Fall Visit

 Fall is a great time to visit us in Michigan. Grandpa Dave and Grandma Mary Lou made another fall visit with us just recently. Besides celebrating Victoria's 18th birthday with us, we enjoyed a few other things with them here.

The kids actually had off of school on Friday, the 7th. It was a professional development day, so they got to chill with Grandma and Grandpa that morning while I went to work, as Red Bell doesn't usually get off on those PD days. I know they enjoyed relaxing, visiting, and Kai making waffles. When I returned, my dad and Mary Lou helped me take out the tomatoes, since we were going to have some freezing weather. They even got to take some green ones home and are now enjoying them as they ripen!

We went to a cider mill when everyone had their laundry done and things in order. Jason got to come with us because we left later than we had initially planned, due to the laundry that Victoria and Kai needed to do. This meant, unfortunately, that Kai couldn't join us because of plans made with friends for that evening. At least we were able to ride to Northville in one car! We even got to see the Downtown Northville skeleton display on the way back and the early Friday evening music that they were playing.

We used to go to this cider mill when the kids were little and they would play on this train.

Edward Scissorhands skeleton!

Spiderman skeleton at the top of the pole!

It was good to have downtime on Friday because Saturday started bright and early with Erik's soccer game in the cold. They played hard but unfortunately lost to their opponent who had a very lively coach and may not have let his team hear the end if they had lost to us. He was pretty brutal with his words!

He's a tough defender!

After lunch, we left for the invitational cross-country meet that Austin was participating in. That was a first for us and we had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. Plus, Austin was running as an individual because his school wasn't running in it, but it was highly encouraged by Salem High, where he'll be attending next year. Even though he was scrambling to find the right place to check in up to the last moment, he ran a fantastic race, shaving time off of his previous PR and feeling great doing it!

Austin's in the gray.

Always running in different middle schools as Owen, but they'll be together at Salem next year!

That evening was Victoria's party, which we left during part of for Kai's community performance with the marching band. It was fun to watch the progress they have made since the last one and as they prepared for their next competition. 

Sunday was a nice relaxing day with just church, and Monday Austin and Erik got McDonald's for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. They were super excited about that! Then all of a sudden, Austin felt completely awful with aches and pains, ending up with a fever of 102.7! Since it came on so suddenly, we were a little afraid of what it could be, and getting the grandparents sick. He ended up missing 3 days of school as it developed into a double ear infection and he couldn't sleep well at night because of that. He actually got prescribed amoxicillin, surprisingly since they never do for ear infections anymore, and has been improving. 

Watching a football game!

Victoria's birthday was in the previous post and we enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa here for that. On Wednesday we just walked around Downtown Plymouth a bit after I got off work to enjoy the pumpkin displays there before the next morning when they left. 

Grandpa's karate chop in Downtown Plymouth!

We're so glad we got to spend time with them!