Hay time

This past weekend we helped load hay for the coming steers at my parents house.  Note these are iPhone photos but I wanted them on my blog!

All of us worked hard each in their own way!

Riley and I got the outside job which in my opinion is the place to be!

This fall has been so much running keeping up with everyone.  We are blessed that the kids can do activates, but it sure felt good to have everyone in the same place and to be working outside.

I know these days with my parents will not last forever so it feels good to help.  

At the end of the day working you could earn a ride on the tractor!

This young man was my helper, neither of us strong enough to lift a bale after bale by ourselves, but strong enough to work together! Thankful for that!

Change

October came and went with a blur for this family. This photo comes from the first day in a long time I can remember stillness in our life.  We moved to a different house this past month.  A place with more area to run and ride bikes.  A place that still has a lot of boxes to unpack and a deep desire to make it mine with my style.  Life however has been on fast forward with so much to keep track of.  I miss this space.  I miss writing what is happening with us.  Hoping this week to find a little time to post some of those pictures from a month that was crazy.  Now it is the month of thankfulness and we have so much to be thankful for!  Hoping to focus on that with a deep desire for a little more stillness in our lives!  

Our Style of Urban

I took the kids out the other day for an "urban" shoot.  This was an assignment that I had wanted to take Riley out for but he was not into it that day. So I took whoever would agree to go.  This photo of Andy makes me laugh as I am pretty sure one day a sign that says "no parking" will not phase him in the least.  Also, I had wanted to take a teenager for this shoot but in so many ways Andy almost reminds me of a teen!

Then again he really is just a little boy and often looks at the world in a different way or shall we say a better way!

October finds us in the midst of fall madness.  Lots of soccer practice, scouts all the way around, and oh yes a big change for us that I will write about soon.  Today it was very cool outside so I decided I better gather some of my garden in fear of freeze. We ended up
with twelve pie pumpkins this year. I am thinking there will be some pumpkin pie and bread this weekend!

Future Author?

Maybe one day this little girl will grow up and write her own book.  I am one Mom who would love that! She spends a lot of time writing on whatever paper she can find.

The best part of Katie's writing is her sense of humor. It is always a very serious writing with always one line that is guaranteed to make you either smile or laugh.

On this day she found my journal to write in which means I get to keep this writing.  My prayer is always that I live long enough to see what life holds for these kids as adults.  Rather she becomes an author or not I will always remember her writings and how they made me smile.

Tomatoes and Pirates

As fall is in the air it has come time to do a little canning.  This week it was the tomatoes turn.  I love the process of canning and seeing all that color in my cupboard for the winter to come.

I was given some more jars this year and they came complete with their vintage box!  

The end result all ready for soups and chili's that come with the winter months.
Also on this day I would take a couple of cute pirate girls to school!  You never know which child will want to participate in these dress up days at school but these two loved it on this day!

A new knit sweater

In the spring I had knitted a sweater for my niece.  I loved everything about making this sweater from it's fabulous pattern (pattern)

to the oh so yummy yarn sold at Quince and Co.

I had held this sweater as I needed to find my buttons and wait until she was walking so I could take her on a mini photo shoot!  She was such a doll and let me do just as I liked with my camera and her beauty.

I took her out just the two of us and we climbed and played.  This is the first complete sweater I have knit and it was so much fun.  

Of course the real fun is in the giving and being able to photograph this little one that I love so much!

I am currently reading "Yarn Harlot the secret life of a knitter". It is so funny and I am loving it.  Just a good non thinking and have fun book. The next book on my shelf is a thinker and maybe a can't sleep book so for now it is all about light and fun!

Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along.  She always has wonderful knits and great books.

Mountain Time

One more trip to the mountains.  I found this little niece having some time with Uncle Brian.  She did walk to the river with no shoes but she found the ride she needed!

Water equals fun and this is where the kids could be found most of the weekend.  

These girls are growing up together. Sharing secrets and stories none of us will ever know.  It is always fun to see them together.

Miss Ellie is so popular and every big kid so wanted their chance to hold her!  A fish and a boy together at last!