Welcome Mallory!

Meet Mallory, our newest niece/cousin!



She arrived on the 18th, weighing in at 8lbs 3oz and measuring 20" long.


I was lucky enough to head down to MA and meet her last weekend. What a doll!


She is absolutely perfect. I forgot how little fresh babies are!


She's strong too! (Good thing since she's got 2 older siblings who ADORE her!)

They're giving kisses, not trying to eat her head...


Despite sleeping through everything during her first 6 days, she decided to wake up and do some eating while I was visiting and wasn't so into a photo shoot:


She did squeeze in a few quick catnaps though. Bliss


Congrats Kettell Family!

Afternoon ride

Playdate with Uncle Barney

Jake was thrilled when Uncle Barney came by for a playdate while his mom went down to MA to visit with her new granddaughter. He and Barney get along so well and ran around the yard together


chewed on sticks together


and even sat and watched our neighbor's chickens together

Those lashes

Soccer!

Tim and Nick started fall soccer this past weekend on a beautiful, chilly morning. Tim's game was first and was a little disorganized due to the fact that their first practice had been cancelled due to rain and that its a team of 4 and 5 year olds. The coaching was excellent though :)

(Greg is coaching Tim's team this year)

Although he'd been very excited when we talked about signing up and actually up until the game, he decided it was boring and he didn't want to do it. Here he his standing near his friend Luke who is ready to go:


This is how he stood on the field until he decided he was going to come off (and not return)


We had a little chat afterwards about how it isn't boring if you actually run around a little and he decided that he will try to play next time. I hope so!


Nick has moved up into the gr1-2 division and his team played immediately after Tim's. It was amazing to see how much difference there can be in just 1-2 years!! They did some shooting drills to warm up


and even subbed players


Nick had a great showing with some excellent defense as well as one of the 3 goals that was scored by his team!


I love these ones


His goal (that's him up front):

fall traditions

Its that time again! We headed out apple picking last weekend at a small family-run orchard nearby. The boys were a little disappointed that they had signs up saying no climbing the trees but managed to get some apples anyhow:


With the kids getting bigger, it didn't take long for our buckets to get filled up, despite their best efforts! Note Nick's adjusted apple biting method - he didn't want to pull out his loose tooth!


I was amazed at how many apples were on each tree and started getting anxious for when our trees can start producing! (One more year before we can let them fruit)


Another great day!

More Brotherly Love

And, happy birthday to Pepere!!