October 2017

We went camping with my parents the first weekend in October at Lake Ray Roberts.  Dave took the kids fishing, and Emma had the only catch of the morning.  

Isaac had a bad bike fall in some gravel while we were camping on Friday night.  My dad and I took him to the urgent care in Denton--our second urgent care trip in a month!  He only needed his chin glued, though!  He still couldn't believe that he was the only Rinn kid who has never had stitches!  

The kids & I flew to Colorado to surprise Susie (Nana) for her 65th birthday! This was my first time flying with the kids, renting a car, and driving up to Steamboat with them.  They were fantastic travelers, and it went really smoothly!  We listened to some of our favorite audio books during the drive, and it was a really fun time together.  

arriving in Denver

When we arrived in Denver, we met my dear friend Amanda and her five kids for breakfast at Chick Fil A!  My kids had fun playing and burning off energy before our drive to Steamboat, and it was such a treat to catch up with Amanda.  

My father-in-law arranged it so the kids and I snuck into the back of the house when we arrived in Steamboat.  It was so fun to see my mother-in-law's reaction when Josiah walked out into the kitchen to surprise her!  We had such a fun trip playing in the leaves and going on hikes.  I was able to attend Community Bible Study with Susie, where she is the teaching director, on Thursday morning while Tim babysat the kids. 

The kids love playing under the trees by the driveway--they called this their fort.  

We did a nature scavenger hunt one morning on the trails behind Nana and Papa's house.  It was just perfect outside!  

We took a field trip in Steamboat! We visited Fly Gulch Schoolhouse, which was built in 1917. Emma asked if we could please do our schoolwork here!  I called the Routt County Historical Society and was so delighted that they let us in for a tour!

Nana's birthday!  She didn't know that there were more surprises to come later in the weekend!  Dave flew in on Friday evening and took the shuttle up to Steamboat.  He arrived at nearly 1am.  The next morning, he walked out into the kitchen and shocked Susie!  Ha!

 Later that day, we rode ice bumper cars to celebrate Isaac's 8th birthday as well. 

#8 bumper car for our 8 year old!

Isaac and Dave raked tons of leaves in the backyard.  Then it snowed for just a few minutes, but long enough to put a huge smile on Isaac's face!  

We had a surprise party for Susie at their house on Saturday evening with lots of friends from Steamboat!  

Monday, October 16 was Isaac's 8th birthday and our last full day in Steamboat.  We drove up to Clark, CO and hiked on Hahn's Peak.  The kids were ecstatic to see snow!  

I bought the kids new costumes at the Rhea Lana sale last summer and saved them for this fall!  I gave them to them one morning when their schoolwork was done, and it was so fun!  They were so excited!

We went to the Countryside Fair for the first time!  This is a huge, all-church carnival/festival!  We started with a huge chili cookout/dinner in the gym.  My chili did not win, but was completely gone because I labeled it "kid-friendly, not spicy"-ha!  Then, there were different activities and games set up throughout the children's building and one of the adult SS buildings--far more than we could have ever gone to in one evening!    Two SS rooms were converted into one huge maze made of cardboard boxes.  This doesn't sound scary at all.  Dave did it with Isaac and Emma, and then they asked me to do it.  I went in with them and after about 10 feet of crawling, the boxes became smaller and I was forced to army crawl to make any progress.  I was terrified!  Also, it was completely dark and kids were using the flashlights on their parents' phones for light.  I knew that I would be able to make it out, eventually, but there were two different paths and I had no idea which would get me out.  I backed out all the way!  My heart was pounding for the next half hour.  I'll leave the maze to Dave from now on!!  

This is precious Annika who helps in Josiah's class on the weekends and also babysits for us.  Josiah LOVES her, as you can see from the picture where he is just adoring her.  A few days ago, we were asking our kids which friend they'd like to have come over to play, and Josiah said, "I want Annika to come and play with me!" 

Riding the electric bike with Pop one gorgeous evening!  (Shorts and sleeveless shirts in October!)

Isaac's friends came to watch his football game!

Emma and a friend after ballet one afternoon--it was a Halloween "fun dance day" where the ballerinas were able to bring a friend!  Since they were the only kids with me, we stopped for ice cream on the way home!

Halloween ~ which we mostly love because it's the day we brought Isaac home!  Early that morning I was reading this quote by Elisabeth Elliot,  "Let's never forget that some of His greatest mercies are His refusals. He says no in order that He may, in some way we cannot imagine, say yes. All His ways are merciful. His meaning is always love."

Eight years ago, we brought Isaac home as our son. I can now say I'm so grateful for the many answers of "no" from the Lord in order for this incredible "yes"! 

Oh, I love these kids!