The Vance's: a lot of firsts.

The first few weeks of school. The excitement, the new routines, the new schedules. It's all a bit exhausting. All the kids are settling in well, loving their teachers, having fun with friends and sleeping hard at night. It's a lot of work for all of us to keep up with the newness of the season.

The sunny fall days have been so nice though! We are taking advantage of the crispy mornings as we walk to school with the fallen leaves crunching below our feet. Playing at the park after school, walks around the neighborhood, making soups and breads and pumpkin muffins. Fall really is a great time of year.

Simon and I keep busy with a mixture of sports at the park and errands around town. He's been mixing up his usual baseball play with some soccer. It's so fun to watch him learn more. And on cold/rainy days? We visit the pet store (aka free zoo!) for some doggy daycare watching.

I've amped up my baking and am usually in the kitchen every morning preparing something comforting and warm and delicious. Lately it's been chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin muffins, beef vegetable soup and veggie egg bakes. Yum!!!

The kids have embraced the cooler mornings by getting out ALL the blankets. It's either a mountain on the floor to jump onto or a fort or a cozy couch reading session. Either way these blankets are here to stay for at least the next 6 months.

Soccer Saturdays are our new routine with Lucy's games happening every week. This week we'll add in Carter's basketball games and then throw in a little midweek soccer for Simon too! Whew!

Lucy is doing so well this season. Her aggression has really come out (in a good way!) and she scored 2 goals at last week game. Woohoo!

With Carter starting another season of basketball he needed some new shoes. So we went shopping last weekend and ended up buying him a size 7 shoe!!! Size 7 and he's only 8 years old. I was even able to squeeze my feet into them when we got home. Sheesh kid, stop growing.

Simon got to start his soccer last week and it was so fun and adorable. He's playing once a week with a group of about 10 other 3-4 year olds including his best friend Rowan. So fun to watch them run around together. He even scored 2 goals too!

Lucy is now really into reading chapter books and while I love the change in pace during our nighttime reading her book choices could use some improvement. She loves them but the rescue ninja princesses weren't my favorite selection. Oh well, glad she's so into reading! Now we've moved on to a cooking queen and then a purrkitten mermicorn book. Whoa.

Simon got to start his first day of preschool this week too! So many firsts. 2nd year for him (5th for our family) at a really wonderful preschool. He barely said goodbye to me as he ran in the door. So glad he's happy there and learning so much.