High School Football

We took a trip to Illinois recently to attend the Auburn Trojan's football game to root on the boys' step uncles Scott and Michael in their last regular season home game.

It was a beautiful night for football!

We happened to be there on senior night too, which made it extra special!

The boys loved everything about the game, from the hotdogs to playing a pick up game of ball during the half time to actually watching the game!  Meeting up with the players afterward was pretty special too!

Grandma Jill and her boys.

Jill told me during the game that she remembers when her boys were the age that Nick, Sam and Ben are now and that time really does go by so quickly.  After that I think we both quietly choked back a few tears!

The following day we drove downtown to see the Illinois State Capital.   The boys got a kick out of seeing where one of Daddy's summertime jobs during college was -in the basement of one of the state buildings.  

Finally, we strolled down the street where President Abraham Lincoln once lived.  We were short on time and attention from the boys, so we just enjoyed the sights from the street.  We will plan another trip to properly visit the Lincoln sights when the boys are just a little older!

Lincoln's home.

Eric and his dad!

Playing in the leaves!

Ben really loves to play in the leaves, but this year he had some competition from Louise for those giant piles!  She was burried in them up to her nose.

Fall Break continues

The boys did a little woodworking with Daddy, they each made a basket/planter.

We spent a little time in the town of Nashville shopping and eating ice cream!

And riding the train.

Then back to the cabin again for more football play,

and a final campfire.

Nick is becoming quite a photographer!

What a fun week this has been!

Fall break, a day at Brown Co. State Park

We have spent time in Brown Co. each year since we moved to IN 7 years ago and we always seem to spend some time at the state park doing a little fishing and hiking, too.  

The fish were not biting and the boys were getting hungry, so we moved on!

We hiked for about 3 miles, our longest hike with the boys and they did great!  It was a beautiful fall day with just enough crispness in the air to keep your feet moving!  "The trees are performing beautiful colors" to quote a 2 year old Sam from 4 years ago!  It truly was a spectacular autumn day!

Ben catches a ride on Daddy's shoulders.

Never too big for Daddy's shoulders.  Nick, also catches a ride.

Our hike took us around a lake and to a nature center where we were rewarded with this gorgeous view.

Nick and Sam enjoyed running ahead of us and plotting a map in the dirt with a stick. 

Hide and seek in the forest.