Have I mentioned lately that my favorite season is fall?
Without a doubt, I love the months of October and November. This year has proven to be another winner when it comes to those months. We have enjoyed many hikes in Austin, picnics, wearing jeans and sweatshirts, putting out our fall decor, fires inside and out, drinking hot drinks, and finally a road trip up to Indiana for Thanksgiving. We have MUCH to be thankful for this year. The Lord continues to amaze me by His goodness and grace on our family. Lily and Silas recently decided to make Jesus Lord of their lives. What an incredible privilege to be able to disciple our own children and I am so thankful that I get to do this job with Pete. He has become an amazing spiritual leader to our family and spiritual father to our kids. Life is truly an adventure when we live each day to honor and glorify Jesus.
Now, please join me as I share some highlights of my favorite season! 
Pete surprised us and came home early one Friday afternoon in October so we headed off to a nearby state park and spent the rest of the day exploring, fishing, hiking, and playing. It was an awesome day!
I was very proud to catch the only fish that afternoon.
Silas and Lily "collecting" as we hiked along.
We entered into a cave on the hike and tried to guess what creatures had been there... maybe a dinosaur?
Joe loves hanging out on Pete's back as we explore the woods.
Our hike led us to some water where the kids enjoyed throwing rocks. Ahhhh.... what a relaxing way to spend the day.
Lily: the soccer star. She defintely became more aggressive this year and ended her season with a goal. Way to go Lil!
Silas and Lily set up a tea party in the sun room for them and Daddy. It was complete with little name tags at each spot and a sign around the corner that directed you to the right location.
If you are ever in trouble at the Newell home, just call on Super Joe. He will come to the rescue!
Up, up and away!
Lily is fearless when it comes to creatures. Here she is with a gecko she found in the playhouse.
No, it's not 4th of July. The kids just happened to all be dressed patriotic and I thought it was cute. :)
Lily dressed up as an "Indian" for her Thanksgiving party at school.
Hip Hip Hooray! We made it to Indiana! The day we got there, Grandpa put Lily and Silas to work raking the yard. This was actually one thing Silas had been wanting to do all season but there hadn't been any leaves in Austin to rake.
Here he is living out his dream: to jump in a big pile of leaves.
Joe looking like a little handsome boy here.
A trip to Indiana would not be complete without a trip to Brown County State Park (atleast not for me). We started with breakfast at the Hob Nob, then a hike, playing on the playground and a picnic to finish it off. It was another perfect day in my book.
Aunt Jess (Ben Newell's wife) and her two kids Jonas and baby Cora joined us for the fun outing. Lily and Silas LOVED hanging out with their sweet cousin Jonas.
Happy Birthday Silas!!!! While we were in Indiana, Silas turned 4. Here's Lily, his biggest fan, ready to cheer him on as he opens his gifts.
2 days after his birthday Silas was happy to celebrate his birth with more cousins. Jamie (Pete's sis) and her husband Josh came to Indiana with their 4 kids. The fun never stopped!!
Joe enjoyed celebrating his brother as he ate his cupcake.
After the birthday party we all headed to the local gymnastics club where they were having "open gym". Fun was had by all. Pete is preparing to sprint down the trampoline runway and jump into the pit of foam blocks.
Here's Pete after he jumped into the pit. Notice who he took out on the runway. (poor little Joe)
Let the feasting begin!!! Our Thanksgiving was spent with 130 people who were all somehow related to one another (on Pete's mom's side). This is an amazing family tradition that was started years ago to celebrate Barb's grandpa's birthday which fell around Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving was spent with Pete's dad's side of the family which is another big gathering with lots of yummy food. It was great to be able to reconnect with family.
The picture is sadly smudged but the content is funny. All the grandkids were calling Grandpa "King James" and treating him royally. I'm not sure what all was role played down in the basement, but several times a grandchild would come upstairs to get the king coffee or food.
We made it back to Austin and to Lily, Silas and Joe's delight there was a huge amount of leaves in our front yard waiting to be raked and jumped in.
Lily recently recited the first chapter of Genesis at school. She's the 3rd from the right. She did an excellent job!
Pete surprised us and came home early one Friday afternoon in October so we headed off to a nearby state park and spent the rest of the day exploring, fishing, hiking, and playing. It was an awesome day!
I was very proud to catch the only fish that afternoon. 
Silas and Lily "collecting" as we hiked along.
We entered into a cave on the hike and tried to guess what creatures had been there... maybe a dinosaur?
Joe loves hanging out on Pete's back as we explore the woods.
Our hike led us to some water where the kids enjoyed throwing rocks. Ahhhh.... what a relaxing way to spend the day.
Lily: the soccer star. She defintely became more aggressive this year and ended her season with a goal. Way to go Lil!
Silas and Lily set up a tea party in the sun room for them and Daddy. It was complete with little name tags at each spot and a sign around the corner that directed you to the right location.
If you are ever in trouble at the Newell home, just call on Super Joe. He will come to the rescue!
Up, up and away!
Lily is fearless when it comes to creatures. Here she is with a gecko she found in the playhouse.
No, it's not 4th of July. The kids just happened to all be dressed patriotic and I thought it was cute. :)
Lily dressed up as an "Indian" for her Thanksgiving party at school.
Hip Hip Hooray! We made it to Indiana! The day we got there, Grandpa put Lily and Silas to work raking the yard. This was actually one thing Silas had been wanting to do all season but there hadn't been any leaves in Austin to rake.
Here he is living out his dream: to jump in a big pile of leaves.
Joe looking like a little handsome boy here.
A trip to Indiana would not be complete without a trip to Brown County State Park (atleast not for me). We started with breakfast at the Hob Nob, then a hike, playing on the playground and a picnic to finish it off. It was another perfect day in my book.
Aunt Jess (Ben Newell's wife) and her two kids Jonas and baby Cora joined us for the fun outing. Lily and Silas LOVED hanging out with their sweet cousin Jonas.
Happy Birthday Silas!!!! While we were in Indiana, Silas turned 4. Here's Lily, his biggest fan, ready to cheer him on as he opens his gifts.
2 days after his birthday Silas was happy to celebrate his birth with more cousins. Jamie (Pete's sis) and her husband Josh came to Indiana with their 4 kids. The fun never stopped!!
Joe enjoyed celebrating his brother as he ate his cupcake.
After the birthday party we all headed to the local gymnastics club where they were having "open gym". Fun was had by all. Pete is preparing to sprint down the trampoline runway and jump into the pit of foam blocks. 
Here's Pete after he jumped into the pit. Notice who he took out on the runway. (poor little Joe)
Let the feasting begin!!! Our Thanksgiving was spent with 130 people who were all somehow related to one another (on Pete's mom's side). This is an amazing family tradition that was started years ago to celebrate Barb's grandpa's birthday which fell around Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving was spent with Pete's dad's side of the family which is another big gathering with lots of yummy food. It was great to be able to reconnect with family.
The picture is sadly smudged but the content is funny. All the grandkids were calling Grandpa "King James" and treating him royally. I'm not sure what all was role played down in the basement, but several times a grandchild would come upstairs to get the king coffee or food. 
We made it back to Austin and to Lily, Silas and Joe's delight there was a huge amount of leaves in our front yard waiting to be raked and jumped in.
Lily recently recited the first chapter of Genesis at school. She's the 3rd from the right. She did an excellent job!There are plans in the making to put up the Christmas decorations this weekend. Sadly I will take down my fall decor and carefully put them away in their special box until next year. Sigh....
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