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Samuel and I got to visit two fun pumpkin patches with friends this year.  Our old favorite (Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina) was the spot for Sam's friend Molly's birthday party on 10/4. How cute is he?!

The other occasion was a trip to Flower Mound on 10/22 to visit a patch there (not as impressive) – but the company was delightful.  We took my friend Tiffany and her son Landon, as well as Nate Lisonbee.  A stop for lunch at Chipotle was the moms' favorite part!

(Same green shirt is coincidental!)

We attended a fun Halloween party in October and won "Most Creative" for our outstanding costume! Caleb thought of it!  I went as a sparkly gold "tooth fairy" and Derek was a massive "tooth".  Poor guy was so wide he couldn't fit thru doors (and he constructed that costume exactly 30 minutes prior to the party!).  He was hot and took it off about 10 minutes after our arrival, but that's ok – it still won us an award (spoken like a true competitor!).  Thanks Sivley's and Lee's for a fun party!

Caleb had a fun season playing YMCA Flag Football with the "Trojans".  Coach Gus was very laidback and Caleb really enjoyed his fun teammates.  YMCA sports is just our speed!  It didn't demand a lot of time, but allowed Caleb to be involved with a fun sport.  Way to go C!

At September's Pack Meeting, Jacob received his Webelos Badge (plus a compass point emblem) and his Arrow of Light award.  He also "crossed over" the bridge into Boy Scouts.  Jacob loves Scouting. He has worked hard to earn each of his badges and awards and was a "decorated" Cub Scout.  I love that we get to be involved with this great program.  And hope Jacob will carry on in his Dad's footsteps and become an Eagle Scout.

Back in August Caleb had his 1st Pack Meeting as a new Cub Scout.  He earned his Bobcat and is now well on his path to earning his Wolf.  Our Cubmaster has the boys turn upside down to receive their Bobcat award (I don't get it but the boys love it and I'm sure there's a reason for it, I just don't know it!).  All of the Cub Scouts have to do "KTM" when they get a big award – Kiss the Mom!  They all act embarrassed about it, but secretly they love it.  I love the cute expressions on Caleb's face when he has to kiss me. 🙂  He loves Scouts – has great Scout leaders (Shelley Tanner and Krista Mauss) and great Scouting friends.  

First tithing settlement with our new Bishop.

We were sad to miss the Sooners playoff game while we were in NYC (thankfully Mimi was there, as well as Nana, Mark and Anne).  It was apparently a heart-breaker.  After only losing once all season, it's tough to go out in the first game of the playoffs.  But this was sure a great season and experience for Jacob.  He had begged us to let him play football for years, and we're glad we relented when we did. 

The Sooners got together to celebrate their season at Strikz on Wednesday.

Jacob with Coach Todd Calyer and buddies: Colton, Boston and Austin

Today is cleaning day!
I’m in the kitchen and call for Samuel:
“Watcha doing buddy?”
“I’m jumping on your naked bed!!”
Funny guy!

Caleb is at that age of questioning, but wanting so badly to believe.

Lots and lots of cute questions about Santa have been floating around our house, like:

(My favorite) "Is Santa a Mormon?  Because I don't know if there are churches at the North Pole."

And tonight he posted this letter on the fireplace with some candy:

"Dear, Santa    I would like a picture of you and Roudoff tonight.  p.s. can you put it on the fire place.

From: Caleb                 you can take these (with an arrow to the candy)"

Apparently a friend of his had tried this tactic with much success.  It was on the fireplace before I even woke up this morning!  And all day Samuel kept sneaking the candy, and all day Caleb kept having to replace it.

Santa was generous enough to leave a sweet note and a picture for Caleb tonight (and really enjoyed the candy):

I have been on the verge of tears all night…for no other reason than the fact that I am tired.  

Derek has been gone today for 14 and 1/2 hours.  Still no sign of him.  The boys were wound up tight today. We got back from Austin late last night.  This morning I had no clean underwear for Samuel – he had to be put back in the ones from yesterday.  Lovely.  

This month has been a doozy.  My accident.  The necessary headache of car shopping.  Derek's call as Bishop.  Derek's lost wallet and the necessary headache of replacing everything in it.  My dad had open heart surgery last week.  That was traumatic (for him especially, but also for all of us).  

But even with all of that I have so much to be grateful for.  And I want to spend the next month reflecting on all of the great things that have come from the last month.  

But tonight I am so very, very tired.  And so I rest.  And hope that Derek comes home soon so he too can rest.  And tomorrow I will try to undig my house from the resulting neglect of the last month.  And in the process I will try to create Christmas at my house.  And I will look forward to the upcoming month with anticipation.