Fall has been a busy time in the Dietrich household! We've been enjoying the beautiful weather and adjusting to our new school/family schedule. Anthony has been fulfilling a life-long dream of putting together the perfect Darth Vader costume, Connor started classes at World Class Martial Arts, Alaina has been loving school and wishes that she could go every day, and I photographed a beautiful wedding and thus I have been spending all of my free time perfecting those files.

Anthony helping Connor tie his uniform for his first official class



I love that there are 2-3 young male teachers for this rambunctious class! Master Sohn is a great teacher that relates well to all the kids and I'm always impressed by his ability to engage them all.


This little meditation face is my favorite part of the class. I find it irresistably cute.


Those toes!



Working that obstacle course!


Anthony's been telling me for the past couple of years that Connor needed martial arts, but I was hesitant because I didn't want to teach him that hitting and kicking was commendable behavior. I've since been converted now that I understand that physical strength, proper form, focus, discipline, and persistence are what he is learning. I'm so proud to see his self-esteem blossom while he is having fun!


A few weeks in, Connor earned his first belt! He was so excited to get it, and then we learned that he had deduced from our conversations that it was a magic color-changing belt, not understanding that you earn different colored belts as you progress. :)




Unfortunately, Alaina is none-to-pleased that Connor gets to participate in an extra curricular activity. She'll probably be starting gymnastics next year, but it's a hard wait for her!


We spent some time up Millcreek Canyon. It was gorgeous, as always!










This photo is a pretty accurate picture of our kids these days. Connor is usually very tired from all of the stimulation he gets at school, and tends to get grumpy in the afternoon. Alaina is a wiggle-worm and has to be tackling, climbing, pulling, or leaning on one of us at all times!


Alaina snapped this one, and I like that it shows me scratching the back of Connor's head. He's too big for me to hold now, has to be in the right mood for affection, and is too busy to hold my hand, but he'll let me scratch his head. It's a good compromise for me to get some loves in, and when I do it, he knows that I wish I could scoop him up in my arms and give him a squeeze.






Anthony is beginning to feel "the power of the Dark Side".




Their lightsaber fights have definitely been taken to another level. (Costume still in beta at his point...just you wait.)


They're also becoming more theatrical, which is fun to watch!


The kids have been asking to get our pumpkins early, so I figured we would paint them now, then carve them later!






Anthony was at school, so I took the liberty of painting his in a way that I thought he'd appreciate! :)


I'm relieved to have wrapped up these wedding photos right before we dive into holiday parties, but I have to say, it definitely whet my appetite for more photography outside of the home!

Halloween, here we come! I'm sure it'll be 2013 before I know it! Crazy!

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Minnesota to visit the Carliles. I had such a great time spending time with all of them, getting to know the girls better, seeing them in their environment, and hanging with Blake and Mary Ann in the evenings. I love to fly to places I've never been, and the trip didn't disappoint! I posted some phone pics on Facebook of some awesome shots I got from the air, so I'll spare you those. Blake and MA picked me up from the airport, their car full of squeezable little girl cheeks! The first thing we did was hit up the Mall of America, which is right next to the airport, for some dinner and fun. That place is huge...one day I'll have to actually shop there, but it's definitely overwhelming! After dinner, Tori met Spongebob (my kids would have died!)...


...and then she chose me as the lucky one to come on the rides with her! We rode the Log Flume, which was a seriously fun ride, especially for one in a mall!


After that, Maesa and I rode on the carousel. It was my first taste of her cute little voice and personality since I've never really spent any one-on-one time with her. That girl cracks me up! MA and Blake are not exaggerating when they say she's afraid of everything...she was so excited to ride, but once it started turning, she was immediately scared. She talked my ear off during the whole ride. I loved it! Tori and I rode the rollercoaster after that, then we went home to get the girls in bed and catch up.




Saturday started wonderfully with a cute little Maesa waking me up by singing me a song. She is just a happy, bubbly little thing, and still reminds me of those inflatable billowing guys at car dealerships. She never stops moving! Mary Ann and I spent the morning and early afternoon shopping, so no pics of that. We relaxed that afternoon...Mary Ann and I pigged out on our treats we got at Trader Joe's, Blake watched some football, Tori showed me her gymnastic moves and buff little muscles, Maesa put on shows and did my hair, and I squished Ellery's baby cheeks until they looked like they might burst (which is not that hard, mind you, because they are filled to the max!). It was pretty cold outside, so we went on a drive around to see the beautiful fall foliage. Mary Ann had arranged for a babysitter to come sit while the girls slept so that we could go out to dinner downtown. We went to Pizza Luce, and ordered four different kinds of specialty pizzas. The most interesting was a loaded baked potato pizza with mashed potatoes as the sauce. Can't say that it was my favorite, but the others were delicious!


(I promise Blake was happier than he looks here! The pic I have of him smiling was way out of focus.)

After dinner, the Carliles took me to their favorite weekend hang-out. ;)

But really, we drove around downtown Minneapolis. It was fun to see Blake's building and all the different areas of the city. The next day we went on a fun trip to an apple orchard. Family portrait!


We took a tractor ride around the orchard.




The apple trees totally reminded me of the Wizard of Oz!




The fall colors in Minnesota were gorgeous. Driving down any street was a feast for the eyes!


Tori is such a little character. Her silly personality is so fun, and I especially loved to see her snapping so many photos. A photographer in the making!








Is she Mary Ann's child or what?! Shoving delicious treats in her mouth for a laugh...I'm trying to figure out of that was a learned behavior or if it's just in her blood. :)


After sending Tori off to school on Monday, I snapped some pictures of this adorable little thing. She didn't help me out at all with my baby hunger - she was a dream baby the whole time I was there. It's so easy to solicit smiles from her, and she just lights up for Mary Ann! We went to lunch at Panera, then off to the airport for a trip home that should have taken about 4.5 hours but ended up taking almost ten! I ended up flying from Minnesota to Phoenix to Vegas to Salt Lake. It was a long day, but at least I got so see some cool things out my airplane window!






I feel like I didn't take enough pictures to do the trip justice, but that also speaks volumes for how much fun I was having. Blake and Mary Ann made me feel so comfortable in their beautiful home. It was so great to be able to just talk and talk and talk with them at night and laugh with the girls during the day. I miss you guys and can't wait to bring my crazy bunch with me next time! er">

Back to school! Connor started kindergarten last Tuesday. He wasn't too excited about the notion of school every day, and kept telling us that he wanted to go to kindergarten, but just twice a week. I can't believe that my little boy has officially entered the hustle and bustle of mainstream school!


Connor, on his first day of school last year. It's incredible how much he has changed in only twelve months.


I searched high and low for some good looking school shoes with velcro, and I was so thrilled to find these light-up Clone Trooper shoes I knew he'd adore. To make it even sweeter, there was only one pair left and it happened to be in his size, AND on clearance for $8! Score!


Connor's buddy, Cole lives next door and happens to be in the same class! It's nice to be able to trade off carpooling days, but I worry that too much time together may be putting a strain on their relationship. They play off and on all day at home, and I think there may be a little jealousy going on now that Connor has his eyes on a little girl in the class. I believe that all the interaction between the two of them will teach them a great set of communication skills, even if they do pledge to never play with each other again, each and every day.


I could tell that going to school seemed a little old-hat to Connor, since it's technically his third year, but I've seen a lot of growth in him even in just a week. It's funny how when I tell him something, it's in one ear and out the other, but he responds very well to teachers' guidance.


Alaina started preschool a week later (today). The extra six days of waiting for her were torturous, especially since she's been asking to go to school for a year! Anthony was sad that he had to be at school and missed Connor's first day, so he was determined to have a re-do and make Alaina's first day special. He woke up early and made the kids Mickey Mouse pancakes, which they loved.








I was incredibly nervous the first day I sent Connor to preschool two year ago. He was so little and didn't really want to be there, so it was hard on me. Today broke my heart in a different way...Alaina was so excited and ready to go to school and it's moments like these that make time seem so fleeting. After we went to her preschool open house, she even said, "Mommy, you should have just dropped me off." How did she get so big?






<3


Some kids cry when parents say that it's time to go. Do you think she's excited?


We dropped Connor off at the kindergarten door...


...then walked across the playground to the preschool. I think Alaina's nerves started building in the few minutes before the classroom door opened.


When she started to get a little worried, she said, "Mommy, will you hold me?" She's so big that I can hardly pick her up now, so we plunked down in the hallway. I can't help but wonder how many more times she'll say that to me. Hopefully she doesn't ever stop!


When the door opened, we found her seat and she started on her work. She was scared, but I knew she'd love it.




It was a bit eerie to have both kids in school at the same time. Anthony did some homework while I did some yoga. Two and a half hours can really fly! The kids both had a lot to talk about when I picked them up. Connor told me about playing on the playground with Abby (Cole was upset about it) and the food experience to end their Chicka Chicka Boom Boom unit (a palm tree made out of chocolate wafers and apples). Alaina was excited to tell me that she got two desserts for snacktime - juice AND a fruit snack! She informed me that her teachers didn't teach her at all, but I rather prefer their ideology of learning through play. :) We're still getting used to the 7 AM alarm clock, but the kids are loving their new routine!

Upon returning home from Colorado, Grandma called to ask if the kids and I wanted to come up and pick the rest of the plums from their tree. My parents must know me well, since there's probably nothing I'd prefer to eat than these beauties. Connor and Alaina have both inherited the love as well, and for a week afterward, we had at least six plums with every meal. It was simply heavenly.






Grandma also picked some perfectly ripened nectarines off of their tree, and let me tell you, if you haven't had one of these, you haven't lived. They put grocery store produce to absolute shame. I hope my kids will have the wonderful memories that I did of going into my grandparents' yard and enjoying these gems.


Sorry to catch you mid-sentence, Mom, but I love the way Connor is looking at you here. :)


After such a busy summer, there's nothing quite like a good swing on a tire under a willow tree.


(Please look past Connor's mismatched plaids...we were in the middle of trying on some new clothes from the Eyrings! Thanks, guys!) Toward the end of our afternoon, Grandma reminded our kids that her summer Read-A-Thon program had ended. Connor and Alaina don't quite understand the value (and potential!) of earning money for reading books over the summer yet, but I think they'll remember it now! I remember the summer that I earned $40 from Grandma for reading 4,000 pages...I thought I was one wealthy woman! The money must have been scorching since it promptly began burning holes in their pockets. They each earned $8 for listening to stories at bedtime (not that I have to twist their arms!). Connor chose to spend his on a harmonica, a set of metal handcuffs, and a candy. Alaina chose a reverberation microphone, those sponge-in-dissolvable-capsule-things (sooo my child), and a candy. Thanks for a great afternoon, Grandma! We love you!