Fall 2013

In September we started another year of school at home.  Juan Pablo is in first grade, and Ana Luisa is in preschool.  The first day Juan Pablo claimed that he was having trouble getting used to first grade, but I haven't heard any more complaints since so I think he got over it.

Ana Luisa is taking a ballet/tap class this year, and Juan Pablo is taking an art class.

We also had some friends over to help demolish our crumbling backyard deck and help build us some nice steps down to the backyard.

And then we packed up our little Teresita (and a few other things)...

...and went on a really perfect vacation.  We rented a house on a lake.

We played in the sand, waded in the water, tried out the rowboat and the paddle boat

Ana Luisa rocked the big crazy hair all week.

Friends came to visit and spend a night.

And so did Paulina.

We only had one day where it rained, so we went swimming at the clubhouse pool down the road.

We ended our vacation with a little trip to Frankenmuth, MI because I had signed up to run a race there.  The kids loved Frankenmuth and kept saying things like, "I feel just like I'm in Germany!"

This vacation was such a blessing for our family.  The kids were so happy the whole time.  We all had so much fun.  It was actually relaxing!   A vacation with kids: it can be done!

Then there was Halloween.  We went to the orchard like usual for cider and donuts, and the kids picked out their pumpkins.

They decided to coordinate costumes this year.  In keeping with their interest in Bible stories that they developed over the summer, Juan Pablo was Daniel, Ana Luisa was the angel, and Teresita was the lion.  Since then she loves to crawl around on all fours, roaring and pretending to be a lion.

And, that about covers the autumn season!