Project 365, Week 43

There are far too many photos, but fall is showing off and there are life milestones happening. Grateful for each one of them and the people I'm doing them with.

October 24

Family fondue. The food is yummy but mostly I love lingering around the table.

October 25

The day was warm, the colors bright and beautiful, the kids all had home soccer games at the same time. We were able to stand in the middle and kind of see both but we ended up mostly watching Aiden's because it was close and exciting and came down to the end. 

After, we had our old friend Tori and her new husband Adam over for dinner. They are missionaries in the Czech and newly married and just so delightful. We had such a nice evening together. 

October 26

My mom was celebrating a milestone birthday on this day so Amy coordinated and hosted a special evening with everyone who could be there.

When this crew is together, football is nearly always involved.

All the grandkids recorded themselves giving birthday wishes and memories. My niece Lainie did a great job compiling all of them into something we could present to her. What a crew!!

October 27

Aiden was passionate about being ready for playoffs coming up, so he asked his dad to take him out for extra practice. Amanda and I joined on a beautiful evening.

October 28

This was Avery's very last high school soccer game, maybe her last competitive soccer game ever. It was also the end of the girls playing on the field together, something they haven't appreciated, but will someday looking back. She scored, which was fun!

She came off the field, dropped her belongings on the ground and threw herself into her daddy's arms. They hugged and cried (quite possibly both of them), the culmination of more than a decade of heart and work put in, always with her dad right there, encouraging, supporting, pushing, showing up. Then she hugged me and whispered that she was thankful I was there to share the experience with her. So yeah, it was an emotional day. 

So proud of the work she put in, the commitment, the ways she grew from having been part of a team, the guts to do hard things. I love #2 and #II.

They had a little fan club there to witness the loss.

October 29

The TBQ group came over for our 2nd Annual Pumpkin carving competition. They're such great kids and so fun to have around.

October 30

Halloween is popular in our neighborhood but I knew we wouldn't be around that evening, so Amanda and I put little bags together for all the kids and she and Avery delivered them the next day.