It is firmly autumn, however. Not the glorious, colorful autumn we observed last year, but there are still some flaming red trees here and there. Overall, the weather has been very pleasant. Back in Colorado, fall often brought with it biting winds, but that is not the case here. I have been quite happy to leave the winds back west.
We've had a busy October, filled with family. My parents visited early in the month - the first time they've come at the same time. We picked apples and made loads of applesauce (which summarily destroyed my crock pot, but it was worth it). The gals went out for sushi and the guys went out for burgers. We went shopping, decided the thickest milk shakes are at Chick 'fil A, and showed off various scooter and biking skills. We enjoyed hanging out on the soccer field to watch Anna practice one evening, and even Grandma got into the act kicking a ball around with Isaac. There were walks, and lunches, and treats, and just the general goodness of grandparents. It's always a bit like Christmas when family comes to visit.
Jon and I even had the opportunity to go on a hike one morning - we hadn't done that in ages, and it was nice to explore the area a bit.
The day after my parents left, we drove to a resort in the middle of Virginia to meet up with Jon's parents, his sister, and her family. It was five days of glorious cousin chaos in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This was our first visit there, but hopefully not our last. There was so much to do, from go-karts and mini-golf to nature talks, caverns, and water slides. But at the end of every day, when asked what they liked best, the kids always said the same thing: being with cousins. For Jon and I, it was nice to just get away for a bit - it renews one's perspective.
Since coming back, we've been trying to establish a routine. Now that Isaac's schooling has changed, my own schedule has been in flux. Things are slowly solidifying, but it's still a work in progress. I've also been abnormally tired, which has made my evenings less productive. Some days it's all I can do to stay awake until 8:30 (when the kids are in bed - technically, anyway). Luckily, I'm okay during the day (thank you, caffeine), but around 5:00 things get hard. So, once soccer is over, we're going to take a break from the extra-curriculars until January.
Fall is always a full season, and at our house it includes Anna's birthday. I had been kind of dreading having a party, since I wasn't sure who to invite or what we should do. But in the spirit of simplicity, we're keeping it small (6 guests) and it will be at home. I guess a home party isn't exactly simple, but I'm excited about the theme. It will be a Harry Potter party - Anna's idea since we've just finished reading the first book. I'm collecting ideas and plans, and am really looking forward to it.
Regarding the job search, no news yet. Some days, I feel certain something will come through. Other days I suspect we'll be here for a long time, a thought that brings panicky feelings. This is a terribly unfair reaction, considering the community we're starting to build. Maybe that's the problem. I'm skittish about building up a community, only to say goodbye yet again. And yet, to not invest in relationships is time wasted. Hopefully clarity will come soon.
