Fall/ Halloween

Fall is filled with good stuff! We didn't have much fall weather though. We squeezed in lots of fun!

We celebrated Seth's 42nd birthday with friends at the German Restaurant

Both kids played Fall Ball. This was Adelyn's first time playing softball. She had an amazing coach and learned to love the game! This is when she got the game ball. The kids never had a game that overlapped, which at first sounded great. But then we learned that meant we would have a game Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night all season long! It was a bit crazy! 

 We always love going to the Fair! We went on a Sunday with our life group. It was 426 degrees so we honestly didn't stay too long. 

 This is from when my parents took the kids (while Seth and I were in Belgium). They stayed for a long time and rode lots of rides (and got all the treats!). 

We took our annual trip to Kinsey Farms 

I love their fun gourds and oddly shaped pumpkins

 Sweet kiddos! 

Our family 

 The kids designed their pumpkins and scooped out the seeds

Seth and I helped carve them 

We went to Trunk or Treat at Oak Grove

  This is our friend Jeff's trunk. Yes, that's a stuffed bobcat 

 Seth's Aunt Lynn has the BEST Halloween decorations. They always have the family to their house for barbecue dinner and the kids wear their costumes. 

 Adelyn, James, and Thomas

James, Adelyn, Clara, and Conner

See a theme? Adelyn is obsessed with this sweet baby! She loves to hold her and entertain her!

Halloween was on a Wednesday evening. I got my face ready for the occasion! 

 Clone Trooper and Rey

We went to the Abernathy's (I think this is year 3?) for pizza and neighborhood trick or treating

 The kids had a blast and got tons of candy!

Adelyn jointed the Robotics Team this year. She had her first competition. This has been a lot to learn! She and her partner make improvements each time. 

Belgium Part 2

The day after the race (Sunday), we went to Bruges. This is what Andrea really wanted to do for her 40th. She had read it was one of the most charming cities in Europe.... and it truly was! 

Our hotel was SO nice! Seth can pick a good hotel! 

This was a sitting area in the lobby

Tiny balcony off of our room overlooking the streets

Shortly after we arrived, we took a canal boat tour

We hit Belgium at the perfect time! Check out the colors in the leaves! 

We saw swans frequently. There's a story behind them.... you can find it here 

This is a traveling piece of art. It's made from 5 tons of plastic waste from the ocean! It's 4 stories tall and represents why we need to change how we use plastics.

The canal tour offered amazing views of the city! We couldn't really understand the tour guide, but we were able to take in the architecture via boat

Seth, me, Brenda and Bobby

We walked around some more after the tour and popped into a brewery

Belgium is known for its chocolate, and when you go in October..... this is what you get 

Kinda gross, kinda cool

We ate dinner at a restaurant and got to sit outside. Seth and I both had mussels (and totally could have shared!). They were really good!

After dinner, we stopped and got a Belgian waffle for dessert. There are different waffles, depending on the city. Bruges waffles are different from Brussels waffles.

On Monday morning, we did a walking tour of the city. We had a wonderful tour guide and learned so much!

The old hospital (it's also a museum)

Gorgeous sights

Listening and learning

This is the Beguinage. There are several white homes in a gated area where women (kind of like nuns, but not Catholic) lived. They cared for each other and the community. 

These homes are owned by a family and they are for people who are in hard times. They're tucked away all over the city. They're small and very inexpensive to live in. I guess it's kind of like the projects, but really really pretty.

I just love the stained glass 

So many neat details! 

Our crew after the tour (Andrea, Chris, Crystal, Dan, Seth, me, Brenda)

Afterwards, we ate at an Indian restaurant. It was fantastic! 

This church supposedly has a vile of Jesus's blood. 

Brenda and I shopped for lace!

This is a cup of the world's BEST hot chocolate. I bought their morsels and the lady told me how to make it. MUST RECREATE.

Amen and amen

We climbed the 366 steps to the top of the Belfry of Bruges 

Check out those views! 

On Tuesday morning, Seth and I had a breakfast date just the two of us at a wonderful little restaurant. Seth loves eclairs! 

We walked around Bruges for a little longer and then drove to Brussels to stay the night (as we were flying out of there early the next morning). Chris, Andrea, Seth, and I took an uber from the airport hotel to the square in the heart of the city for dinner. It was bustling! We primarily stayed in the square. The buildings are so beautiful! But it felt very touristy and I didn't feel 100% safe. I'm sure it's a neat city.... I just need to experience it for more than a 2 hour evening!

This is a statue near the square of a little boy peeing. We actually bought James some chocolates of this statue and he thinks it's hilarious #boyhumor

We flew home the next day. At the airport we found a Starbucks! We weren't impressed with any coffee the entire trip, so it was kind of a relief to find something familiar! 

We were thrilled to get home safely to the kids! Thank you to my parents for taking great care of them while we were gone!