In San Diego for a conference.

Fall Family Picture

Here's our annual family pic, which we take every year sitting on a hay bale at the Harvest Fest.

Heroes and more...

The kids stand behind their pumpkins as they prepare for the annual harvest festival at the school gym. This year we have Buzz Lightyear, a genie, Captain America, and a ninja.
(And earlier in the afternoon Signe had a "feis" (pronounced "fesh"), which was a judged competition for her Irish Step moves. She got a second place ribbon for her jig!). Did I mention it has been a busy day?

Jack o lanterns

Meanwhile, the big kids picked out pumpkins at Safeway and started carving away. The menfolk returned just in time for Daddy to help Karsten with his little pumpkin.

Wood cutters

Saturday morning, and Karsten felt pretty special squishing between Grandpa and Daddy in Daddy's old beater truck to head to the woods. He cried for a minute or so in fear when the chainsaw was first revved up, but soon rallied and proudly told Mom later that he "was brave".

Climbing trees in the fall

It is a busy weekend at the Holloway house. Grandma & Grandpa came out for the weekend, and Nick officiated his last football game of the year on Friday night. We look forward to seeing more of him now!
Signe and Grandma take advantage of the absolutely gorgeous and warm (for Moscow) fall weather.

Fall at the Holloway House.

Karsten flies...

A fall day in the arboretum.

Two handsome lunch dates

One thing I am thoroughly enjoying this year, and for the only year in the middle of a 9-year-span, is that I never have an 11:30 school pickup. I have two in school all day and two home all day, with no preschoolers or kindergarteners. This luxury means I have time to do things like drive down to Clarkston to shop at Costco. Yesterday was the first time my littles and I made the trek that didn't involve an entire family excursion on the weekend.
The boys were great "helpers", and were rewarded with chocolate Oreo shakes at lunch. We only managed to eat half that huge pile of fries.
And after we got home, they let me admire how strong they are when they helped carry little boxes of things up the stairs. I love it!

We got haircuts.