Halloween

Dearest Messi & Spiderman,

Halloween costumes were easy this year!  Jax, you wanted to be your favorite soccer player, Lionel Messi.  We bought you his Barcelona uniform and didn't mind spending the money at all as we knew you'd wear the jersey well beyond Halloween (spoiler alert: you've worn it almost weekly since!).  Colt, one day at the store you went straight for the Spiderman costume so that was that.  Easy peasy - thanks, boys!

First time for the costumes was at Monster Mile in Grandpa and Grandma's neighborhood.  

They were still good to go come Halloween night.  We went to the other side of the neighborhood with our friends again.  While I love walking through "the fun burrows" with them, it just wasn't the same having it fall on a school night. 

Our early bedtime didn't keep us from making Grandpa and Grandma's house our last stop of the night though.

Happy Halloween, cuties!

Week 42 + a few days

Dear Colt and Jax,

Grandma left work early to go to the Pumpkin Patch with us one day.  Instead of battling weekend crowds, we went on a weekday and it was perfect (for future reference) ((not sure how many "futures" we'll have at our patch)) (((TEARS)))!

 Colt, your soccer team really started to come together and y'all learned to play your positions.

Jax, your baseball team ended the season with a tournament and it was sweet seeing y'all spend so much time together - not just as teammates, but as friends.

 

October is easily one of my favorites!!

Weeks 40 and 41

Dearest Jackson and Colt,

There's something magical about fall and the weather begged us be outside so we obliged.

You continued to learn to ways of the pitcher.

The little brothers of baseball spent practices playing. 

We joined some neighbors for National Night Out -- and helped our neighborhood win the award for Neighborhood of the Year!!  : )

Soccer continued  

 And y'all thought it was fun the week that JAX played against the COLTs.

We took in a game in person under the Friday Night Lights.  

 

We didn't stay outside the entire time.  We did have to do our usual lifestyle maintenance -- and, of course, you two turned even the most mundane into fun!

Week 39/52

Dearest Boys,

I know our life was full during Week 39.  We had school like normal.   We had practices for soccer and baseball like normal.  We had weekend games like normal.  But none of that made it onto my phone's camera.  Instead, I have crazy pictures from this app (Snapchat) that makes you look silly.  I just downloaded this app and we love to play with it during down time.

The family that acts ridiculous together stays together!

Week 38/52

Dearest Colton and Jax,

Week 38 was all about soccer!  You two now play for the same select soccer organization.  You've been practicing for the past few weeks, but this week brought your first games.  Jax, your team stayed almost the same from the spring season - with only one new player.  Colt, you didn't know anyone on this new team so this was a great chance to make new friends!

Lunch with teammates after a win is one of the best parts of sports!

School really got into the swing of things too and these scenes became the norm around the house:

 Sports and homework make it seem like it's officially fall now!

Week 37/52

Dearest Jax,

Week 37 was big for you!  You started select baseball this season and this was the week of your first game.  Not only are you playing select, but this is also the year that pitching moves from coach pitch to kid pitch.  The cherry on that crazy cake it that you were picked to be the first pitcher of the first game!  My nerves were shot as I watched you take the mound but you stayed as cool as a cucumber!

Hitting off of a kid pitcher completely changed the game!

Another change was the you left 1st base after playing it for what seems like years.  

In this game, you played pitcher, catcher, and 3rd base.

You are so much fun to watch and we remain your biggest fans!!