Officially today is the last day of summer(in the USA) and tomorrow begins my favorite season, Autumn. However, for the past few weeks we have enjoyed the beginning signs of Fall here in Colorado. Jonas has asked everyday, "Is it Fall yet?" When does fall officially start? The first day you put on an extra layer over your short sleeve shirt, when the first yellow leaf appears on a tree, when the morning air is cool and crisp, or when Starbucks serves Pumpkin spice lattes? The sound of all of that sounds marvelous! I LOVE FALL!
Labor Day weekend, Matt headed out to hunt for dove for a few days while the boys and I enjoyed back at home. We went for a hike, had ice cream at Blue Cow(our fav), and played hard in the backyard.
That evening during dinner appeared a double rainbow. Joyfully amazing!
My young boys inspire me to stay active and nurture their little minds with information. While we jumped on the trampoline that weekend(3 hours straight), we discovered what 'static electricity' was through experiencing. By rubbing our feet across the trampoline, we created a spark when we reached and touched another's hand. They were so flabbergasted!
Our backyard apple tree bloomed this year profusely so Jonas had a great idea to pick them and make apple pie. In the past, I never picked them because I assumed they had worms. Lo and behold, the flesh was perfect. Of course, the squirrels got to some of them, but we had plenty for a few apple pies and maybe applesauce. Jonas was so excited! Once again, my gardener(Jonas) has stunned me with his knowledge and passion for living plants.
My precious Silas...enjoyed tasting many apples to make sure they were sweet.
With focus and persistence, Jonas cut up all the apples while I peeled them. When dad came home from work he said,"Dad, I know how to cut with a knife now. No need to help me."
Bobbing for apples was another unplanned activity and full of laughter.
I continued the apple theme for the week and came up with some apple crafts for the boys and later when friends were over.
That next weekend, Jonas was able to go hunting with Dad and Grandad for the day. He was very thrilled to experience this thing called 'hunting' that dad talks about.
He carried his own toy pop gun in order to be like daddy. Someday he will experience shooting a bird but for now, he will be out in the field with dad.
Feeding horses on the private land was their last adventure for the day.
One of Matt's favorite pastimes with the boys while I work Thursday and Friday evenings is go for hikes. This evening was bursting with colors of fall.
Silas said,"Dad look at the orange color, take a picture of me and text it to mom." What 2 1/2 year old says that? Oh right, their generation does...lol!
We frequently go to the city of Golden to eat pizza at Woody's and then walk down to the big green slide near the creek. We always spend hours here...memories that our boys will never forget.
Our days and nights have been busy with lots of activities from botanical gardens to birthday parties. We take advantage of these Colorado days this time of year. It's still can be hot but we know winter is coming soon.
Our last Rockies game of the season, it rained. The temperatures dropped from 90 degrees to 58 degrees in one day.
Matt and Jonas were picked to answer a question at the game and were on the Jumbotron. My boys are famous! We had 2 friends text us pics of them on the screen. I had no idea they were in the stadium as well. It was hilarious.
The day it was cool, kept us inside. Silas is really attracted to music and will find everything in his being to create sound. Rock star?
One of the signs of fall is soccer. This is the first time the boys have played on a team and they love it. I told Matt that morning, it smells like soccer. Brings me back to the old days of playing as a little girl.
Jonas is so excited to learn new skills and is always attentive in practice. He really enjoys playing with his buddy, Finley(on the right).
I believe Silas enjoys being Jonas' favorite fan.
After last weekends soccer practice, we headed up to Longmont to pick apples at a real apple orchard. We invited our next door neighbor, Kallie to come with us since she will be moving next week. We are very sad so we are trying to spend as much time with her as we can.
Two minutes into arriving at the farm, Jonas had an accident with one of the farm horse. Confidently, he held up some hay for the horses to eat from his flat hand and the horses mouth was so big it snatched up Jonas' fingers and wouldn't let go of them. Jonas was screaming as I was yanking on his hand and Matt smacking the horses head. Eventually Jonas walked away with some swollen fingers and scrapes. He was very sad but having his silly brother and Kallie there made things better.
We moved on to picking apples. There were 32 different kinds of apples for us to pick.
We learned something about picking an apple...twist it off instead of pull and if it doesn't come off easily, it's not ripe. Frequently, Jonas repeated out loud to remind Silas to not pull. :)
Hayride...the perfect harvest activity!
Apple Cider Donuts was Silas' choice of snack.
Jonas' picked out root beer honey stick.
Lazy Sunday morning making pumpkin pie french toast and who do we have for a visit? Is that Darth Vader?
Family hike at Matthews/Winters
For the past few months, we have been meaning to start remodeling our master bathroom. It has started with the motivation from Jonas.
Trip to the Denver Zoo with friends, always a fun excursion.
Just recently, Jonas finally saved up his last dollar to purchase X-wing Star-fighter Lego. It took him 9 months to save. The minute he brought it home, he worked on it for 2 hours and only half built. Even though he could have sat and finished it, we suggested taking a break and finishing it tomorrow. First thing, that morning he woke up and finished it...another 2 hours. With 578 lego pieces, Jonas created a masterpiece all by himself with one minor error that Matt helped him fix it. Really? He continues to amaze me with the focus and determination to build something so intricate and difficult. This Lego box was geared for 8-14 years old.
Silas bought a little Lego set and decided to create his own version of the vehicle. With Jonas as his idol, he wants to be like him.
Jonas receives Lego magazines every month in the mail and studies them front to back. There is one section that you can create something on your own and send a picture in for a contest. These are a few pics that we have taken.
Moon Repair Base
Obi-wan Kenobi and Luke's space fighter
This is just one corner of his room that is filled with Legos. A whole other bookshelf is filled with Lego creations. Weekly, he organizes his Legos and makes sure there is room for another brilliant idea of a Lego creation. His favorite creation to build is anything about space. Moon rovers, spaceships, moon base, satellites, hubbles, and more. We were talking the other day about college and where he would want to go. Here's his answer,"I want to go to college in California where my cousins live. Is there an astronaut class there?"
There has been two blessings in our life just recently. Violet Evangeline Helton, parents Tim and Merri Helton
and Emma Anne Robinson, parents Chad and Jenny Robinson.
Even though neither live near, we are so ecstatic to welcome them into our family. What beautiful pictures of God's love.
