I love October!

I have to say, October has always been my favorite month.  I'm not a fan of being hot, and I love the changes that the colder weather brings.  It also happens to be the month my awesome cousins introduced Casey and I, and the month we were engaged 364 days later.  :)

I took this picture on October 10th, 2010, and it was 80 degrees.

A year ago, on October 10th, 2009 it snowed.  I wrote it in Jacie and Kam's books.  I remember Jacie putting her snowboots on with a fall jacket and making footprints on our deck.  This year we almost could have gotten out the wading pool.

This month we have lots going on, Eden is now 4 months, as of 10/10/10, she'll be dedicated at our church the 17th, my awesome brother-in-law, Brandon will graduate from Palmer (he's a DC - doctor of chiropractic), the Trine family is going to participate in the Race for the Cure for the 2nd year in honor of Ann, and Casey and I will celebrate 9 years together and 8 years since we were engaged.  Wow.  And I forgot two preschool trips in there, one to the pumpkin patch (Daddy's going along for that one), and to the Fire Station (my turn!).  She's pumped.

Here are some pics of what we've had going on.  My parents watched the girls October 2nd so Casey and I could have a weekend away, and we went to Ames and watched the Cyclones beat Texas Tech in some pretty sweet seats (thanks, Dad!).  We had Eden during the day as we shopped and ate at Hickory Park (a fave when we were dating) and then my dad picked her up before the game, and we had our first night away from all three girls.  It was much needed, and we are so grateful to my parents for watching the girls.  I think they enjoyed it as much as or more than us as they took Jacie and Kamry to Carroll's pumpkin patch in Grinnell where they had a blast. 

We've been sticking around home finally, Jacie and Casey fished one afternoon.

October also means hunting around here.  Casey got a new bow this year after saving for quite some time, and he's been sighting it in the past few weeks.  Apparently there's a "monster" buck where he'll do his bow hunting, so I'll keep everyone updated on whether or not he gets him this year.  His last BIG buck he shot the first year we were dating (2001!) and even though he's had some decent ones since then, we think he's due.

Like I said before, we went back to the Marshalltown area the first weekend of October.  The girls do okay traveling but we haul way too much stuff.  It's ridiculous.  The two big girls are in the back seat of the van, Eden in the middle with the other seat stowed, and Casey and I up front.  Sometimes we wish we had earplugs.

 Jordan Creek Mall is our halfway point traveling, so we stop here a lot because the girls need a break, Eden needs fed or changed, or Mama needs an excuse to go shopping.  Living where we do, we only have Wal-Mart for shopping.  I think the poor girls think that's the only place a person can shop.  Sad.

Eden all dolled up for our Ames excursion!