Soccer Season

Nick played this year on the High school freshman and JV team.  Lots of games across the board and honestly he LOVED it,  He was much more physical this year and enjoyed his first taste of HS sports.

Love these photos captured by John Senecal - the nervous kiddo that avoided the ball at age 5 has surely transformed.

 

Demo day - Let the project begin.

 Its Friday and my folks are headed to snowbird in Florida.  Its a bit earlier than they would normally like, so they have been scrambling a bit to winterize life to where they would like it to be.  Chris took them to the airport and I took the 2 pooches and headed to my folks to work a bit while Chris brought in the big guns.

We honestly never liked this tile - but the effort to get it up and get rid of it - will prove to be significant and justification for why we left it so long.

This tile is even more distasteful.  The little crevices are constantly collecting dirt and looking dirty - Yuck yuck yuck

Bathroom is about to get a face lift too.  Mostly because its getting caught up in the collateral of the project.

Chris taped off everything possible and rented a HEAVY chisel drill.  HEAVY is an understatement.  I don't know how he did the entire floor.  What a work out - I tried it a few times and was overwhelmed by the heft of it.  This demo took the ENTIRE weekend.

Shane helped to demo the pantry (that is another story, now we can't find our food!)

But on Monday, things were starting to look and feel like its moving in a better direction.  WE opted out of the underlayment.  The floor actually had it integrated and with this extra layer the panels just didn't seat together right at all.  

Every night we tried to lay a few more sections..

We had Caitlynn and Lynn come by as they run a side Hussle with a company they developed "All the beautiful spaces"  when our house was in shambles, they walked through finding pieces within our house that can be best grouped in the family room to bring on the cozy feel.  I love that they selected this trunk from Barbara and the rug that Chris brought home from Iraq.

Powder room - what to do in here...

See what I mean about food everywhere?  Spooky right?  Haha!  Halloween decorations got the best of me.  We laughed as Shane would just reach behind to grab snacks.  Not ideal (if you are talking to the parents)  Ideal if you are talking to the kids.

A Columbus day Thanksgiving with the family!

We started the afternoon at Deeply Rooted Pumpkin farm trying to pack as many pumpkins into the wheelbarrow.

Fill'em up!

The Bishops got to join us and Sam apparently found the great pumpkin!

Did we get enough for everyone?  Chris and Drew are still at his soccer tournament - life around sports for all of us as the Charron's were just coming from Jackson's hockey game in Providence (that Drew got to see right before his own game!)

Team work to now fill the trunks

Cute capture - niece, pumpkins, pooches and Nick!

WE popped over the Hogan's farm for some spike cider and donuts.

Great fall spot

Back at our house - Drew is so excited to share his music - Jackson seems more than happy to be the music stand

True definition of forced family fun - Apparently my rules go against everything dad remembers.

These guys are happy to play along

Any yet, who still wins the game?!?!

Sunday morning and I am excited to have the niece that bakes and does a GREAT job with it.  She made glazed fall sugar cookies!

Loaded up and headed to Oma Sue and Goombas with cookie's on our laps.

We had to make a quick stop to grab a few cans of cranberry sauce - or maybe everything that Stop and Shop has at the moment

And we present you - a beautifully full table!

 

Drew rings in the double digits! 10!

We all got to celebrate at a favorite hibachi restaurant.  Shane and Chris were a bit late coming home from a cross country meet.  Glad my folks are still here to celebrate with.  This curious, smart considerate (if you are not his brother) musician was smiles all day!

How many madlibs can a kiddo do?  On a 24 hour flight, I am guessing the whole book!

Great smiles - can you believe as we were leaving his buddy Matt Yankee was settling into the other table prepping for HIS birthday meal.!

We went home to give hugs to this little foster girl Wendy

For his birthday, Wendy's gift was snuggling next to him all night long - and a squeaky crocodile.

 

A moon Flower, a white pup and a concert

All summer this vine grew and grew, intermingled with the morning glory, the moon flower says it blooms at night.  I figured I was just missing it.  Until we found one!

Big papery white bloom

Than, Nick and I visited with a sweet pup that is up from Little Rock Arkansas and is looking for a home.

She is a tripod and only 1.5 years old.  Wonder if she could get along with Nora?  Hmmmmm

Then - its concert time!  Loved the outdoor lawn chair set up.

Great looking group of musicians - that are somehow in High school!

 

Shane turns 12!

His awesome day started with a soccer game where additional buddies joined as teammates.  Goomba treated the team with Donuts too!

We enjoyed a family lunch together on the porch with Chicken Fried Rice!  Look at those 2 similar faces.

It is your special day - you kind, soft spoken, smart, fair sweet child!

So he figured this was the celebration...  And yet every year he has this huge party in the back yard, we just hadn't planned anything. (or so he thought) he spent the afternoon with my folks while we filled the yard with his buddies

Than we filled the shed ready to surprise him.

Here is the video - I think he was onto us....or at least he was onto something.

https://youtu.be/VxNKsdicP20

Love this group of kids - they divided up and played football, capture the flag and man hunt

Love photos of them together like this.

We requested no gift, rather donations to the local animal shelter.  Some folks loved merging those ideas.  Like this one that says puppy love where profits go to local shelters.

It was funny when the gifts arrived he asked why there was all this dog stuff - no he knows..

Gotta give credit to Drew here - as this donation was his idea - I just stole it for Shane too - The dogs are the ones that get to benefit!

 

Sneaking in a quick catch up

Megan was flying in for a quick visit with Molly and some of her closest friends from school - they had a weekend planned at a B&B in Litchfield.  I was thrilled she called seeing if she could sneak in some catch up time.  Grabbing them at the airport was perfect!  Glad I could see them before they headed out for their girl weekend.