We Love Fall!

 Finally -- it seems that fall temps are here to 

stay!  Leaves are falling almost as fast as the temperatures!

Yippee -- we love fall -- it's just that winter is up next 

that worries me a bit!

Recently, Miss M and I went out for a little photo shoot!

That girl loves to be silly sometimes and she's already

planning a Christmas-theme photo shoot!

She took her favorite pineapple-shaped uke as a prop!
She loved uke lessons and just gave them up recently
as there were too many other commitments going on.
No worries - she can still strum a good tune!

We are so thankful to have this ray of sunshine 

in our lives - every single day!

She's amazing!

Halloween Update

Just a tad bit late on the Halloween update, but here goes!

Maddy had planned to be a unicorn for Halloween,

but her costume was not quite warm enough as we got hit

with a bit of a cold spell.

Plan B -- wear a Cheer Bear onesie!  

It was perfect and she said she 

was warm and toasty!

We went to Boo at the Zoo - a 

tradition we just can't give up yet!

  

Oh my word -- we had a million trick-or-treaters

on our block.  My neighbor counted (who does that?)

and said she stopped counting after 600!!!!

Seriously, the sidewalks were full of kids and parents!

The need for candy is great!! 

The need for cute decorated cookies is also great!

This was the first year ever that I bought candy that I do not 

like for trick or treaters so I wouldn't eat it.

Nerds -- who eats those things??? Ugh.

Of course, I am wishing that I had some good 

chocolate

candy bars!  

Have a great weekend friends!

Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Jumping Around at the Pumpkin Patch

This has been a crazy, long, stressful week, so
let's look at some fun photos, shall we!

One of our so-called yearly traditions is a 

visit to the near-by pumpkin patch!

Maddy's favorite thing to do is not the hayrack ride or

the pumpkins!  Rather, it is jumping on

these crazy jumping pillows!

She loves those things -- I know we should

have had a trampoline for her, but I have always worried

about injuries.

Yes, my name is Jboo and I worry . . . constantly . . .
it's what I do best!
 

Anyhooo, she had an afternoon off recently

so we headed to the patch for some fallish fun!

She had loads of fun and really 

who can't help but have a good time

jumping and going down ridiculously long slides.

Happy Fall!
Winter temps around the corner for us --
how about you?
 

Making Strides

Yesterday was the American Cancer Society

Breast Cancer "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" Walk 

in our city!

Every year the Pius cheerleaders attend the event

and cheer on the walkers as they start and as they finish!

So proud of these girls to give up part of their weekend

to think about and support others.

Yesterday was a beautiful day for the event and

over 2,500 people attended and walked!

I was one of the walkers!

I figured I would do a quick speed-walk 

through the 5k route.

However, an older gentleman befriended me

and so I walked with him -- we did the 5k route.

 I learned all about his family, kids and grandkids!

What a beautiful day and event!

The Unsung Heroes of High School

There are really so many unsung athletes and heroes in

high school, don't you agree?

The coaches, the trainers, the school  managers

and the ones closest to my heart -- 

the cheerleaders!

Last Friday night, the Pius cheerleaders

traveled 2-1/2 hours away each way to cheer on the

football team!

These sweet girls were totally soaked to the skin, 

but cheered through torrential downpours and dropping temps!
Soaking Wet + Cold = Misery

Still smiling - but soaking wet!

Luckily, they all had packed an extra change of 

clothes so they could get out of the wet uniforms

for the 2-1/2 hour bus ride home!

So, home around midnight then quickly launder the cheer uniforms 

before bed, hang to dry and be up, in uniform and

back at the gym at 8:15 AM to cheer at 

volleyball until noon!

Oh my word!  Bless those girls hearts!

Cheerleaders don't get much credit for all they do.

They're not considered athletes by schoolmates [but they are]

as they put in long hours of training and practice just like the other

athletes and teams.
Yes, they have 6 AM practices at least once a week before classes!
So, I say . . . 

Great job Pius Cheerleaders!
You are all amazing!

While we're chatting about unsung heroes,

let's not the forget the parents who support and pay for 

everything, drive  their student athletes everywhere and often sit on freezing

bleachers to support the cheerleaders and the teams!

Thank you Parents! :)
You're pretty amazing too!

.

Well, Hello October!

So hard to believe it is October already!

Miss M has the countdown to

Thanksgiving and Christmas on

her iPhone and advises me daily 

on "how many days until . . ."

Yikes!  I already feel unprepared!
But, I'm reading about getting ready early
this year, so there's hope I will actually
be ready!

It's been forever since I posted anything about "The Littles."
So, it's about time, isn't it!

Catherine's brother got married in July and almost everyone was in the wedding!!

Oh my word, they are growing like weeds and
Jane and Walt are not so little!
Jane is in 2nd grade this year,
Walter in first grade,
Harry in preschool
and little Dorothy - 18 months old already!

They are such a joy and so hilarious!
Kids do say the darndest things -
Art Linkletter was right!

Such a fun swing!
Jane really works hard pushing
that swing for her brothers and sometimes
squeezing their adorable little heads together!

Saying Goodbye to Summer and Hello to Fall!

Is it just me or does it seem really impossible that

Summer is over and Fall starts today???

Wasn't it just last week that Mads and I were

out taking these 4th of July photos???

We did have a fun summer even though I

didn't really blog much or get any of those

organizational/clean-out-the-closet chores accomplished.

There's always winter for those tasks, am I right???

I suppose if we were enjoying cooler temps,

it would seem time for Fall.

However, humid 90s does not feel like the start

of Fall!

Pumpkin fever

No worries though, a cold front 

(those words almost make me shiver!)

 is headed our way on Sunday!

Yummy S'mores!

We're looking forward to pumpkins and s'mores and sweaters

and ponchos!

Ahhhh Fall -- we love ya - 

welcome back!

Mads with Plaid