It's Autumn Time

Autumn time is well underway here in Pennsylvania and we are enjoying every minute of it.  It has been raining quite a bit, and the storms are very different from what we were used to in the midwest. We have lots of misty, gentle, steady rain unlike the huge downpours and the customary lightning and thunder exhibits from Kansas and Missouri. It certainly makes it easier to sleep during the storms!

Fall is giving us all sorts of things to participate in besides the daily grind of working at the house and just trying to keep up with the things of regular living; the kids have been able to do some fun things lately, Eli, Zach and Kaija were all a part of the Homecoming Parade in Fairview. Eli got to ride in a dump truck because he was the Hero of the day, we are very proud of him! My kids are destined to always be Tigers!! They have had a tiger mascot at every school in Warrensburg and, it turns out, in Fairview as well!

 Zach and Kaija have been welcomed into Marching Band this year and have had a good time, their theme has been the Incredibles.

They have ranked 1st or 2nd place at all of their competitions, and Saturday is the Championship competition here in Erie- busy times, but we are glad of their accomplishments and they have made some great friends. We love that they can participate even though they aren't necessarily taking band as a class!

Zachary had his "Sweet 16" birthday on October 10th- 
Isn't he "sweet"?

This kid has the most expressive eyebrows- though his gesture (below) is a bit frightening! He continues to amuse us every day. I enjoy his company and love to see his great qualities develop. He is enjoying ceramics this year and had a wonderful time on their field trip to Edinboro University to do their Raku pots. When he doesn't have band practice after school he likes to go in and throw pot for a while. He is anxious to join Art Club as well.

Poor Joseph missed out on his birthday again this year, (I can't honestly remember the last time he was there for Zach's b-day). He was finishing up at the AIO Organ Builders Convention in Lansing Michigan, but Zach and I met him the next night at the Olive Garden as he drove into town, so we could celebrate it together. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHARY STERLING!! (That reminds me, that there is another guy at his school whose name is Zachary Sterling- what are the chances?).

In other news, we belong to the Jamestown Stake at our church and it just happens to be the hometown of Lucille Ball, so there are some fun murals on the buildings through town. We took a drive while waiting for Joseph and Zachary who had some extra meetings following Stake Conference. (Joseph was just called as the 1st Counselor in the Stake YM Presidency- it will be a great thing for him to be able to spend some extra time with the kids at Youth activities!) We have seen the progress of this mural during the time we have been here and that has been fun to see!

Here are just a few pictures of our daily drive through Erie and Fairview- not bad right?

There are quite a lot of Blue Spruce trees here and they look so gorgeous with the colors from all the Maple and Aspen and Birch and Oak and so many other varieties of trees- it is just stunning to drive around and relish in all the beauty, I truly love it here!

These pics are on the drive home from the schools to our house.

Admittedly it is pretty heavenly! There is a chance of snow next week, so we will see just how much praise I ladle on in the future, for now I will enjoy the rapture of the fall colors!