There’s something about the crisp air and changing temperatures that makes me want to spend every minute outside! Leo has been spending more time playing in the yard, cross country meets and soccer games have become a little more bearable, and all the fun fall activities are back. One of our favorite traditions is a…

Bodhi’s fall season took an unexpected turn. After trying out for soccer and not making the team because of his age, he decided the day before the season started to join cross country instead. He hadn’t run all summer, so he showed up to his first practice a little behind—but determined to catch up. He…

Something happened when Noah decided in January that he was going to play winter soccer. He was 14. He was a beginner. And instead of getting discouraged by being behind the kids who had been playing for years, he decided he wasn’t going to give up. He chose soccer over cross country and set his…

Cue the waterworks. It’s really truly hard to believe that we’ve reached this point. I remember the day we drove to the hospital, and were in complete shock when our doctor asked us if we were ready to have a baby. If I would have known how fast these seventeen years have flown by, I…

I fell victim to a “courtesy post” put out by the Aberdeen Humane Society. Meet Fred! He is a six-year-old Aussie, and a really really good boy. Fred was in and out of a few foster homes after his original elderly owners could no longer take care of him. Quincy and Freddie walk really well…

From soccer, dance, and cross country, our first two weeks of fall sports are done. Willow’s team hosted their only home competition and finished well. It’s not as high scoring of a season as we hoped, but the girls are working hard each and every competition. Bodhi’s working hard at cross country, just to stay…

First day of school pictures were a full-on rat race this year! With every kid starting on a different day, at a different time, and with a different schedule, getting everyone dressed, where they needed to be, and in front of the camera felt like an accomplishment all on its own—but we did it! Leo…

Another trip back to one of our favorite places: Custer! This time, we got to bring the extended family along again, making it even more fun. We stayed at Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort and spent our days exploring the grounds on nightly walks, swimming in the pool, hiking the Sunday Gulch Trail, enjoying time at…

After committing himself to working hard late last fall, Noah set a goal for himself: make the high school soccer team. He trained all winter and all summer, and after two weeks of preseason camp and a week of tryouts, I’m so happy to announce that he did it! His first challenge was a weekend…

We had a great last “side quest” day trip with the kids on Saturday. Willow had to work a double, so Blake and I loaded up the boys and headed into Minnesota for a day at A’MAZ’n Farm. There was SO much to do — huge tube slides, a giant petting zoo, black light mini…