I’ve been looking back through the blog lately and seeing how much better my photos used to be. I’ve gotten pretty lazy and only on rare occasion do I break out the “real” camera as I usually resort to my cell phone out of convenience. Even though I have an iPhone I can’t seem to take a good photo with it! So, sorry for the quality of these pics but I’m still happy to have the memories despite their blurriness.
Monday night was Trick or Treat and wow was it a warm and pleasant evening! Sadly, we got such a rushed start that the above photo is the only one I got before it was dark. This year was much more fast paced than in years past. Griffin, Sam, Cooper, Cole, and Abby amongst other new neighbor friends we met that night ran through the yards from house to house as fast as they could! They were expending so much energy they even needed a “treat” to refuel throughout our adventure. It took us about an hour and a half to hit all the houses in our neighborhood and Finn came home with quite a haul. His most favorite treat was actually a small football that someone gave out. Each kid got to pick which one they wanted, and Finn picked the Florida Gators (?!) I’m sure because of he cool gator on the side of the ball. Nonetheless the kiddos played tackle football in the yard for at least a half hour in the dark after we were done trick or treating. I think that was perhaps Finn’s favorite part of the night!
On Tuesday it was another warm and unusual November day so after I picked Finn up at school we stopped at Murphy Park for a bike ride and to play on the playground. Afterward we enjoyed a sweet treat at Handel’s where Finn always chooses the flavor Blue Moon. 
Several nights before bedtime lately we’ve been reading the “family rules” print that hangs in Griffin’s room. One of the rules is to try new things. Debbie put this pic in the app this week from lunch time with a caption along the lines of “I love to try new things Miss Deb.”. I thought it was pretty cute. 
On Friday Kevin, Finn, and I all went to the pediatrician so that the boys could get their Flu shots. I had told Finn about it the day before so he would know he was getting a shot. At first he acted nervous and pretended to shake his arms, but then I explained how he always is just very observant and watches the nurse come in the room and then quickly give him a shot. Normally he doesn’t even cry. He was ok with that and I told him we’d go do something fun afterward. Sure enough, Kevin and Finn got their shots and he had asked Kevin to go first so he could watch. It was super quick and then it was Finn’s turn, he got his in his thigh (not his arm like Kevin). It was so fast he just watched, flinched for a slight second, and bam we were done. No tears! So we headed off to the place of his choice – Graeter’s for a monster sundae. 
I realized this week that I never really took pictures of the pumpkins that Finn, Debbie, and Sam carved – so here they are. Finn’s is on the left, then Sam’s is the small one on the right, then Debbie’s on the back right. The middle medium size pumpkin was just an extra I guess. And then they spent some time painting the other pumpkins too. 
On Saturday Kevin and Finn mowed the yard after Kevin repaired the mower. The belt that operates the blade deck had shredded. Now that it is replaced it mows so much better and is pretty much like new! After mowing they raked big piles of leaves – can you find Finn?
On Saturday we were thinking of making a quick trip to Mansfield to see mom and dad we’ll be gone most of the time up until Thanksgiving. We were enjoying an early pizza lunch and decided to let Finn play at the Worthington Mall playground for a bit after. I was walking around the mall when Kevin texted me to come back as Finn had fallen and hit his tooth and lip on the slide :(. He’s not normally much of a crier, but he cried for a good long bit and had a bloody lip and tooth. That solidified our idea to head to Mansfield so Grandpa could check his tooth out! Turns out he seems fine and after a nap in the car on the way there Finn was full of energy and ready to watch the Buckeye’s late game. While I didn’t snap any pics while we were there I did get one of Lily in the car. She’s very excited when she first gets in and when you almost arrive at the destination, but for much of the hour long ride she just sleeps. Once we arrive, that’s another story! She starts pacing and just wants to get out since she knows where we are!
And here is our 5-year, first-date-aversary pic. It was five years ago, November 5, 2011, that we went on our first date to the OSU-vs-IU football game at Ohio Stadium. So, what better way to celebrate that to watch the OSU game on tv?
On Sunday after church we headed to Enon for a visit with Grandma and Grandpa Armstrong too. Another beautiful fall day to be outside, this time playing soccer and baseball. 
And here is an updated pic we just received of Kevin, the child we sponsor through Compassion International. He’s getting so big! And like Finn, he loves to play soccer.
