Cross Country and Spooky-time

Leaning on a fence and watching kids is something we have become very used to.

Ryker ran leagues in Liberty Bell. He desperately wanted to run under 20 minutes to earn himself NCAA College Football.

He ran like the speedy bullet that he is.

He earned a giant bowl of mac and cheese, but no college football game.

He might have eaten too much too soon.

Rock decided that he's in the "let's see how worked up I can make Mom" phase.

Jensley is Mike Wazowski for Halloween. 

Sofia the lil' chicken

Jensley tried to decorate our van to make it scary...

but Sis Yanac won the scary competition by bringing boxes of books and trying to give those away instead of candy. 

This is how teenagers dress like now.

So that was my costume at the office. Half the patients didn't even think I was dressed special, so I guess I can stop dressing nice for work.

DeA and I went on a fun fall walk and I couldn't help but get a picture of her in front of the colors.

Jens volunteered us to take a ton of her friends into Chelan. We dropped them off and then DeA and I went on a dinner date.

Papa La Brisa complained that no kids were stopping by, so I fixed that for him.

Jens had to defend her bounty from her brodders and cousins.

 

Life Trucks Along

Baby Sofia can be pretty cool when her mom or Nama are not around.

DeA doesn't want to say that she was sick for a few days, but there were signs.

There were definitely signs.

We finally got to a nephew's soccer game. Leo Boy showed off his stuff.

Rock didn't go to hockey practice on Tuesday, so Schnoogies and I ran him down and then did some shopping. DeA found my replacement.

Ryker has matured, become more athletic and stronger, and doesn't skate like a muppet anymore.

We were told that practice was on the warm, bigger ice, but it was on the cold, bitter ice.

Cross country and two hockey practices might have made him a little thirsty. 

The mornings have been cold and foggy and want-to-go-back-to-bedly

We helped the Ascanios move some things into their house.

There was more standing around than moving going on, but it got done.

DeA was freezing with a coat on and Luca was half naked and fine.

Luca ended up at our house while Rissa was packing. He was pretty excited until he started to fade.

Down goes Luca, down goes Luca!

Rock went to hockey on his own on Thursday and decided that we needed a new tire and wheels. Thankfully, AAA was close to help him out.

I don't think DeA likes it when I watch her doing homework.

She does love the cats so much that she got what looks like a tattoo, a cattoo if you will.

Ryker and the marching band performed at the last Manson home game.

Buttercup came to support him despite the frigid 50 degree temperatures. I loved to have her and her pretty face up in the booth with me.

They made a Jack-o-latern

The game might have been ugly, but she was extra pretty.

 

Temple, Running

DeA and I love going to the temple, but it is not close. Occasionally we will go after work on Fridays and get home after midnight, but that makes for rough mornings. Ryker had a cross country meet in Yakima, so we did the Friday night Temple Run with a hotel room to make it a special kind of date.

Moses Hole doesn't have a lot of good restaurants, and DeA now knows why it is called Moses Hole.

The hotel had a nice little gym where she got her swol on.

I tried to catch a picture of Ryker as he ran by, but had the zoom setting off just a bit.

I did get this artistic picture of his mother cheering him on.

DeAndra the headphones model.

I'd definitely buy those if she told me to.

Luca the cake monster!

The weather has made for some great autumn walks.

"Are you taking my picture?

"Okay, fine, I'll let you take one picture of me"

Our walk led us back by la casa de Ascanio, and Rock was settling the kids down for bed

You can feel the peacefulness from here.

This braided rope has been on the side of the road all summer, and every walk we think it is a snake. As a housewarming gift, DeA wrapped it up next to the freezer in the Ascanio's new garage. It was a big hit, but they never told us thank you.

Volleyball is wrapping up just as Jens is hitting her stride

She loves volleyball and was excited to be the line judge.

We were on our way to the gym when we got a call that Leo Puppy was ready to be picked up from the groomer. He tried to guilt someone into letting him in.

Schnoogies and I grabbed Leo Boy from school and he did not want to talk for the first five minutes. He did not stop talking after that about golden dragons.

I don't know where she got the BK crown, we never go there.

We woke up to the first snow of the season on the mountains. It feels like it in the mornings.

We had to run Ryker to an orthodontist appointment. I think early morning seminary and practices are wiping the boys out.

Apparently Kirkland Signature is the popular style now.

Muscles McSchnoogies

Look, I don't care if you read the blog for the kids. They are getting older, they aren't as cute as they were 10 years ago, and I'm proud of DeA and her hard work and her sleek, ripped muscles.

A Mike Wazowski pumpkin.

We spent Saturday cleaning and sanitizing the garage after the kittens defiled it. Leo wasn't sure what the heck was going on.

We were invited to Chayo's granddaughter's birthday party. It was wonderful being with her family and feeling their welcoming love. Oh, and the tacos were extra re que te bien

To top it all off, we got a limited-edition Maddy Cake.

Ryker has been working hard with cross country and hockey, but he still makes time to chill with popcorn while watching the Canucks.

Sunday walk with DeA before the weather turns to slop.