SCRAPBOOK BROWN: October 2020

It was a lovely night to be out walking in our 'hood. This year, Noah's friend from church, Parker, and his sister/Anna's friend, Mallory, joined us. I gabbed the whole time with their mom, Lea Ann. Lasa tuckered out real fast this year, which was weird, but she hung in there walking a lonnnng way still before she got piggy back rides and then Josh took her home a smidge earlier than the big kids. We trick-or-treated for two hours and called it a wonderful night. Anna says it wasn't as magical this year as before .... which I think means she is outgrowing it finally. Which is fine! I was surprised Noah even wanted a mask this year. He went with the old school hockey mask since hockey is his thing lately ... I had to explain how it is also a really scary character from an old school scary movie. Since he is all about all things scary this year, he liked it even more.

Anna girl went with a llama costume. She enjoyed wearing it the night before, too, to a Halloween party at Kate's. It's a funny costume because it will squirt water to spit, too.

Lasalove went with a pirate this year. After the Dora and friends costume she had me buy - ha! She is the cutest pirate I have ever seen. She, of course, lost the gold earring that goes with it by the time Halloween got here. She had fun wearing this to school the day before as well.

Trio pics.

Around the house...

At Jackson's Orchard...

Bloody Acres for Noah and some buds (Noah's first ever haunted anything). We also introduced Noah and Anna to a few more scary movies this month - World War Z, Signs, and The Sixth Sense.

In Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Great Smoky Mountains for a few days of Fall Break retreat...

Was such a delight to meet up with the Graffs on this trip. We did the mountain coaster, dinner, fire pit and swimming with them that night.

Local camping trip at a new to us spot that really charmed everyone - Cages Bend Campground.

Other sweet shots.

Another trip to McKays. This haul should hold me through winter, I hope.

School success notes!

Early voting ... in lines out the building and around the lot. Impressive!

Noah and Josh built and stained this table ... to have more Lego display space. It goes in the spot where Noah's air hockey table was. He sold it this month.

I keep on walking ... loved this view of the path covered in pine straw and leaves.

We ordered a new Christmas tree this year finally. A pencil tree, which is so much more perfect for us than we knew it would be. On a whim, we went ahead and put it up the day it arrived ... because 2020 needs the extra cheer. The girls were ga-ga for decorating it Halloween style. We kinda love it!

The kids started a little counseling this month and it's been a neat, new, growing, and good experience for them. Anna and I took this shot before one session when we got there too early. Both sporting new sunglasses. Noah didn't wanna be in the pic.

This pistol. Alllll the energy allllll the time. She is also sporting a fungal ear infection these days.

Like I said, I keep on walking. This day Noah jumped up to go with me and that made my day. This is how he "walks" with me ... hockey stick in hand. He plays a bunch lately. Usually in skates as he plans to try out for a team in the spring.

Cuteness from Kindergarten - with the proudest cutest she-pirate on the back row.

Noah and Valley. Valley stays closest to the house all the live-long day ... and now nights too. She is very happy with our new arrangement of not putting her and Luke up in the bunny bin with the rest of the bunnies at night. She and Luke prefer to keep their distance from the rest of our brood, so we just let them all have full roam of the backyard full time now. Hoping we don't regret this decision with any lost or injured (by hawks or owls) bunnies.