October Stuff and Samuel's Birthday

I have been getting behinder and behinder!  But here are a few pictures of what we've been doing in October.

The kids have been back in school for a couple of months.  Caylie works on her Chinese writing every day. 

 (And she's lost another tooth!)

Keelan is learning auto mechanics at Pickens Technical College in the afternoons.  He'll be taking classes there for at least one more year, and probably more.  

We had out of town friends come to visit!  We've known Chris and Sheldon for over thirty years.  We went to church together back when we lived in Indiana.  It was great to see them and catch up on life.

Sam got his hair cut.  (And sometimes even combs it.  Ha!)

Sunday afternoon with our friends, the Shaws.  

Justin's enjoying his new school, and all the homework that comes with it.  Not even joking!

Jim gave me this bear for my birthday, but Caylie latched onto it right away.  She seriously loves him.  So cute.

Papa and Tessa out for a walk. 

 She had a grand time rearranging his hair.

This is Samuel's flag football team, the Yellow Jackets.  They finished the season 0-7, but they had fun and I know Sam learned a lot.  He made ten tackles (including a sack) in his last game.  

Our house.  I don't know if I ever posted a picture of it after we moved in, so here it is.  I need to remember to take a picture every year, so we can see how much our baby trees have grown!

Caylie went with Brad and Brittany to the pumpkin patch last week.  She had a great time with Tessa.

Our friend Mark is in town this week.  Here's a couple of shots of all of us at Sunday dinner.
This one by Mark . . . 

. . . and this one by selfie stick.  :D

Samuel turned 13!

Presents!

Skyping with Amy, his former foster mom in China.

Birthday cake!  (He picked chocolate with blue icing.)

Happy Birthday, Samuel!

Samuel and Caylie are on Fall Break this coming week, so we should have some fun pictures of our adventures. 

 Stay tuned!