Fall is for fun!

A crowd shot from the birthday party


Did you know kids could have this much fun drinking nothing stronger than bottled water?



Julia and one of her best friends, Candace



The birthday girl and friends--it is fun that Jake was in town for the weekend


This is Julia with her cousin, Max.



Fall is just so much fun! It seems like there is just more going on in the autumn and life just feels fuller somehow. Anyway, this week was no exception. Especially for Julia. It was a week packed full of fun and friends.

She turned 17 on Wednesday. It was a busy night, but we managed to celebrate with cake and presents. Kinda low key.

This was homecoming week at Piedra Vista--Julia's high school. Thursday was what they billed as their 1st Annual Homecoming parade. The kids had a GREAT time with that. It went from the parking lot of her old middle school, up past the church and college, and on up the road to the high school. All of the clubs and sports groups had floats and each class was represented by one, too. The kids had painted their faces, decorated trucks, etc. and they were excited to share their school spirit. It was getting dark so I didn't get any pictures. The parade ended up at the high school and from there the kids all ended up at the girl's volleyball game, followed by the huge homecoming bonfire. Lots of fun and excitement.

Friday evening was the homecoming football game...a great game for PV, but not so much fun for Shiprock. The score was 80-6, in favor of Piedra Vista. After the game we had a big group of Julia's friends over for a belated birthday party. What fun! I had thought that they'd spread out throughout the house, but for the most part they all crowded into our family room. They piled onto the couch and loveseat, the floor, the fireplace hearth, and each other. They laughed, they sang, they ate (although not nearly as much as I had prepared) and in the end they made Julia feel loved. She had cried on her birthday because she just didn't want to be 17--she doesn't want to have to grow up. But, having her friends here to wish her a happy birthday seemed to take away some of that sadness. I have to say, she's got GREAT friends.

Saturday morning she woke up early to head off to her solo and ensemble competition for choir and that afternoon she spent time with some of her friends as part of the homecoming festivities.

Saturday night was the big dance. Several couples started off at her friend Coye's house for dinner and they headed over to the dance for an evening of fun. She went to the dance with a boy she didn't know very well--so it was an opportunity to make a new friend.

Scott and I had some fun this weekend, too. We attended the San Juan Quilting Guild's annual quilt show--one of our favorite events of the fall season. Scott's sister, Ann, and his mom, Maxine, had several quilts on display. His mom displayed an amazing hand-quilted quilt that she spents hundreds and hundreds of hours on. There weren't many handquilted quilts in the show--most everyone machine quilts anymore. Her quilt was beautiful and won 6 different awards including the President's award, the Quilter's Choice Award. We are so proud of her!

As we were getting ready for bed on Saturday night I was talking to Scott and just started crying. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy and absolute gratitude. I don't feel like we could be much more greatly blessed. We love each of you and count you all among the blessings that we count this time of year.