Finally Fall?

It seems like our Indian Summer finally came to an end this week, with our warm weather giving way to blustery, yet sunny, days. Today was a bit of a reality check as the temperatures started out near freezing!

Before the cold weather set in, we enjoyed a few final days outdoors. On Thursday we hung out with pal Andrew and his mommy, first outside in our yard frolicking in the newly-fallen leaves and then at the nearby lake, feeding the ducks and playing around the small fountain.

Today we bundled up and went to watch Daddy coach a soccer game, where the kids got to play on a really nice playground near his field. Before that, though, Alex got a special visit from a friend of ours who is a Battalion Chief in our fire department and who brought Alex some fireman hats to go with his Halloween costume. Alex was so excited to meet a "real fireman" and see his Battalion Chief truck.

In the afternoon, Cousins Alan and Nicole (who are in town visiting this week) came by for a visit. Ari, Alex and Kira loved playing and reading with their Cousins.

After their visit, we headed out for a nice afternoon and dinner with Mommy's sorority sister and her family. We had a great time, and Alex found a kindred spirit in his new buddy, Jake, who is just a few months older than him. After a Japanese dinner, we went next door to Ben & Jerry's for a treat. Ari almost didn't get to partake in the ice cream, as she refused to try any of the chicken or potatoes at dinner (and instead just ate a whole plate of white rice!), but she finally realized we were serious when we told her she had to at least have a taste to have her dessert, and she ended up eating a bite of the chicken out of the take-out box so she could have some ice cream with the rest of us. The lady behind the counter treated all the kids to special crowns, which Alex, Kira and Jake wore proudly but Ari proclaimed she'd rather "wear it next week."

Tomorrow is jam-packed with birthday parties and a Halloween party, so stay tuned for pictures and a sneak peek at Ari, Alex and Kira's Halloween costumes!