It's a....

Catch up - Halloween

The morning of Halloween, we had our last soccer games and awards ceremony. Since it was Halloween, I let the kids spray paint their hair with pink and blue stripes. I have to brag a little, Donovan scored 7 goals and Avery scored 3. The owner of the league came over and watched Donovan scoring a goal and, seeing the curly pink hair said, "Wow! Look at her go!" I have not told Donovan this, since being called a girl is about the worst insult to a 3 year old.
Scoring a goal at his last game:

With his trophy. He really loves this thing.

With his friends from the ward (minus Lucas who went home a bit early):

Avery playing her last game:

With her trophy (her makeup is from trunk or treat the night before, I did not put makeup on her for a soccer game):

That night, we met up with a bunch of our friends to go group trick-or-treating. The kids had a great time.

Avery with 4 of her best buddies:

Catch up - Trunk or Treat

The night before Halloween, we attended our ward's annual Trunk or Treat. Before I tell you about it, isn't this the cutest little ninja you ever did see?

The kids had a lot of fun. Besides the trunk or treat, there were a lot of carnival games for the kids to participate in, like donut on a string:

Donovan had no interest in wasting his time trying to eat it off of a string.

Avery got her face painted:

And they went fishing at the fish tank:

They marched in the parade around the gym:

and then they headed out for trunk or treat in the parking lot:

Sweet, right?

Well that didn't last long. When you are wearing a ninja costume, you are forced to fight like a ninja. It is the law:

Oh yeah, Scott and I went as Edward and Bella in the sunlight:

Catch up - Picking our Pumpkins

Ever since Avery was a baby, we have made a yearly trip out to Homestead Farms in Maryland to pick our pumpkin out of the pumpkin patch. It is a family tradition and we all love it. However, this year, due to our crazy busy schedule, we just didn't have time to do it. So we settled for getting pumpkins at the church down the street. That is almost the same, right? At least the kids had a good time. We'll just have to go to Homestead for our Christmas tree next month.

Catch up - Preschool Halloween Party

I went to the preschool to watch Donovan in the Halloween parade. Again, I was sad Avery wasn't there. But he was a super cute ninja:

We also played carnival games after the parade, which he thought was great:

Catch up - Pumpkin Patch

Last month, Donovan and I went on the annual preschool trip to the pumpkin patch. This was my first time going with only one of my kids, and I have to admit, it made me a little sad.

Being brave on the big slide:

Riding the pony (one of about 200 times):

This face just melts me. I can easily say that now, when he is sound asleep in his bed.

Catch up - Tiny Dancer (again)

Avery started her third year of tap and balley this fall. She is loving it. This year, she is in a class with her good friends Emma and Lizzie, and also four little first graders from her elementary school. She is having lots of fun dancing again this year!

Catch up - Soccer!

This fall, both Avery and Donovan played soccer. It was a lot of fun watching this season. Avery was fun to watch because she is getting really good, and Donovan was fun to watch because a league full of 3 year olds is down right hilarious. Donovan played on a team with 4 other little boys from his nursery class at church, and Avery played again this year with her friend Lizzie. There were only 2 other girls in the entire 6 year old division, but she didn't let that hold her back!
Dono on the first day of practice:

Doing his "silly dance" after scoring his first goal in practice.

Avery at her first game:

Can you tell they are related? (It is a Lyman thing!)

Catch up - Triathlon!

September 19, Scott competed in his first ever triathon in Dewey Beach, DE. Several other guys in our ward participated as well. Our family rented a little beach house and made a fun weekend out of supporting him. Scott left for the race before the kids and I got up, but as soon as I walked out of the house, I panicked because it was FREEZING! When we got down to the beach, we found Scott bundled up like this:

But the worst part wasn't the cold, it was the ginormous waves. I was worried that he wouldn't be able to swim in such rough seas. Apparently, quite a few contenders didn't finish the swim due to the strong waves and current, and we saw more than a couple get pulled into the life guard rafts. I was a nervous wreck waiting for him to come out of that water!
I was so glad when I saw him racing up the beach!


Biking:

Crossing the finish line!

He had the cutest cheering section in the race, I'm sure it helped.

Scott and his buddies from the ward:

Our whole cheering section:

It was a lot of fun to see him in the race. I think the kids and I had almost as much fun as Scott. He is already making plans to do another one next year. He would like to start in the spring, but I told him our spring is already looking a little busy...