Happy Halloween...

...and happy FIRST holiday to our gorgeous baby girl.

You melt me over and over again every day, sweetheart. I just can't get enough of you.

...lots more Halloween goodness to come. But for today, I'm going to get lost in those beautiful baby blues. :)

Brandon's First Flag Football Season

Brandon came to us over the summer and said he was ready to try out this whole flag football thing for the first time. Admittedly a little overwhelmed at first, I thought of all the chaos that would add to our already chaotic schedules. Cody had already agreed to be the head coach of the Junior Tigers tackle football team, Jaden was going to be playing quarterback, we had a brand new little babe in our home. Jaden was still playing basketball and Brandon was still playing guitar. But I also was so proud of him for wanting to try something new - and even prouder of his reason for wanting to do so. "I think it would be a good way to meet new people and make new friends." Can't argue with that, buddy!

And so we signed him up, and he got right to work running plays and throwing the ball around with Daddy and Jaden in the backyard. Some evenings, Kaitlyn and I would snuggle in the lawn chairs and watch from the back patio... other nights, she and I would snuggle on the couch and watch through the big picture window. She was still so little and new and life felt so out of control and hectic and sweet and perfect all at the same time.

It was fun watching Brandon use his speed and determination throughout his season. He only got to play five of his six games due to a weather cancellation, and his poor coach was tasked with coaching THREE teams -- so it was all a bit of a mess at times. But our boy controlled what he could, was determined to make the most of it even though he is a true competitor and perfectionist... and has already said he's ready to play again next fall, too.

He scored touchdowns and two point conversions, captured a couple big interceptions... and learned how to be a positive teammate and a supportive player for his coaches. We were proud of his conduct more than his skills, and it felt pretty good to have our whole family there to support him after so many years of cheering on his big brother.

And Kaitlyn did just fine, too. :)

You make us beyond proud, buddy.

41/52

"a portrait of each of my children, once each week, in 2018"

Jaden: You started your basketball season this past Sunday with another medal earned, a brand new uniform... and a lot of minutes played! And that was after your big team sleepover on Friday night where you stayed up until at least 3:30 in the morning playing football outside, eating all the pizza and playing all the video games. You boys also watched a scary movie before finally falling asleep. The coaches are pushing you boys a little harder this year for your 5th grade season, and your basketball games will take us to new places throughout the state. Looking forward to the next several months of cheering you on.

Brandon: Last week you won 2nd place out of all Cedar Falls 3rd graders in the fire safety poster contest. The CF firemen showed up in your classroom to surprise you with your award and your Walmart gift card. :) And this week - you are leader of the week for your class and had to complete a big poster about yourself to present to your peers. It was fun seeing what you wrote down for "Three Interesting Facts About You.: 1. You share a birthday with Dr. Seuss. 2. You built the entire Lego Millennium Falcon all by yourself in one day. 3. Your grandpa is the announcer for UNI football and basketball. ;)

Kaitlyn: I was a bit nervous about having you in a basketball gym all day long for the first time, but you did SO well. We were so very proud of you! You got lots of attention, loved watching all the action, slept through the loud whistles most of the time, and ate right on schedule in the private room that the tournament director offered us to feed in. I love you so much, and I'm so glad to have you as my little sidekick.

Wordless Wednesday || Kaitlyn's 1st Pumpkin Patch

With the cooler and wetter than normal Fall season we've been having, I wasn't quite sure we'd fit in a visit to the pumpkin patch this year. But we braved the elements during one of the only free Saturdays we had, and ventured out to our favorite patch of them all - Barn Stahl. I've lost track of how many years in a row we've visited this place, but it's a favorite fall tradition, and I was so happy we found a way to introduce Kaitlyn to it. Even though she did spend most of the time in the stroller. ;)

A few things stood out during our afternoon adventure. 1: Jaden is growing up in a big way. He came along for the ride, but wasn't nearly as interested in participating in activities as he has been in year's past, and he pretty much just hung back with Cody and watched his younger brother have all the fun. I think he wished he was home watching football. ;) 2: Brandon still LOVES picking out the perfect pumpkin. Our youngest boy has loved pumpkins since he was a toddler, and he took the task of picking out a pumpkin for his younger sister very seriously. 3: Getting a nice, traditional photo with three kids is no easy task, but definitely worth all the effort. And if you click that camera button enough times, you're bound to get one or two good ones. ;)

Our day in photos...

Last year:

This year:

Last year:

This year:

This simple little picture of three deliberately picked pumpkins gives me all the feelings. It was one year ago this month, though we didn't know it yet, that God gave us Kaitlyn. Our prayers answered in the sweet month of October. And one year later, surrounded by my three punkins at the pumpkin patch, my family complete.

...and my favorite picture yet of the three of them. Yup, worth all the effort.

And of course, Cody's favorite picture. I love my camera, and I love my subjects. ;)