Paul's Flower Party

My cousin Doug and Jackie's wedding gave us a good excuse to get together with cousins!

 Are Paul and Samuel long-lost cousins of Adrian Peterson and Polomolu or just fans?

 Here's the plan . . .

Aunt Sarah had the boys running routes like the pros!
 The backyard of the hotel worked, too.

 The cousins kind of switched gears to be ready for cousin Doug's wedding.

 Sam's chocolate mustache had already been unwrapped. Go figure.

 I love having time with these four.

 Grandma's grandsons

 Aunt Elaine and my cousin Karen were the most beautiful mother and sister-of-the-groom.

I was so thankful to be able to visit Wooster, especially my dad's beautiful memorial. 

Sue has done an absolutely amazing job of taking care of the extensive gardens, making a wonderful place for the community to enjoy.

 Sam and Joey found their own ways to enjoy their Grandpa's memorial garden.

My "little" cousins schooled the truly little cousins in basketball, football, and big wheel races down Aunt Elaine's hill.

Micah spent most of his time this fall playing Academy-level soccer. He played left midfield and had many assists and goals while also hustling back on defense. Grandma Bev got to see the first hat trick of his career. Micah's team did very well this season, even making it to the semi-finals of the tournament in Richmond. 

Paul had a flower birthday party at Grandma's farm for his golden birthday of turning 7 on the 7th of October. The dahlias continued to be breathtaking.

Anthony's little monarch butterfly researchers keep track of their migration.

 Granddaddy's new dock might spur some icthyologists,

but for now we have budding botanists. The highlight for Paul was getting to spend time with his Grandma.

Paul has sweet friends who enjoyed arranging flower bouquets with him.

Unfortunately, I don't have a good picture of the flower pinata the boys helped me make.

There were a few shorts days in October in Virginia.

Thanks to Scott, we got to have a little bonus cousin time!

I got to have bonus nephew time!

I also got to have special time at my mom's farm with my friend Kara, too.

My friend Peyton put together a great, inclusive Fall Festival at Covenant.

With hot apple cider on our front porch as always, we had Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga and Christopher Robin at our house for Halloween.

Yes.

Yes, it is Christmas Eve today, so we are excited to spend time with Jack and Mark, but this photo (and the following) are from August and September.

 Yes, it is possible to sleep this way.

 Yes, I love to camp, and being with the VanderGriends is even better!

 Canada was a beautiful spot to be with beautiful friends.

 Yes, Susie can can handle all 6 kids while I take a photo of Niagara Falls.

 Brotherly love

 I always say that spending time with this family brings out the best in us. Yes, it continues to.

 Yes! All 10 of us!

 You can't imagine how many less successful versions of this photo Susie and I have.

Yes, Doug and Anthony are great dads.

 Yes, the Maid of the Mist is that memorable.

 Water is almost as powerful

 as friendships like these. (Yes, I know it sounds corny.)

Doesn't everyone color-coordinate their chair choices?

I was sent on a search for friendly Canadian graffiti for our friend Manuel, so here are some of my many findings:

 What vegan defaces a rock in the wilderness?

El Salvador was here.

 Hiking along the Niagara River

Yes.

 Fun.

Even Sam cliff-jumped and yes, he told everyone for at least a month.

 Engineers at work.

 For their pre-arranged marriage, we can prove that yes, it was love at first Hush Puppie.

 The Hanhold Family Reunion

 Yes, Anthony rocked corn-hole that day.

 BABY GRANT!! Yes!

Digging potatoes with my Grandpa was one of my favorite childhood memories . . .. Yes, Granddaddy let our guys help this fall.

 Yes, Grandma's flowers are exquisite

 and her grandsons are thankful to help arrange the beauty.

Our fleeting time in Harrisonburg had to include time with these friends.

A spontaneous Sunday afternoon hike on a beautiful day? Yes.

Another Sunday afternoon at a river cabin with friends from Alianza (our Spanish-speaking church congregation?) Yes. 

Go JMU Dukes

 Can we take a break from homeschooling to play with Grant and Kara? Yes please.

While Keith let me help him build his new hoop house, 

 the boys used the new room in the barn that Granddaddy built to build a marble run.