Pumpkin Picking

We had a beautiful day on Sunday.  Perfect for going to the pumpkin farm to get Ava Grace her pumkin and to eat hot apple cider donuts.  We went friends from church.

Can you read Trevors shirt?

It says:

IHSA State Playoffs (football)

Yes! Trevors team starts this week playoffs

1st Round!  Go Eagles!

Yum, this is a good donut mom.

She had 2 more after this picture even

Her hands are up because she is telling me how sticky her hands are from the donuts!

I love the shirt she is wearing, we got a lot of compliments on it!

Love my girl, even tho she has a hard time looking at the camera

Love me some Ava Grace sassy looks.

Trevor and Sara

Our best friends:  David and Kelly



Tom and David grew up together thru chruch.  They have done many, many things together.  When I started to date Tom, I got to meet Kelly...can I just say our first meeting was NOT that great.  It turns out tho in the end, that we became best friends...



We do a lot together as families...

Well this past weekend Kelly and I got to experience something else together....

HOMECOMING for Sara...

1. let me say that I can't believe Sara is a freshmen

2. how happy I was that Sara and Trevor went together

I can't believe how old the kids are getting Kelly...glad to go thru this journey with you.

New things...

My Princess started a new ballet/tap class....

These pics are from the first day...she was so excited, she couldn't even look at the camera, she wanted to see all the other little girls.

She LOVED it.

I don't think you heard...

SHE LOVED IT

She wants to keep going, and then she also wants to continue in gymnastics...oh boy, oh boy...

Ava also became a Cheerleader

They love her...

I guess I need to get her an outfit!



Loved

Ava Grace loves to go to school

Ava Grace had her first day of Childrens Day Out School...

I have to tell you, that it was VERY hard for me to let her go. 

It has been 4 months since Austin and all of these firsts are hard.  I just imagine what his Senior year would have been like.

Showing off her backpack and lunch box 

Ava Grace on the other hand couldn't wait to go to school.  Once the boys went to school, she asked everyday if it was her turn....I'm so glad she loves to learn and meet new people.



First Days

Well the start of school is here....

Tyler is off to his Sophomore Year at college

Trevor is starting Sophomore year at a new school...

Andrew is in 7th grade, we moved schools for him also....he is now at the same school with Trevor.

Praying for a wonderful school year for all.

Going back

I was looking thru the computer at some pictures and realized I haven't posted much since Austin...

Ava Grace on her last day of school

Aunt Nancy playing in the sprinkler with Ava Grace

Trevor joined in also

enjoying the cold water

We got to meet Olivia Sloane

Olivia was born 4 days after Austins death

Ava Grace loved her 2nd cousin

Trevor got his Drivers Permit

Yikes

They grow up fast!

more to come....

New Normal

We are still trying to figure out what our "new normal" is....

hard
questions
crying
longing to hold/see Austin again
relying on Gods strength
memories

received many wonderful books, one that has been a blessing is

a devotional book
Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

very helpful for us.

If you could still keep us in your prayers that would be wonderful.

Thank you all

First Summer weekend at the lake

I posted this picture on fb, we had just pulled in to the lake house, and the kids wanted to go swimming. 

 I thought a lot about Austin.  He loved the lake and we have so many memories of him there. 

 Trevor with his friend Emily,

first attempt at double knee boarding from the shore

failure... 

2nd attempt

success

after

Sara knee boarding

Ava enjoying a ride on the boat

Andrew knee boarding

Nathan wake skating

Lexy swimming and looking for the rocks that Ava Grace is throwing....

I have to tell you, this dog is awesome, she literally had her head under the water like that for a good

15 pictures, she never came up for air.

She did however find the rock that Ava threw for her.

Jacob slalmon skiing

I think Sara cought this fish

Andrew wake boarding

Andrew taking Ava and Lexy out for a boat ride

Sara caught this Catfish off the edge of the dock

yuck!

on the other hand, Ava caught this fishy

Trevor was trying to get Ava to pucker up to kiss the fish

look at Avas lips, not sure if she should pucker up for a kiss or not