Mmmmm.....fall! :)

The changing of seasons has begun once again and, pun totally intended, this time of year always feels as though we're turning a new leaf--Bible studies starting up again, boys learning their Awana verses, school & homework routines, fall sports in high gear, etc. It's like that feeling of the new year when you "jump start" your activities and that determination breeds a bit higher.

Austin catching a breather

Carson's...um...ninja moves?! ;)

hot and sweaty boy!!

                              Carson's cooling-off method--hey, whatever works! :)

I so enjoy this time of year. Really. I do. All those fall flavored coffee creamers, the cozy sweatshirts needed for at least the early morning & evening hours of each day, leaves beginning to show off their colorful moves, and the smells and tastes....must I go into detail on those?! ;) The mouth-watering, sweet-smelling aroma of pumpkin spice infiltrated into just about everything, apple sweetness filling jars and pie shells, garden goods chopped and preserved (and consumed), oh wait...I wasn't going to go into detail.

we start here....

...to end here. YUM! :) Love fresh salsa!

into the crock they go....

...apple butter!

my little helper--making banana bread!

Fall is definitely a favorite season around here for the five of us (just in case you were wondering...) so you know there will be more to come!! For now, a little afternoon coffee with a pumpkin bar will suffice....

Mason helping daddy wash the bike!

Austin's soccer team--go Black Dragons!

Carson's soccer team--go Red Warriors!

love my handsome little soccer men! :)

Fall always seems to bring fort-building!!

Mason chatting with his uncle Keith :)

24 Hours

A few weeks back Andy and I were talking about this fall routine we would now find ourselves in and how it wouldn't come without some new changes. Nothing major. Nothing life-altering. Small yet significant and even faith-stretching changes. Relationships, piano lesson times & students, new soccer sidelines for both the older boys (& a much bigger field!), 3 boys & 3 levels of AWANA (Cubbies, Sparks, TNT), a change in the daily school schedule including a late-start day, stepping out in faith with a new Bible study, just to name a few. Some of these changes bring with it a craziness that could easily become stressful...and it does at times. But we talked about how within these changes, God remains our one and only constant, giving us a consistent 24 hours in a day--which has not changed since the beginning of creation. How we adapt to these scenarios is up to us, including how we manage those 24 hours that God has given. Not a minute more. Not a minute less. 

Mason loves his firetrucks ;)

I could easily complain how some days are so jam-packed that I've seriously considered working out a contraption that would allow me a way to plug in my coffee-maker and crock-pot into the van as we make our way from point A to point B to point....Q. But still there are days when the clock seems to tick at a snail's pace, in which my coffee remains piping hot from that first creamy sip!     

ice cream time....in blue cones! :)

We're given 24 hours. Guaranteed. That's a lot when you really think about it. Multiply it by 7 and you got quite a bit of time on your hands in a week! (168 hours! There--I did the math for you) I could mumble, no rant and rave, as to how there simply aren't enough hours in a day but then, in a way, wouldn't that be like me telling God what I think is best?! That He didn't do it right when He gave me only 24 hours? Yikes! I don't think I want to tamper with that.
Hopefully I'll think twice the next time I'm tempted to do so. 
 
So as not to leave you picture hungry, here are a few more that tell just a snippet of what we've been doing to fill up some of those 24 hours we've been blessed with. 

Austin ready to kick the ball!

Go Austin!!

Austin going after the ball (black jersey #2!)

soccer cousins--I love how red Austin's face is...he was tired!

ready to defend the goal!

Go Carson!

Carson headed to the goal with the ball!

Yes...this would be Austin mowing the lawn!!

I love the crooked lines ;) He was so proud!

Carson doing a little reading to Mason :)

Falling into routine once again

The frenzy of fall has begun to descend upon us as we find our way back into routine after another adventure-filled Anderson summer. I managed to survive that first day "back to school" with kleenex in hand and yet minimal tears (minimal being compared to years past...the tissues were still a necessity). As Mason and I weaved in and around the crammed parking lot after leaving my boys in their respective classrooms at their name-placed desks, I tearfully mulled over how we again arrived at this day oh so quickly. I prayerfully sat for a moment behind the driver's wheel before giving one last swipe to the falling tear and then we proceeded to my MIL's for the annual consumption of donuts and coffee. At the end of that first day, I was met with joyful smiles, my favorite gigantic "mom hugs", and non-stop happy chatter from 3pm until bedtime. A good first day. And we made it through the first four days with relatively smooth sailing.

Austin, 3rd Grade....Carson, 1st Grade!!

love these little school boy gents :)

the handsome trio!

my mini-man Mason

Labor Day weekend brought us to the Granath Lake House once again for a family weekend filled with relaxation, rejuvenation, rich conversation, and even with a smokey backdrop, due to the Yosemite fire, a refreshing beauty that surrounds from all sides. Andy's parents were able to join us for the first part of our little vaca and we enjoyed a wonderful time of relaxing, cooking, laughing :), and everything in-between!

muscle-men

he's just such a happy guy, that Carson :)

dinner time!

Mason and Carson dreaming of hot rods with pappy

a relaxing morning on the deck

there is always room for Coldstone!!

daddy and Austin doing some swimming

lunch break

Austin & Pappy ready to jump into the water!

there goes Austin!

Mason & Nanny

Carson and pappy tossing a football

the boys with Pappy and Nanny---so much fun!!

sunset on the shore

never a dull moment ;)

watching the waves come in...

:)

Mmmm.....on the beach with my hottie-hubby! LOVE HIM!

A smokey sky

fort-building before church!

the next day was pretty smokey--can hardly see the mountains!

but we still had a great afternoon on the beach!

building sandcastles

Mason is such a water boy!

wading in the water

sandcastles!!

our spot for fireworks at Regan Park

I sure love these guys :)

another amazing sunset by our Creator!

ready for fireworks! We had a great view!!

CJ & AA ready for a hike!

finding treasures

a fun hiding spot perhaps?!

Anderson Family--Lake Tahoe 2013

As we step farther into September, the soccer cleats are laced up, the soccer mom/team mom role come around again, piano books dusted off and lessons starting, college class in full swing, AWANA material out and ready, the calendar colorfully coded; and we continue walking through each day with it's blessings and testings, striving to grow deeper in our faith as we "fix our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith."(Hebrews 12:2)