our first september weekend

We are two days in to our fourth week of home school.  It's the first full week of local elementary school.  Soccer season started last Saturday.  We've had a few cool days (I even wore a light jacket last week when it was raining) and it seems that fall is solidly underway.  Whew.

It's so encouraging to see our homeschool elementary soccer team growing! This is our third season and we've seen more interested kids each year!

also we have our largest coaching staff this year (which is perfect because we have a LOT of kids out there!)

and then after practice I changed clothes and rushed off to a baby shower for a friend who is adopting!  It was a sweet afternoon and I'm so grateful for the community of adoptive mamas here!

And while I was drinking punch and eating chocolate dipped pretzels Matt and the kids loaded the van and got ready for a quick trip up to the mountains :)

we have a new commitment to get ourselves OUT of the big city, and with regularity!

This time we planned a bit last minute (I was scrambling to collect a change of clothing for everyone before rushing out to soccer practice) and Matt picked me up from the baby shower and we started driving north west.  We got a later-than-ideal start and by the time we arrived at our "hotel" it was dark and drizzling.  hmmmm.  and the "hotel" was deserted.  and everyone was starving for dinner.  and it was already past the boys' usual bedtime.

So we found a restaurant and got some dinner and everyone slept like rocks and we woke the next morning to NO RAIN and a beautiful mountain view.  

We have a lot more territory to explore and are eager to find a few spots that are great fits for our family (and friends!)

but this first trip was surely a success.  and we are hoping for more.