Fall Happenings

We combined a trip to Chicago for a fencing tournament with an official college visit to Notre Dame for Austin.

We visited the grotto to pray for health and healing for Austin after his recent diagnosis of epilepsy.

Then to Trevor's first SYC (Super Youth Conference) Fencing Tournament. Basically, it is a national level tournament held regionally.  He competed in the Y12 age division.

Trevor got a fancy new fencing bag and was excited to use it!

Over MEA break, we traveled with Austin for more college visits - Purdue and Xavier.

Austin really liked Purdue and it is his top choice!  

He is planning to go into Computer Science, specifically Cybersecurity for his future career. They have a great program in CS and Cybersecurity at Purdue and a world renowned expert in cybersecurity who is a professor there agreed to meet with us while we were on campus. We spent almost an hour with Dr. Gene Spafford and it was quite a great experience for Austin!

We then visited Xavier University in Cincinnati. 

Xavier was a nice campus, but felt very small.  Highlight of that visit for me was seeing my roomie Margaret who lives in the area and met us for lunch.

Back home, we enjoyed the Metro Peds company picnic.

Then another fencing tournament, but at his home club, YEL.

He did really well, placing 5th out of more than 20 fencers. 

He had fun being team leader for the team portion of the tournament too!

We had fun with a Minions theme for Halloween at Metro Peds Shakopee office.

Daddy and Trevor carved pumpkins this year.

Trevor found a ghost costume and put on Sarah's blue bowtie from her honor band uniform and carried a Boo Berry cereal box to go trick or treating as the Boo Berry ghost.

We headed to Texas in the beginning of November to celebrate Cubby's wedding (Uncle Brian) to Alicia.  

PopPop was able to share some family history with Steve.

And Sarah got to cook with Gramma.

Fun cousin time

And Christmas dinner in November, since we won't be in town there in December.

The kids were excited that they got to meet their new cousin, Landen, Alicia's son who is about Sarah's age.  They called him "instant cousin" and we were all happy to meet him.

Alicia and Brian's Wedding

Back to Minnesota to celebrate Austin's 17th birthday!

He got one of Dr. Spafford's books.

And was introduced to the famous (infamous?) billz box!

We had a Metro Peds Barbie Movie Watch Party complete with vintage Barbies, pink treats, and plenty of fun!

For Thanksgiving, I failed to take more than 2 photos.

We completed a Minnesota puzzle while dinner was cooking.

And Alexis and her college roomie enjoyed polishing off Sarah's pie!

That's about it for fall. Next up....Christmas!