signs of fall

It is fall through and through. I love this season I feel like where I grew up the change from summer to fall happens too quickly, before long it is the "decay and grey" lingering until crisp snow falls. It is actually a season for a long time here. Sunny warm days. Cooler evenings. Slight chill in the night. Sweater weather. Light jacket. short sleeves still just fine. Sandals or boots. Grass still so green. Potted mums on every doorstep. Brilliant coloured trees. took a drive to Wade's High school reunion. this was a must stop for along the way.

Wade said the drooping sunflowers look like people walking along with their heads down.

acorn on the left: typical Oak tree goodness

acorn on the right: no wonder the squirls here are the size of cats!

Kent and I were at the park where we came across the small oak that produced the ping pong ball sized acorns. A lady walking her dog and I were talking about them. She said she learned that the acorns are so big this year because of all the rain we had this season. The humingo oaks around our home were luckily were the regular size so I could show this pic. We brought a few treasures home from our outing. leaves and acorns.

Late Night at the Phog. KU Basketball kicking off the start of the season.

It was impressive. The video presentation they showed was incredible. Rockchalk Jayhawks. It's an amazing facility. One of the Top in the Nation - for one of the top teams! They did some clever acts - the women's team did a spoof with American Idol Dance. The best dance that night was Can't touch this my mc hammer - beat out mj's thriller and beyonce all the single ladies. The Mens Basketball team did a spoof of ESPN personalities and also danced to songs that past decades KU teams have performed for latenight. During the video presentation the fieldhouse roared as they replayed Chalmers 3 to win the final four. It was awesome! Kent actually fell asleep near the end in all that noise and jazzed up crowd.

3 must do's for the fall I've been told are go: to the maple leaf festival, to the pumpkin patch and to an apple orchard to pick apples! We knocked one off the list....

MapleLeaf Festival! We actually did not partake of the funnel cakes...not sad one bit.

maybe next year Kent

he's got a ticket to ride, he's got a ticket to ride

he was wishing there would be a camel and other animals to pet

he's got those santa eyes too

lot's of homemade arts, crafts, foods

We went on a train ride with a twist

the payroll being transported that day was taken at gunpoint by some nasty mean cowboys

The train was built in 1923

All aboard!

Beautiful day! Awesome view of the prairies and forests as the train traveled to Nowhere
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Looks like this little fireman made it to the pumpkin patch after all.

Beth's decor at her home was so neat.

we carved a pumpkin for the family halloween party and left it at home by accident!

Kyle and Bethany still awarded us with a prize... most cheerful attached to Jolly ranchers. Kristi posted all the family pics on facebook. It was a fun party! Everyone in costume and even sharing costumes....Chad's spock wig made it on everyones noggin. Fun games put on by Kyle and Bethany

9 months

Exloring with all the senses including taste a leaf from the huge Oaks that surround us

Nice downward dog Kent, I don't think I'll EVER be able to do that pose

October 20th, Check out his latest trick:

Backwards! Allow me to explain. I hadn't placed him down on the balcony before. He was fasinated with the spaces between the boards and as he stood he peered over his tummy which leaning caused him the need to step back. Pretty cute. Of course once the camera gets out the performance is different - but a performance none the less.

Kent is such a JOY! His babbling and laughing has kicked up a notch. He has always been interactive and it is developing more and more. Wade pointed out the other day that some of the sounds Kent makes sure sound like a little boy. We are getting a glimps of whats to come. It'll be so neat to know what he is really thinking instead of us inserting meanings in for his babblings. Kent is quite the coversationalist you know. Hahahah!

We know all the songs this music table can provide. One time when calling Wade I got the answering machine and just held the phone up to a familiar tune. It is neat to watch Kent get excited about new toys or items that become toys to him. Certain items in our recycle pile are now a part of our livingroom toys. He has made an oatmeal container a great drum, Water bottles are perfect to make krinkly sounds with and push well along the floor with, the cheerios box is aparently a great ramp for his car. He used to stay with his toys and we could play together on a play mat (blanket on the floor) - now however the entire home is his play mat. Put him down in one spot and next thing you know a sweet head has popped around the corner to see what is going on in the kitchen. It's so fun to see him venture around, he is first to spot any possible thread or crumb and dutifully puts it in his mouth. He is good not to swallow, when intervention is required he allows with some displeasure me scooping it out from his mouth. It's as though he likes to savor his find and then carry on. We get a kick out of the precise use of his index finger and thumb. He rubs and feels things first with his index finger. Textures. Things like clothing, carpet, upholstery, crumbs, shirt collars, buttons. Then if a removable item he picks up and studies it prior to placing it in his mouth. Non removable, like a button he lunges head long with a gaping mouth to complete his exploration.

silver rainbow

Where are we going? A complete surprise came with this mode of transportation - this elevator made us feel like we were in a 60's science fiction movie. Labor day weekend we met up with Chad and Amy in St. Louis, MO to attend the temple and then go to The Arch!

Wade and Kent in the parking lot on the beautiful temple grounds. (sorry no pics of the beautiful temple grounds : ) Chad attended on Fri night and then Amy, Wade and I went in the morning while Chad hung out with our children at our hotel. We made the session.... barely! That's 2 for 2 for us having adventures together - last time we went to Winter Quarters Temple and then to the Zoo in Omaha. We all benefited and had a wonderful time serving in the temple, learning and feeling of the sweet spirit there. Checked out of the Marriott and we navigated our way to the Arch. Entering into downtown St. Louis I couldn't believe how many tailgaters we saw! Filling the levels of parkades, tents set up and BBQ Mizzou colours everywhere and some Illinois fans weaving into the crowds. Big college football game. Seeing tailgating is a cultural experience for me. No one tail gated outside the Northlands Coliseum when I grew up, would that be part of the NHL experience if it wasn't ice cold winter time? Well there was a dense crowd of fans gearing up for the game and here we are in the thick of traffic attempting to find parking! Well we did no problem. It was neat to be back here. I had been here once before with my mom and Aunt Jo and Uncle Tom. We came at the time of the Nauvoo temple open house. Only difference is this time we went UP to the TOP of the arch.....

Mia running along the walk with the Mississippi river on one side

and the National park on the other

Eli about to haul up the stairs to Uncle Wade

Mia, Chad, Amy and Elithat's Wade at the top of the stairs overlooking the 'Sip and the amazing bridge

can you see the tiny row of windows at the top of the arch? Narrow door to the elevator that seats 5 supposedly in that little time capsule.

While traveling at a surprising speed up, banjo tunes were the elevator music selection

Thin warm air, lot's of people, I got a little queasy AND it was SO cool up there! : ) What a view! 630 feet high in the sky