Leaves, leaves, leaves

As I type this, Matt is in the back yard, tackling the fall leaves back there.  We teamed up in the front, and then I had to head in to feed Lily lunch.  After I finish the blog, I'm about to head back out.  

I think we are the last on the cul-de-sac to get to it.  With Matt being out of town for over a week, and our travel out of town 2 weekends ago, we just haven't had time.  This is our first year with leaves like this.  This is definitely the disadvantage of the big trees!  The only good part of getting to it so late is that most of the trees are done dropping leaves, so our work should last.

This picture is from last weekend, but the background gives you an idea of the back yard's leaves.  Totally covered.  You can't see the grass at all.

Here is the from, after we started today.  Matt was blowing the leaves out of the flower beds and I was raking.  We were surprised how many bags we filled in the front, and it wasn't even very bad!  I'm jealous of communities that can just rake them out to the curb and they come get them.  We have to bag them, and it's a lot more work.  In our city, you can put up to 40 bags a week out during November and this week some of our neighbors had a lot.  I'll be curious how many we get.

Well, I starting to feel guilty, so I better get out there to help....  :)

UPDATED TO ADD:  I helped for about 35 minutes and now we're out of bags so we had to stop.  So close to begin done, and yet, not.  

Checking in

So the problem with taking a break from blogging is that it is always awkward when you finally come back to it.  What will be your first blog entry back?  Ah, the pressure!  There are times where you think, "I should blog that, and then you think, eh, that's not worth it."

So, here we are.  How about a catch up?  Here are some of our big moments and/or favorite pictures from my last check in....

Abby received her third grade Bible at church.  A very big deal.

A crisp morning at the bus stop.  I love this picture.

Lily has entered that magical stage where she is very into numbers and letters.  She can count to 100 and knows a few sight words.  She is a sneaky learner.  She surprises me every day with stuff she knows.

Abby came in second at her first meet of the season.  She is growing and doing so well this season.  She has a meet this coming Saturday.  I'm sure she'll do great again!

Another favorite picture of the girls with family friends.  Crazy kids.

Lily and cousin Bella playing in the cul-de-sac.  They had so much fun with each other during this visit.

My besties Lisa, Ann, and me.

The evidence left by one phone stealer.

Our first corn maze was a super fun success!

Lily always "thought" she knew the right way.

Trick or Treat at a special event at our local high school.  It was lucky we went because our Trick or Treat got stormed out.  :(

Lily listening to tunes in the car line at preschool.  I swear I didn't turn it up too loud.

Fall leaves!

Little sisters, I tell you.  I sent this to mine and told her they were always a problem.

Believe it or now, snow today.  Bleck.  But the girls loved it.

Making Music

State Fair 2013

Ferris Wheel

Tilt-a-Whirl

(Levi, Owen, Abby, Matt, Lily)

Night Glow

Animals

The first days of school...

We have officially had the first day of school for everyone here.  Abby had her first day a couple weeks ago.  We are on what they call a "balanced" schedule here, which is essentially a year-round schedule, so she started on July 31.  That seemed ungodly early to me too, I assure you.  But, the 2 week October break is pretty great.

This year was a biggie, because Abby started at a new school this year since we moved in May.  I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a little tough.  We went to the school's ice cream social prior to the first day to find her room and meet her teacher briefly, so she was very excited about about the first day, however, making friends is hard and slow.  

We had a misunderstanding with the bus where she got seating permanently with kindergartners on the first day because she was small and we didn't realize it.  We got that corrected as soon as we found out, but it took over a week for her to tell us.  Now, she is sitting with other third graders and has fun on the bus.

She also has made more friends.  The first week or so, she really only had one friend that she played with at recess, but now we are hearing about lots of people.  She has told me that making friends has been hard.  -but I think it's getting better.  I'm actually hearing silly stories from recess now.  The second full week was a very good week.  I was feeling very home sick for our old school after the first full week, but now I'm feeling like we're going to make it.  Now I just need to get plugged in.  They haven't had anything for parents yet.  I'm still waiting on that.... feeling a little disconnected.  I'm sure it will come too.  I'm just not the best at change.

-and as for Miss Lily...  Today was her first day of Pre K.  She'll be going 3 days a week this year and had a great first day.  She was very excited to be able to take her picture this morning holding a sign "just like Abby does."  She's attending the same preschool she did last year, at our church.

...and of course, it doesn't seem fair to leave you with inaccurate pictures of my girls, so here's the real one (silly faces!):