We celebrated thanksgiving with the Kirkwood side on the weekend before Thanksgiving, and over Thanksgiving break we headed to Fergus Falls to spend the long weekend with the Tommerdahl side. We enjoyed lots of good food and family time! We also spent time remembering Uncle Jordan, who passed away 3 years ago by visiting his gravesite. We miss him lots and wish he was still with us. We all enjoyed eating his special cornbread corn recipe for Thanksgiving and fondly remembering him "last minute" looking for the ingredients and making it while we were all together, and his recipe continues to be a way that he "joins us" at our Thanksgiving meal.

Kirkwood Celebration

Grandpa K's famous homemade pizza recipe! Mmmm!

Grandma and Grandpa K's turkey dessert!

Boys

Ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa- To represent their 2022 year, Grandma picked Robinhood for Summer (representing the play she was in this summer, art for Larkyn (who is always doing some sort of art or craft) and a mini drumset for Colton (who started lessons this year and is actually getting quite good!).

Tommerdahl Celebration

Summer made the cinnamon star bread and Colton made the banana bread. Larkyn wanted to make something but she was sick leading up to Thanksgiving this year!

So delicious!

Hunting (Colton and I walked)

Larkyn loved "training" GeeGee Sandy's dog, Charle!

Grandpa picked a TOUGH puzzle this year, but these guys persevered and it was finished by Sunday evening!

I always look forward to the family traditional Lefse making!

"Almost" cousins Summer and Kopel :)

Hard but good visit to Jordan's gravesite.

On our drive back home, Larkyn drew this sweet drawing of Uncle Jordan's gravesite. We all miss him.

September and October flew by filled with school/work/soccer/gymnastics/piano lessons/drum lessons/ church activities and more! Here are some pictures....

Soccer

Colton made Salvo's steel team for fall, which actually means he is on the same team for fall/winter/spring. His fall season finished up mid-october, and he is just starting winter training. His favorite position is an "8", (center-mid). Much of his team was newer to this higher level of play, so their team lost more than they won, but they grew a lot as a team, and Colton did enjoy getting to score a few goals.

Cousin Teddy also played soccer this year!

Family Fun

Apple Orchard

Mountain Biking

Packing Meals at Feed My Starving Children

Corn Maze and Fall Festival

My Bday meal: Thai Food Takeout + McDonalds haha.

October Bday Buddy Fun - Painting Class with Grandma T!

Hiking

School Stuff

Prayer Walk for our new school being built!

Colton class activity

Larkyn Class activity

Summer's 7th grade bug project (catching/identifying/labeling 25 insects)

Mom - Kiddo Fun

Kiddos filled their sibling kindess jar - cherry berry was the reward!

Random Fun

reunion with friends who moved away!

Bethel football game!

Kirkwood Cousins/Aunts gathering

Um....Colton's first ponytail?!?!?

Larkyn

The older two kids are involved in a lot of activities and get a lot of attention/pictures/posts. I wanted to take a section of this post to dedicate to Larkyn She amazes me with her creativity and art talents and I love so much about her!

Larkyn made this flower headband out of cupcake liners.

When we make pretzels together, I roll "regular" pretzels, Larkyn gets creative with hers!

Larkyn makes the cutest and prettiest fairy houses, and puts nature together in beautiful ways. She often fills my jars and cups in our kitchen with fresh flowers and natural findings in beautiful arrangements.

creativity in dough

Fairy house material hunting

Larkyn sewed clothes for the Geico Gecko (free from the state fair). She did such a good job! He sleeps in a hammock (fanny pack) hanging from her bed.

Science and color creativity

Natural beauty

Fairy House built by Larkyn

She makes friends with any furry creature - this was a dog at the library

Play dough creativity

Love you, Larkyn! I love that you see and appreciate the fun and beauty around you!

Buddy Race

The kids participated in a 2.5 mile obstacle buddy race. Larkyn and Summer ran as buddies and Colton and Rylan (friend from soccer) ran as buddies.

Summer Spiritual Birthday

We celebrated Summer's 9th spiritual birthday where she trusted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She made us dinner, and she received a gift to help her grow in her faith.

Trout Lake Camp

Summer and I went on the youth retreat with our church. Summer enjoyed her first time ziplining and I loved hanging out with all the 6-12th grade girls!