FALL!

It has been a long time since we posted last.  So much going on this time of year.  We've been finishing up baseball and softball, Scouts is winding up, and we've been doing a lot of bike rides and such.  Here is pretty much everything that's happened since the end of August.

Elsie and I went for a nice bike ride over at Kill Creek Park.  It was about 9mi and she did great!  It was also VERY hot that day and we didn't see many people.

We went and picked apples one morning in early September.  It was hot that day too, but we got a TON of apples!

Owen had a baseball tournament in Paola.  It was supposed to be 4 games, but we only got to play one because of the rain.  It was neat because it was big boy rules.  Full stealing and everything.

Last regular game of the season.  

Owen found a new cereal!

Elsie started playing the trumpet and has been doing FANTASTIC!  She loves it and practices without us having to ask.

Elsie also got an expander to spread her mouth out enough that her adult teeth have room to come in.  Eventually, she'll need braces.  We have to give it one crank a day with a little wrench.

Millie celebrated her 5th Birthday!

She got lots of treats and lots of love.

Owen and I went to Boonville in early October.  We took our bikes and went for a ride over at Rocheport.

The bluffs here are awesome.  Lots of good river scenery too.

We went about 8mi and had a nice little adventure.

We topped it off by skipping rocks in flood water.  :)

Scouts is gearing up too.  This is most of my den before the Spring Hill Fall Festival Parade.

We sold lots of popcorn...

...and learned about putting up tents at one of our den meetings.  This was in preparation for the big family campout that was coming up.

This was the night of the Bobcat Ceremony after s'mores.  :)

The family campout was a lot of fun, but it was on the coldest night of the year up to that point.  It got down to freezing!  Owen and I stayed in a little tent and Elsie and Sarah stayed in another one.  No one slept good, but no one froze either.

The next day was lots of fun.  We got to shoot bb guns and do some other neat activities before going home.

Now that it's fall, I've been able to do a little mountain biking (not fun going in the woods in the summer).  A couple of weeks ago I went over to Big Bull Creek Park for a ride.  It was really fun!

About 5min after I took this picture, I broke my chain and had to walk my bike back about 1.5mi to the parking lot.  But...after a speedy repair at REI, I was able to go back the following weekend and complete the trail loop.  It was pretty challenging but SO MUCH FUN!

A few weeks ago, I volunteered to go along on Owen's class field trip to LegoLand in downtown KC.  I'd never been before and Owen really wanted me to go.  I'm glad I did.  We had so much fun.

Downtown KC

I see Mahomes!

October is also Pumpkin Patch time!

45lbs!

We had a good haul this year!

Last weekend was the 4 day break from school for parent teacher meetings.  As in the past, we spent it in Branson.  The kids are big enough now to ride anything.  Here they are on Thunderation.

It was the Pumpkin Festival and the park was REALLY busy.  We took a lantern tour of Marvel Cave one evening too.  It was very cool.

Owen and I rode every roller coaster in the park.  Time Traveler was a big new one that spins.  I was really proud of Owen for trying so many new rides.  

Relaxing back at the condo...

Shepard of the Hills Inspiration Point

Last Friday, Owen won Homeroom Student of the Month!  He's been working so hard in school and his teacher had nothing but good things to say about him.

Elsie won Band Student of the Month on the same day as Owen.  We are so proud of how hard she practices the Trumpet.  She's doing great all around and her teacher had nothing but praise too.

Trunk or Treat happened last Friday too.  Elsie is a nerd this year.  I love her costume.  It's SO cute.

Owen is obviously a slice of pizza...

We went down to Boonville this weekend to visit Grandma Cas and enjoy some fall activities.  We went to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday.  The kids had so much fun.

The kids played dress-up at the house...

...and of course, they played in the giant leaf pile!  The trees behind our house are gone, so we have no leaves to play in.  This helps make up for it. 

On Sunday morning, Elsie and I took a big bike ride on the Katy Trail.  A fall ride on the trail is about as good as it gets, but enjoying it with your daughter makes it extra special.

Sarah dropped us off in Pilot Grove and we rode 10mi to back to Grandma's house.  It was a little on the cool side but warmed up nicely while we were riding.

Beautiful scenery!

Elsie spotted a box turtle so we stopped to check it out.

Spooky skeleton riders

We had a fun adventure!  I LOVE riding with my kids! 

10mi wasn't quite enough for me.  I was still energized by all the fall colors, so after I dropped Elsie off at Grandma's house, I rode down to the old train bridge.  While there, I decided to check out the old gravel road that goes up to Harley Park.  It seemed like it would be a perfect place for a mountain bike trail...and it was!

See ya!
Ryan