A Fall Recap

Since Winter officially arrives in 6 days, I thought it time to record some memories of our Autumn.

In early October, the Omelans came for a visit.
Despite appearances, we did do more than just drink wine!

They were able to listen to Jenelle play for a short time in a strings ensemble for a charitable event down town.

The next weekend Jenelle and I went to an event in Seattle that she had been looking forward to for a long time!
A Miranda Sings show!
It's too hard to explain...you should look it up here!
Very entertaining!
The young girls at the concert acted in a way that I imagine they would have years ago at the Beatles.
My eardrums were bleeding!!

And we always enjoy an excuse to visit Seattle!

Next came Homecoming for Hannah and her friends.
Yep...all just friends!
First Jenelle helped me see whether this was a good spot to take pictures...

Then came the stars of the show!

Next was Halloween -

This holiday changes every year as the kids get older.
This is how they used to spend Halloweens just a few years ago...

Hannah still spent it with Jack and his family on a visit to the WSU campus.
Cold and miserable, but she loved the college campus experience anyway.

Ivan stayed in and volunteered to hand out candy...

Jenelle still dressed up and she and her friend Margaret were allowed to trick or treat all by themselves this year.
A hobo and a bag of jelly beans...

They scored candy BIG time!

Of course Autumn is also about leaves and cats who couldn't care less.

And last but not least - Thanksgiving!
Great meal and FINALLY...a picture for our Christmas card that included all of us.
During the day I was trying to find a place inside the house with the right lighting and right camera settings for a photo.
The kids were happy (for the most part) to be subjects of my shoots!
And obviously "their" shooting as well!

No great pictures from inside the house...but fun memories!

Now we're looking forward to making Winter memories!

The State Fair!

Another year in the books for the Baumbach trio at the fair!

Donald declined.

Hannah would be coming later in the evening with friends.

The three of us managed to wait until the last day...but it was as good a day as any!!

We started with the Ag Barn which you might be surprised to know - is actually one of their favorite things!

 A great use of a very strange gourd!

Next we went upstairs to see the student art.  

Both kids had art in the display this year!

This is art using Jenelle's name...

This is called "Junk Art"...

And this is a sculpture Ivan made of Matt Smith.  

You'll know who that is if you're a Dr. Who fan...

Next we went to the carnival rides.

Jenelle was excited about the new roller coaster they had.

She went solo but that didn't stop her from having fun!!

She rode a few more...and Ivan rode a few.  

What cracks me up as I go over the pictures is how my kids act like "no big deal" on the rides!

I swear - they told me they had fun!!

We took the gondola to the other end of the park...

We stopped at the petting zoo and this was probably my favorites spot this year.

The animals were just soooo sweet and gentle!

This guy was really a favorite.

Could be the funniest animal picture I've ever taken.
I can think of a thousand captions for this one.

 Soon after this precious moment, Ivan lost his food cup...food AND cup!

 PLEASE let me have one!!

A cute little girl working at the fair.
(I'm telling you this specifically so you understand those are NOT Jenelle's fingernails!)
(Although they have looked like that before!)

 Killing me with the eyes!!!

But later I found the cutest animals of all!!

And of course there was food...

The boy would have spent his entire day in front of these if he'd been able!

We had different treats throughout the day.
I mean, it IS fair food!

They each got to choose another fun activity.

Jenelle chose the bungee jump...

And Ivan chose to jump on to a giant pillow??

The years are flying by and these types of days are slipping through my fingers rapidly.

I'm grateful for them all.