Autumn fun!

One downfall to living in Jerusalem (for me) was the lack of a distinctive fall season.  No falling leaves to crunch, no pumpkins to carve...just gradually cooler weather and then eventually, the rainy season.  While we did get to enjoy Halloween festivities at the Consulate with the Trunk or Treat party, it's just not the same.  We have enjoyed this fall to the fullest!  Here are some pics.

On Columbus Day, the boys and I visited Ticonderoga Farms for some pumpkin themed fun. Giant slides, feeding goats and chickens, and a hay ride to the pumpkin patch were a few highlights.

 My boys just don't cooperate at the same time for me to get decent smiles!

The following weekend, our good friends, the Nichols family, invited us to their neighborhood's fall festival. The boys made caramel apples, but Sammy refused to dip his in the caramel.

 The kids and their finished products

We took lots of walks in our woods, and we enjoyed the Halloween party at KinderCare, 

complete with a soccer clinic!

We decorated for Halloween.

AND DADDY WAS ABLE TO BE HOME IN TIME FOR TRICK OR TREATING!!!

It was Sam's first time!

 My X-wing pilot and Finn (from the newest Star Wars film)

After Halloween, we all wanted more fall fun, so we headed to Great Country Farms, 

where we got in for free due to Geoff's being a veteran!  

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE!

 Geoff tried to slide.

 Sammy wanted to ride the track, but needed some help.

 And Liam LOVED the giant rope swing.

We took more walks to enjoy the fall colors, 

having missed them 

SO MUCH these past two years.

This is my favorite tree in our neighborhood.

What a lovely autumn we've had!

Liam is 7!

Geoff is still gone, and I have about 5 minutes of free time, so I thought I'd post about Liam's birthday!

He turned 7 on Sept. 13.  I still can't fathom that.  7 years old.  Time is too speedy for me!  On his special day, he wore his brand new Joe Flacco jersey (which was the gift waiting for him at breakfast) and a "Birthday Boy" button.  He took small bouncy balls to hand out to his classmates, since his teacher said no edible treats.  That night, we celebrated by letting him plan dinner (Chick-Fil-A food) and having rainbow cake.

A couple of weeks later, we celebrated with friends at Chuck E. Cheese.  Don't worry, we bought boneless wings without wing sauce for our pizza-phobic guy!  We played games, ate and sang and watched Liam in the ticket blaster...so fun!

 Liam's party had a super hero theme--this cutout came with a cape and glasses.

 All my guys loved the driving games.

Addie, one of our good pals from Jerusalem, helped us party.

 Chuck E. stopped by to say hi.

 The Baltz girls, the Potter girls, and Lany and Trent Nichols were our guests.

 Liam got some great gifts.

 Liam got a bunch more tickets in the ticket blaster.

And Sammy had a ball, thinking he was a big as all the rest of the gang.

SO FAR BEHIND--back in VA fun

I don't need to tell you that going back to work has interfered with my blogging. That's okay. I am enjoying work, so I don't mind it too much. I am going to skip over the beach with the Glenns and our time in Jacksonville (since those pics are on Geoff's phone) and go to the end of our home leave after moving back in.

 We visited Cox Farms (the farm nearest us) to get some of the fresh produce 

we missed a lot in Israel, corn on the cob and tender green beans.

 I taught Liam to snap the beans on the porch...the only decent place to do that job!

 Sammy and I registered Liam for 1st grade!

 We enjoyed our neighborhood with walks,

 playing on our hill,

 eating popsicles on the stoop,

 and playing on our playground.

We visited the library.

THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS IN ENGLISH!!

 We swam with friends (the Nichols' kids).

 We enjoyed our woods (but not the mosquitos).

 We reunited with Jerusalem friends (the Potters), also in the DC area now.

 And we took one last swim before school began.

It was a great, great summer!

"Winnataska, hats of to thee!"

This summer, Liam got to attend summer camp at Camp Winnataska for the very first time.  This is the summer camp I grew up attending and later worked for.  I loved it and made life-long friends, and I was hoping Liam would feel the same.  I didn't want to pressure him though, so we chose a half week this time.  He stayed Sunday-Wednesday to get a little taste and see what it was like.  (And luckily for us, we got to spy on him a bit through pictures the directors took and posted for the parents.)

At arrival, we got a family photo.

 Then we headed up to Chico Hill to find his cabin and make his bed.

These were his cabin mates and leaders in Casa Nueva.

Three boys here are the kids of friends I worked with!

 He had fun in Crafts,

 and in Outdoors, learning about nature and

trying to fish.

There was also Canoes, Swimming, Horses, and Recreation,

along with Night Activities.

When we picked him up mid-week (most campers stay Sun.-Sat.),

he said, "If I leave camp, I am going to die."

I remember feeling that same way EVERY summer.

Thanks, Winnataska, and this great group of Chicos,

for making Liam's first taste of camp so great.

We'll see you next summer for a whole week!