PCS Homecoming Weekend

Kris went to her school's homecoming this weekend and had fun.  The rest of us visited the water tower viewpoint in Peoria Heights. We also put out hammock to enjoy some lingering warm weather in the Midwest.

Last weekend of astronomical summer, 2014

As you might have noticed, I often have trouble coming up with titles for my posts.  It is beginning to look fall-like outside.  Yesterday, Katie's soccer team at Peoria Christian School finally won a game.  Katie led some forays deep into the opposing team's territory.  I dug up the rest of our carrots yesterday - we were pretty blessed this year.  Today, at Sunday School, our younger godson played groundskeeper with a broom outside.

Columbus Day (sort of)

After much rain, the weather turned quite chilly, with lows in the 30s and 40s.  This weekend we had October-like weather. At least it was cool enough to comfortably have a campfire in the yard. Today I tried out a hammock that I got at a garage sale on Friday - wish I had spent more time testing it out! Tonight we stopped down by the Illinois River to see the replicas of Christopher Columbus's ships Niña and Pinta. After that we stopped by the statue of Columbus in Bradley Park.

Soccer and pumpkins

The first half of the week was pretty hot, but the weather has turned cool again.  Katie has been playing soccer, and Kris has been rehearsing for her school's production of "The Lion. The Witch, and The Wardrode."  Karen and I are working on settling in to the start of the classes we are teaching.  Here are some pictures of Katie playing in a scrimmage (due to a scheduling mistake there was no opposing team, but nobody told our team, so the ref stuck around and helped with the scrimmage).  Our pumpkins were pretty good year, but are pretty much done, so we converted our three biggest into 28 cups of pumpkin paste.  Our first 4 cups went into making pumpkin bread tonight.

End of August

School has started for me now too.  The weather has been warm with occasional storms.  A little bird got caught in some netting in our yard a few days ago so Katie got to hold it for a little while.  We made applesauce last night, and tonight we made s'mores on the grill.

Transitioning into the school year

Karen, Kris and Katie have started school classes this past week.  I have been prepping for classes but start this coming Wednesday.  Karen and I celebrated our anniversry last Thursday.   Today was probably the hottest day of the year, but I went out fossil hunting with the girls and some of their friends.

Mid-August?

The weather has been pretty mild and dry.  It sort of feels like late September, and to add to that effect, we have maple leaves turning in our front yard and apples are ripening!  I picked a couple pumpkins today (one I think is the best we have had here) so I guess you could call them Assumption Pumpkins.  I am still seeing a few fireflies in the evening, however.  Today I joined the girls briefly at a local go-kart place.  Katie (and Kris) got to steer a little dune buggy.  Katie also had her first soccer practice of the season this evening.