Where did September go? Photo dump

October already! The Santa Ana winds have been blowing, so the temperatures have been warm the past two weeks. The kids had a heat day (half day at school) when the thermometer spiked about 90. I even have jumped in the pool a few times with the baby. But this week we may have to pull out some jackets for the evenings, as more temperate winds blow off the ocean.

Reading on the beach courtesy the Little Free Library

A tattered Tiger

Checking out the planes at Speedfest

And the race cars

Dad wins the MRE cookoff challenge!

Looks good, doesn't it?

The winning dish in the second round.

Tunnel jumping at the Children's Museum

A giant magnolia browning

Who wants a cheap fire truck? $27000

A little silo at the garden store

Poinsettia the cow and tutu wearer at the garden store

Tortoise at the garden store

We had a hard time leaving

Who wouldn't want to shop here?

Kids are firmly into the routine of school, practices, and homework now. We had quite a bit of company in September - several friends passing through town for work dropped by for weeknight dinners and a couple families came down from nearby for weekend visits. The upshot has been the house has been staying fairly tidy!

Despite all of the extra-curriculars, the weekly schedule hasn't been too crazy because the kids' events are either local and don't require driving or on different evenings and don't require much shuffling. Cross country, volleyball and water polo are on the schedule. And every Saturday afternoon that ND games are shown on regular tv (we are still using rabbit ears) my husband has to catch up with Notre Dame football, even though they aren't having a very good season. We haven't seen our older boys on the tv screen, although we are always looking for them.  They check in once a week or so by phone or facetime - and we try to send a few text updates. This is one situation in which I highly approve of technological advances.

Good night sun. View from the front door. Come on in!