Fabulously Fall!!

*just a note--this post will contain photos of dead animal carcases....you've been forewarned! :)*

I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that Fall has officially arrived...with a touch of winter?!?! The leaves changed and thanks to a mighty blow, distributed themselves across our (still) green grass only to be raked up and redistributed thanks to the eager runnings of little feet. The greyness that accompanied Monday was simply glorious, the sound of raindrops dancing on the rooftop was music to my ears, complete with the snow-capped mountains! The seasonal change at this time of year never fails to be anything short of gradual. Shorts while watching Carson score some soccer goals and 2 days later we're sporting the hooded sweatshirts and jeans, digging ferociously through the closet to find those winter jackets and gloves because we had heard the weather forecast. And yes, this morning, we woke up to a white winter-wonderland! I do like the fact that we get to enjoy the 4 seasons, just maybe not all smashed together in one week. However, I am thankful for the change and that we are still deep in the midst of my favorite season, FALL!!

Good work boys!

Carson & Mason "balancing" leaves on their head

Austin making a....leaf angel?! :)

Carson got a Math Award for his class!!

Soccer Saturday!! And like I mentioned earlier, it was t-shirts and shorts weather for part of the day! Only 2 more games to go for the Red Robins...he's bummed that it's almost over and I'm semi-relieved to have some Saturdays back! :)

It took quite a few hours of "slicing and dicing" and a lot of prep and patience, but Andy's elk now fills our freezer!! Another humble reminder of God's faithful provisions for our family! Elk steaks anyone?! Come on over!!

The hunters (minus Kyle)...Andy with his dad and grandpa!

The guys did the cutting and mom and I did the "food saving" :)

Lately, our house is dripping with those autumn hues of red, orange, yellow, etc. thanks in part to my artistic boys and their vivid imaginations that never cease to amaze me. I could use another wall in order to display that continuous flow of creativity.

A little art time at the table in the Sunday afternoon sun!

so much fun!!

I love their laughter :)

pumpkin bread!

sunset through the trees

snow capped mountains on Monday.

 

...snow covered ground on Tuesday. :)

"The snow is EVERYWHERE!"

Mason was stricken with the morning's snowfall

 The sun is shining, clouds are forming, snow is melting, music is playing, coffee is re-heating ;), and I'm pretty sure there is a Good Book that needs reading.
  "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:10-12

Elk slayings and other randomness...

In years past when Andy has been on his hunting excursions, it has consisted of him being absent for a week or more. This year, he decided he would just "get 'er done" and shoot his elk on opening morning at 7:30am! :) He came home with clean laundry, meals untouched, and an abundance of meat for our freezer!! Granted, we still have to cut it up and process it, but it's ready and waiting! It was a successful Anderson season all-around with Andy's dad filling his deer tag, Andy's grandpa filling his elk tag, and Andy's brother Kyle filling his deer tag! No meat-supply shortage here! I'm pretty proud of my man and thankful he was able to utilize those awesome God-given hunting skills. I know he would have liked to be out in those hills a little more as that's part of the whole hunting experience, to just "be" in God's creation; one can never predict how a hunting season will go and so we are simply thankful for God's provision in this way! Nice job Andy!! :)

my hottie-hunter-hubby with his elk!! :)

Andy's grandpa with his elk

Packing it out--Kyle, Grandpa, and Andy

a little Nevada desert beauty

some fall color in the desert

Meanwhile, the boys and I kept busy with our usual routine of life and were gratefully graced with Andy's homecoming a whole lot earlier than expected!! 

 A little fall fun package from Grandma!!!

 

When I got Mason dressed, he says to me "I look like my Grandpa!" (my dad is a bib-man...I admit Mason's sentiment brought a few tears to this mama's eyes...

Carson drawing a picture in the fall sun

I love laid-back goofy days......I just love my boys! Period.

what happens when i say "toothless smiles!" ;)

A sweet moment of Mason I just happened to capture

 The leaves have reached their peak and are in the glorious color schemes of brilliant yellows, vibrant oranges, and deep reds. The calendar says it's fall but the weather has us believing otherwise, which does not have any of us complaining.

Fall beauty!

 

 Breaking out the bikes...in mid-October?! We'll take it!! Thank you Lord for beautiful fall days and boys who bring endless smiles to our faces!! 

I love Carson's face as Mason runs to him ;)

so much fun!

chasing after daddy!

peek-a-boo....

Life as of lately...

There hasn't been anything particularly out-of-the-ordinary that I can necessarily write about; life as of lately has been busily cruising right along!! We're hoping that will change in the coming days and I will have something spectacular to report as Andy heads out into the Nevada wilderness to "bring home the bacon"...aka, an elk. It is once again time for that seasonal fill of family-man-time all the while glassing the glorious mountain-sides for those massive deer species. I'm very thankful that he is able to go and utilize his God-given hunting skills and enjoy being together with the guys, and see some amazing "hidden" Nevada beauty!

let's hope these elk are still here!! (Andy's 'scouting' from last weekend)

We are thoroughly enjoying the fall harvest with the last of the garden goods and those "fall aromas" wafting throughout the house via candles and varieties of baked goodness. We have also finally succumbed to perform the seasonal "changing of the closets", boxing up the shorts and making room for the jeans and sweatshirts. The leaves are changing and we need to relish in their beauty before they fall to the ground...and all too quickly. The boys are, however, excited to rake up the colorful leaves and have those monstrous piles throughout our backyard.

Zucchini!!!!

Austin got all these in one pickin!

Our handsome little nephew PJ celebrated his first birthday and it's crazy to think a whole year has gone by already!! He is quite the little mover and shaker and is truly a miracle from the Lord. His wild fluffy hair, kissable chubby cheeks, and infectious smile make his uniqueness even sweeter and he is definitely loved by so many! :)

Happy Birthday PJ!!!!!!!!!!!!

love this little guy!

Proud parents!

I wish I had a better pic. of Carson practicing his ninja moves on this pinata :) Hilarious!!!

Sugar rush!!!! ;)

Carson will be facing his second surgery this winter--December 19th to be exact--and even though I was hoping for a different date, God's timing is inevitably perfect and He ever-so-faithfully worked out all the details. Doesn't He always when we finally just let go and let Him have those things that are out of our control?! I admit that I have a tendency in still wanting to hang on a little bit, even if it's only by a pinky, thinking I know what's best...clearly not so. He ALWAYS does!! As we made the necessary plans, my heart was again reminded that these boys are not my own...they are His but He has allowed me, no....blessed me, with letting me have them as my three sons for the time being. My mind is flooded with thoughts on this topic but I'll keep them my own for now. All I can say is, even though the thought of another surgery is not an easy one, I have peace because I know that HE already knows the outcome and HE will carry us through every step of the way. 

Mason perusing the "hot rod magazine"

Marble game!!! One of those toys that came out of 'hiding' while daddy was gone over the weekend~

With daddy being away hunting for a while, there will still be the usual comings and goings, but maybe we can throw in a few fun twists to make the days go by quicker and the semi-predictable flow of life a bit more memorable. I gladly welcome any ideas.....