We bought a fixer-upper from Sara from the office as Rock's first car. After the orchard mechanic worked it over, Rock finally got to drive it. His mom made sure to be there to chaperone.

The bullet antenna is his favorite part.

We all drove to Wenatchee to watch his double-header. DeA surprisingly was relaxed enough while Rock drove to sleep.

Rock played pretty well in his two games against up to 18-year-olds.

I helped with the clock and they came to provide emotional support.

The Lady Trojans are state champs, and today was the victory parade. It is a big deal.

Even Leo Puppy was excited.

DeA pretended to be excited, but she did ask multiple times if maybe a parade was too much.

Manson Leo got lots of attention and pets.

I was surprised at the turnout for the parade, it felt like half the town was in the parade.

We recruited some Truman girls to help increase the cuteness factor of our float.

They had a little party at the end of the parade with donuts, hot cocoa, and they introduced the team. By now DeA had stopped asking if the parade was too much, and decided that she loved it because it reminded her of something they would do in Virgin River or whatever Hallmark movie she last watched.

Leo Puppy enjoyed the morning, he seemed to like being a people.

It was cider making time shortly after the parade. It was outside this year, which cut down on the freeloaders. 

I couldn't find Jens, but eventually heard some thumping behind the bins. She was back there practicing her serves.

Saturday night and Sunday we had Stake Conference, you can tell it was an exciting meeting.

The Ryker.

 

A Lot of Sports

Rock was supposed to have a double-header on Saturday, but the other teams cancelled so instead he did a scrimmage. Everything was great until his stick got hooked on a slapshot and he tweaked his elbow pretty bad. We got him wrapped up and iced, but it was a quick ending to his day.

When I bought this couch, DeA was worried that it wouldn't be comfy, that it wouldn't go with our house, that it wouldn't stay clean, etc, but I think now she's over all of that.

Luca doesn't like to hear the word "no".

The MHS Lady Trojans balled out at state, and on Thursday late morning DeA and I made the executive decision to to get down to the finals. She conserved her energy to be able to yell like crazy.

Dad was already there, he picked Jensley and Ryker at 6:40am to watch the semi-finals.

Ryker's battery was running pretty low by the time the finals rolled around.

Jens was going strong, enjoying the student section.

It was a little tense, but the girls rolled to a sweep! It was pretty, pretty cool.

It's the first time ever for Manson!

We celebrated with a champion's feast at Miner's

There was a lot of lounging around the next day.

We had a linger longer at church after the primary program. Someone told Luca no and he got a little dramatic.

Leo boy likes the cats, but the cats aren't the biggest fans of the Leos. To solve this, he zips the cats in the carrier with him so that they cannot escape.

At least one of them enjoys their time together.

Luca, always chillin'

 

No kids for a week and Halloween

Mom and Dad took the kids to Harry Potter World and left DeA and I all alone with just each other and our thoughts. And free time, it left us with free time. We spent it going to the Cellars for dinner.

We drove to see the Barrientos in Yakima and spend time with them. It was so great to see them and their now grown little kids. We then spent Monday morning trying out a sauna on a showroom floor.

After attending the temple in the Tri-Cities, we came home so that DeA could run cross country practice.

She does a good job with the kids and, even though she won't admit it, is pretty good at it.

With the kids gone, DeA had to give all her attention to Leo.

I spent Saturday making 6 dozen donuts for the ward Halloween activity.

They turned out pretty, pretty fluffy and delicious. I missed my helpers, and them being gone definitely had no impact on these batch being my best.

DeA and I get to go to the gym together on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I like spotting her on squats, but she never says thanks, only "why do you help me? I wasn't even struggling!".

We only have one kid left that wants to trick or treat. She is the cutest minion ever.

Keeping her brodders out of her treasures was a constant task.

DeA designed some sweet sweatshirts for the state cross country girls.

She prepared for state by making a nest in the couch.

Luca helped Hampa pick me up after our new Explorer broke down.

He was pretty happy to help.

We are back into hockey. I know, I thought we were out, too, but Rock realized last year that he missed it.

Leo and the cats aren't best friends. I've been holding the cats in the house around Leo hoping he'll realize that they aren't prey, but I don't think it's working.

 

Fall Fun

The kittens are finally acting nice to each other, Leo has not.

We have had some snow up high in the mountains, it makes the sunrises while taking Rock to seminary very pretty.

We had a shooting activity at our house, I'm sure the winery neighbors loved it.

Ryker had a cross country meet in Leavenworth, they had to start and finish going up a big ski hill.

He did pretty well

Assistant Cross Country Coach DeA shouted out her preferred strategy:

He finished strong and was deservedly proud of himself.

Jen and Matt came to judge the runners and mock them mercilessly. 

Nama is the primary music leader and loves to tell the kids when they smell like monkeys.

Family lunch was at Len's, and it featured a giant pile of leaves.

It also featured slugs and bugs, but the kids didn't realize that until it was too late.

Super Funzee is doing great with volleyball. She had her last match against Tonasket and I got to skip work to be there.

Her growth this year has been fun to see, but not as fun and seeing her fall in love with and become passionate about volleyball.