We have had some wonderful fall weather!!!  

Benjamin and I recently made a very quick trip to Texas and while there, we were able to stop in to some high end car dealerships.  It just made my heart sing to listen to his enthusiasm and excitement.  Oh, the facts that kid has stored away in his brain.  We also toured the Cowboy stadium, what a structure that is.  While in DFW airport, he followed a flight radar map and we walked the airport trying to find the huge international planes so he could see them up close.  Recently there was a huge 747 that flew through the area and landed for a few nights at our airport.  The buzz in town over a plane that big.  Benjamin was absolutely giddy!!  How I wish I had connections to get him up close or even inside something like that.  It belonged to a UAE royal family, from what I understood, and word has it that only a handful of people had flown over on something that big.  I love when I see my boys get excited about things.

Benjamin is still doing excavation work.  He enjoys the variety but things are slowing down a bit as winter is approaching.  He is hoping to do this until November sometime and then pivot in a different direction.  He still has plans to move in with a friend mid December.  Benjamin and I recently went to a Rend Collective concert.  They are a band we saw years ago at an outside weekend festival.  Sure was fun doing something social with that kid.

Jacob continues on with football.  He is starting varsity and getting lots of play time.  On the field for all defensive plays, most special team plays and some offense.   I had to laugh at last night's game because I looked up and he was getting ready to punt the ball on fourth down.  I asked him afterwards what that was all about and (their kicker was out with a concussion) they had a punt contest during football practice and he punted the furthest (63 yards) so he was the stand in punter.  (During the game though we had a good laugh cause he got a ton of height but very little yards.)  They are currently 0-7.  Hard to keep the morale up but so proud of him and his energy and leadership.  After one away game, our athletic director (Matt) sought me out.  Matt told me that a parent from the out of town team wanted to make sure that Matt found #3's parents and told them that #3 was the most respectful, polite player he had ever seen on the field.  Jacob (#3) was talking with all the opposing players, helping them up, laughing, having fun on the field, despite a 9-50 loss.  Those are the comments that mean so much to me.  I have also enjoyed Jacob dressing up for themes each week at school.  When the boys were younger they never wanted to dress for spirit week, etc, but fun to see him getting in on things.

Jacob has been out bow hunting every weekend.  He has yet to take something down, although he has  his eye on 'the one'.  He and JR will soon transition into rifle season.  Don't think the other two will participate this year.  Jacob got his bear back from the taxidermist.  (I have a picture below of its claws...huge)  He has also gotten into bird/duck hunting, but nothing yet.

Joseph is just cruising along.  We are already starting to have discussions about him taking drivers ed!!!  He continues to work about 10 hours a week.  It is neat to see the confidence he has built with this job.  As I picked him up today, I told him it is amazing that he mans a drive through window and at one point, the speech therapist wasn't sure if he would ever put a sentence together.  It has also given him a new perspective on ordering when he goes through a drive through.  And he is currently a saver, which makes me very happy.  It is so easy with debit cards these days to just swipe and not really realize the transaction or 'feel it'.  I am trying to encourage cash as long as I can.

My mom made a last minute trip out here for a few weeks.  Always fun to have her around!  Her dog was hit by a car before heading to Montana, so she has one leg in a cast.  Makes running around with Bree a little difficult.  I will drive out to Ohio with her next week, so looking forward to another road trip.

Work has been busy for me.  Starting to find a new groove and really focusing on bringing on new clients and helping the boss start to grow the business.  I have enjoyed learning about a whole new industry!  

JR is gearing up for snow - we have already had some at higher elevations.  I am so not ready!