We are soaking in all things Fall around here. Pumpkin spice everything, mums, pumpkins, fall decorations, and candy corn! Got to love this time of year.
Mimi’s ready for trick-or-treating!
I don’t know what Zooey is ready for, but it’s going to be awesome!
I’ve been holding on to the flowers as long as I can…and added some mums for good measure.
Mimi is looking for squirrels
I came home from a night work meeting to find the Minecraft convention in Owen’s room. Appetizers include eating Lucky Charms right out of the box.
I actually turned on my seat warmer one night after one of Owen’s football games! It must be Fall!
There has been a lot of time at football. At first Owen didn’t like it, but he is getting into it now. This photo is from my phone, but I’ve been trying to take my big camera out to get some good shots. (foreshadowing) 
Actually September was fairly warm around here – I was excited to have a cool enough day to get out my favorite boots!
Enough Mimi photos? Never! I call this “Begging”.
My work schedule continues to be crazy and I am slowly starting to accept that this maybe the new normal. One day I couldn’t get away for lunch so my dear husband brought me lunch – in Zooey’s lunchbox! How cute is that!
Zooey all dressed up for a birthday tea party! She came up with the pose on her own. #poser
There has been a lot of soccer this Fall also. She complains about going, but once she gets there she loves it! And already has gotten a bunch of goals! 
Soccer – photos with my big camera!
She is smiling because she just got a goal!
More football (phone camera)
Big camera photos:
Owen is Number 14! The 4th graders only play 1/2 the field, that's why there are so many kids on the field. The 3rd graders are usually playing at the same time on the other side of the field. That kinda threw me off for a bit!
Owen is such a cool kid. I'll keep him.
We hosted a game night at our house in September. The kids ran around crazy and we play Cards Against Humanity and try not to say anything bad when a kid within earshot. 
We also played Battle of the Sexes. The Women were victorious over the Men's team. However, this game needs an overhaul as most of the questions assumed that women were 1950 housewives. To say the least, I didn't answer many questions! My domestic skills are lacking! I am apparently better at the game where you make inappropriate matches! 
This is the meeting after church and after Sunday school - where we let them sit in a corner and geek out to video games.
Sunday snuggles:
We went to Red Lobster to celebrate Yia Yia's birthday. Owen didn't want to get any butter on his new shirt, hence the napkin!
Ethan was all about the crab legs!
Why does everyone think its fun to take photos of me lighting the candles?
Happy Birthday Yia Yia! We are now on a birthday cake break until after Christmas! 2016 Birthday season was a success!
Zooey working on riding her bike without training wheels. She hasn't figured it out yet, but she has a good attitude and determined!
So this happened on a windy day when we forgot to close the umbrella 
When I just want to lay in bed and veg-out to TV and the dog isn't having it.
So many evening meetings and traveling for work, that when I do have an evening free I feel a bit lost.
More football photos?? OK!
I had a Mom fail recently. Somehow I forgot that Zooey had school photos. The girl that wears a dress 99% of the time, wore a unicorn t-shirt and shorts to school on photo day. Oops! I am hoping for a second chance for photo make-up day. She is still cute, even in this unicorn shirt! And maybe I will keep the photos?!!
We are off to the Chamber Annual Dinner. I wore a red dress. He picked a tie that matched. #weareTHATcouple HA! I don't care, it was cute! 
Here is just some of my staff at the Chamber Dinner. They are a great team! 
Mimi cuddles can happen any time, any place. Even on the kitchen floor on a Friday night.
I might have purchased a pumpkin at the grocery store. It might have been 86 degrees this day. My pumpkin didn't mind. 
Our Saturday's have been so crazy with soccer and football! Sometimes we have to divide and conquer just to get it all done. This was one of those days. Dimitri was giving Owen a big hug before we left for his game. (heart melt) 
I might have added a filter or two??!!!
Owen asked if he could take a selfie in his new hat. The kid has some mad selfie skills, right?!! LOL! This might be my favorite selfie ever. 
Did you think I wouldn't have MORE football photos??!!
Dimitri and I might have snuck out of the house for a pumpkin spice latte. I can't stop, won't stop with the pumpkin spice!
This is our wild and crazy Saturday night.
My Dad gave Dimitri his vintage Iowa State glasses. They get used here frequently.
Dimitri was out on the patio when he heard a big crack and a huge branch fell right by him. It landed on the neighbors house!
One pumpkin turned into two pumpkins! Same thing happened when I had kids! Must mean a third pumpkin is on the way!
Zooey and I made chocolate chip cookies.
She learned that it is not a good idea to turn the mixer on high with all of the flour unmixed! 
I got my suitcase out to pack for a trip...opened the suitcase to realize, I never unpacked from the last trip! I also don't fold my clothes very well for the return trip home. AND I had been looking for those shoes!
Did you watch this??? Oh boy! I won't go into a political rant but there will be no voting for Mr. Trump by me. And please don't tell me if you are voting for him, because I may never be able to talk to you again.
This was my crazy night away in my hotel room!
And because I was taking photos of what I was watching... have you watched this show??!! I think its becoming my new favorite! I can't wait to see more.
I like him.
On our way to school - it must have been chilly because the hats are out!
Dimitri thinks my pumpkin spice obsession is out of control. So I sent him a photo of my PSL and my PS Life Cereal. It's a thing, and it's good! Have you seen this video? I relate to every video this family makes. ALL OF THEM! 
Blurry because she is dancing!
Youngest and Oldest
Last Friday the kids didn't have school, so my parents and I took them to Vala's Pumpkin Patch which is not a normal pumpkin patch. This is an all day event. It's awesome.
I was in pumpkin heaven!
This is the kid's favorite part - the Haunted Farmhouse!! We went through it twice! But no one was brave enough to go into the basement!!
The only kid that is still learning to read stuck her head in this one! The other two didn't find it funny.
My Dad is very silly.
Go stick your head in that hole and smile!
This goat liked me:
The kids wanted to check everything out! I don't know if we even saw everything! It's that big!
We headed out to do this awesome corn maze, but we didn't get to far when Ethan decided that we should head back!
We decided to test or strength was a better option for us weenies! Turns out we are weenies!
The big slide! Always a popular spot at Vala's!
Tick-tac-toe anyone? Zooey beat Ethan! 
Lunch of champions:
This big yellow barn was new to us at Vala's. Inside is 3 levels of air compressed guns and cannons and nerf like balls! It was SO FUN! The kids said that it was their favorite part! I can't even explain how cool it is! 
The Chicken Piano - yes, please! Check out the names of the chickens? Too funny!
Pink tractor alert!
Zooey ripped her pants right on her bottom during this photo! Fence + leggings = big hole!
Good thing she has no shame and didn't care about that big ol' hole that showed her undies as she jumped away the afternoon!
The boys like to jump too!
Off to the go-carts!
Taking a much needed rest and cooling down on the train!
Good effort, but she needs some height for this one!
Zooey talked me into buying her this unicorn horn.
I just wanted to try it on.
It was a great day! But we missed Dimitri who was busy working!
The next day I was on the road with my parents again - but this time we left the kids at home and took Dimitri! Off to Ames, Iowa to see Iowa State Cyclones Football!
Dimitri got us 4th row seats! We were sitting behind the opposing team, but fun to see the action up close nevertheless! 
Turns out that ISU lost the game by a field goal! Bummer! But it was a fun game and I am glad we went! 
Sometimes you just don't ask questions. Just laugh, take a photo and walk away.
Pokemon time!
Zooey helped me decorate:
Time for flu shots! Don't they look excited. The boys convinced their sister to go first in order to see if she would cry. That is love right there. She didn't cry, because she is a champ! #girlpower
Zooey is still in dance this year! I just don't get to take her to class as often
It's hard to tell in this photo - but just in time for autumn weather, my hair is a bit darker with red highlights! Fancy! 
Ethan is taking an art class after school one day during the week and he loves it! I like to see him smile and he makes awesome art work! 
Tonight is dark, cold and raining - but I have the fire on and it's cozy in here!
That's all I got! Have a good one!
