good hair

As promised, more of the family photo session. I love that Martin took some of Matt and I, the one with the blanket is my favorite from the entire day. Although we joked that it was a little transient inspired, just need a trash can fire and we're good! It is so awkward to have your photo taken alone yet I don't want to be lost behind the camera lens either. Most importantly, my hair looked nice that day. Priorities. More coming of the boys, don't know why I am dragging it out but I am.

Sometimes you don't get what you pay for

 Sometimes your friend meets you on a chilly day to take your family pictures for free. Thanks Martin! Getting all six of us coordinated is the ultimate circus and you did it with style. (More to share later, I am being the laziest blogger ever.)

the haps

Life lately; This fall was rich with reunions. We met up with family and friends we had missed while in Seattle. That cute blonde with Matt? That's Julie, she was the reason he graduated high school. Always lending him her notes or filling in him on the days he missed, I think it was like 54 days or something ridiculous.

 Also, it appears we have been reuniting with a lot of food. The Boise Fry Company along with friends and family giving us their eggs and potatoes and grapes for juicing. Hooray for the Idaho harvest! And the donuts! My fantastic friend Ruth brought them over in the midst of a homeschool disaster and saved the day. 

One last thing, I am reuniting with getting dressed. I joke that the reason I homeschool is that I don't have to put on pants. Yoga pants forever! But I found that maxi skirt pictured (twice!) and it may be the perfect solution.

After some very social months, this introvert has been doing a bit of hibernating. I have painted the living room and bathroom, it makes the hermittude kind of functional. Painting away and catching up on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals while the boys obsess over Minecraft and Matt watches the NFL. Tis the season for technology!

 I am already missing fall. Winter hit hard for me this year. I have been super anxious. Working through all that and listening to the lyrics,"oh for grace to trust Him more," on repeat. It is pretty fitting then that the view from our front porch is the cross.

Idaho Botanical Garden

My dads sister Tina was in town for a bit. She is a fun aunt who loves get out and explore. She told me the Botanical Gardens were have some kind of scarecrow competition and invited the boys and I to come check it out. I count these kind of excursions as school time so it was a two-for ;)

My cousin Becky was able to join us to boot! We lucked out on the perfect fall day, the place was full of gorgeous autumn color.

The perfect outing until I asked Aden to stand next to these cattails...

...exactly one second after this picture, he fell in the water! He likes to tell people I pushed him in. (he changed with some clothes that were thankfully in the car and was promised a video game for his trouble)

 Sometimes this homebody just needs to get out and see this beautiful place we live, thanks Aunt Tina!

Halloween

 Eventful Halloween for the Archuletas. A trunk or treat, painted pumpkins from Grandma Ellen, and our lovely 90 year old neighbor spoiling the boys with treats. For the big night we were lumberjacks, a dice (die?), a Jet from West Side Story, chef Gordan Ramsey, and Pete's Dragon. Here's the photo dump to prove it.