springdellgirl

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Ferris Bueller had it right. That's why this weekend we scrapped all our other plans...parties, activities and obligations...to go hang out at the lake. Fall is a rather under utilized time out there (due to busy schedules) but it is just beautiful. Even though it pretty much rained the entire time we were there it didn't stop us from going outside and having fun. The water was pure glass and the Tamaracks have turned yellow. The fall colors, the smell of woodsmoke, the foggy rainy weather and the beautiful lake were the perfect combination for an October family get together. Our family, Stacey and her two kids, Kelley and Elle, Justin and Hannah and their kids, and my mom and my Grandma were all able to come out. It was a lot of fun!!

Dane was the man!! Fishing in a complete downpour.

 The kids fished, went on nature walks with Aunt Kelley, played outside, decorated Halloween cookies, played games, watched movies, played the piano for Granny, did crafts, ate good food, and just had a great time.

Reilly and I ran up to Sandpoint super early to meet my Mom to do a little Sisters Creed business. Some of our vendor friends who have an antiques store up there were having a warehouse sale. We scored tons of gorgeous vintage Christmas ribbon. Awesome. We also stopped for breakfast at the Pine Street Bakery. They have the best filled croissants. Then it was back to the lake for more fall fun.

Elle, River and Ailey

 The little girls had the best time decorating and eating Halloween cookies. Those are some cooking and crafty girls...just like their mamas.

Reilly, River, Kameron and Bryn

The big kids enjoyed those cookies too. My mom also whipped up multiple batches of her fantastic homemade hot chocolate mix that we all beg for...yum.

Ailey, Gavin and River

 When it was all divided up these guys licked that bowl clean!! We also updated the kids pictures on Granny's picture wall. Good grief the last pictures I had up there were so old!! Kameron was missing his two front teeth...Ailey was two...and Bryn wasn't even up on the Great-Grandkids wall yet! I am horrible at remembering to bring updated pictures.

The cousins just played and played together. Tyler and I banned our older kids from bring cellphones, DS players etc and it was wonderful. 

Look...cousins playing"old-fashioned" board games. How quaint.

Kameron, Ailey, Dane and River. I love that somehow they ended up color coordinated.

Look at that family fun and togetherness without all the incessant texting!! I love it...and everyone survived.

 We did a bunch of crafting both for Christmas and for Sisters Creed. I love being creative, talking and joking with my family, and getting some serious stuff done.

Even with the constant rain it didn't stop Bryn from putting on a little song and dance show on the dock to help attract the fish for Dane to catch. Ha ha. I love that Dane is completely oblivious.

 

We had several crockpots of different types of soup going all day, a delicious mediterranean dip, good snacks (Hannah I need that recipe!!), and warm things to drink.

Elle, Bryn, River, Gavin, Ailey and Haylee

The other end of the table...minus several people

It was so much fun and I am glad that we didn't do all the things that we had on our to-do list and spent time relaxing and enjoying our family.

We also managed to sneak in a quick trip up to Greenbluff to go to the pumpkin patch.It was freezing so we made it quick. 

Who doesn't love Greenbluff?

 ...and hot pumpkin donuts?

Pumpkin Carving is a job for Dads in my book...Just like coloring Easter Eggs. I am not a fan of either one.

Reilly picked out a warty looking pumpkin and...word to the wise...they don't carve.

Other happenings this week... we had the fun of hearing Reilly sing twice. She had a choir concert on Tuesday night. She did a fantastic job!! (You will have to take my word for that because my little attempts at recording it were an abject failure) This year she is in Symphonic choir and they really sounded great. Then yesterday she sang in church with the young women. They sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and it was beautiful.

One last thing...We just found out that we...as in Sisters Creed...will be vendors at Farm Chicks this year. We haven't done that sale for a few years and are looking forward to doing it again. It is probably the largest and best known vintage sale in the United States. We are so excited and busy making plans for the show in June. It should be fun.

Halloween is just around the corner and I am in charge of the toilet paper mummy station in Ailey's class so I had better get to the store. 

Happy Fall!!