy didn't feel good and didn't make many pictures}.

This little angel made it down the aisle with no trouble. But then decided she was finished and the wedding should be too. She wasn't really an ideal guest, but we made it without any serious catastrophes, much to the relief of the lady sitting next to us at dinner.

I somehow didn't manage to get a picture of Cole, but he Cam and Nate rocked their ushering duties while looking quite dapper. 

Happy wedding day, Andrea and Colin! Thanks for letting us celebrate with you.

P.S. Andrea was such a beautiful and happy bride. Weddings always make me want to be a bride again. They are so fun!

Back-to-School

 Well, these three kiddos headed back-to-school. Three months ago. I'm rather behind. A lot of life has happened in those three months. 

It was an exciting day for everyone but me. Ben has been such a great buddy for me the past few years and I was so sad to send him to school. 

Molly was pretty certain she got to head to school too. She didn't, but that didn't stop her from jumping into the pictures. 

 Annie. Third Grade. Mrs. Rowley.

Cole. Fifth Grade. Mrs. Kinder.

Ben. Kindergarten. Mrs. Burningham. 

The novelty of school has definitely worn off in those three months, but so far they all seem to be having a good year.