Later grams, in which fall is glorious and changes into winter

Ben's soccer coaching in action.  Go Red Thunder Hawks!

"Mom, something is wrong with my magic carpet.  It's not working!"

I'm guessing that Post is selling a lot more Alpha Bits now that they have Super Why endorsing them.  Sam had them for breakfast, morning snack, afternoon snack, and after school snack.  #supersam #withthepowertoeat 

Making a model of the first presidency, quorum of the twelve, and seventies.  This stuff never gets old.  #conferenceboy #teamwork

Finally got our family pictures in frames from our Harvard photo shoot by JoDee Yost.  We are LOVING them!

So many favorites!

Sick day for Henry = a good excuse to take advantage of Kids Eat Free Tuesday at Ikea.  Am a such a good mom for keeping him home from school and taking him shopping instead?  #feverandnoothersymptoms #restandrelaxation

You know, just getting snacks ready for the airplane.  For the past few days, Sam has been talking nonstop about the movies, toys, and snacks we're going to bring on the plane...in six weeks.  #thanksgivingtrip #planningahead

These tired eyes would like to announce a new personal record for contact wearing.  17 hours today!  And two days in a row of wearing them until bedtime!  I think this is actually going to work.  #eyeballselfie #weirdiknow

Color-by-number on the go!  On a clipboard, in a moving stroller.  This work cannot be interrupted!  #schoolpickup #latestobsession

Henry, I would still love you if you really looked like this...but I'll be honest, it might take some getting used to.  #keepingitreal #candycornteeth #fangs #mycrazyboy

Ellis is taking a theater class right now and was thrilled to get to see the older kids put on "The Wizard of Oz."  He is just dying for his moment to get onstage.  I wonder if he'll still be interested when he's finally old enough.  #childrenstheater #ifionlyhadastage

Paul and Shug come to Chicago.  #lifeisgood #catanisnotsogood

We are lucky to have Mountain Man Paul around to encourage the debut of our outdoor fireplace.  #hotdogsandbrats #paulcallsitasnack

Did you know that to become a true Alaskan, or "sourdough," you have to grow a beard like this?  #alaskapaul #sourdough

Took these Alaskans back to the airport tonight.  Henry said he was going to miss them A LOT because "they were just so much fun to be around," and they are "a little more energetic than they would be if they were parents."  #nothingbutthetruth #shugandpaul #sourdoughs #missingthemalready

Uncle Jacob is the awesomest.  #downbythebanks #unclebyadoption

Overindulgence at its finest.  Jacob's favorite Chicago restaurant  #mindyshotchocolate #burdicksrival #twelvedollardessert #morningaftergram

"Mom, I'm just going to have my after-donut treat, okay?" #sweetestvoice #impossibletoresist #infinitiecandycorns 

Wouldn't be Halloween without them!  #beforetreatdonuts #pumpkinspice 

This clever boy has figured out how to unbuckle his car seat from the car.  He has done it six times now, and he thinks he's pretty funny.  We have never had a child like this!  #cleverandcoordinated #panicattack #timetotightenthestraps

Tonight I am SOOOOO happy to be living here , in a neighborhood that comes alive on Halloween night.  Sam insisted on staying out on the porch to hand out candy after he got soaked from Trick or Treating in the rain.  Henry and Ellis pressed on for the candy!  #mybestbuddy #northshorehalloween #itsafinelife

Henry's school requires that class parties be educational, so I got to put on my English teacher hat today.  It kind of felt like playing.  #halloweenmadlibs #roommom #yesiwrotealessonplan

I couldn't be happier about having this bike trail down the street from our house.  And aside from the too-cold temperatures, I'm feeling quite satisfied with fall in Chicago.  #tourdecolor #familybikeride #perfectsaturday

This boy was so excited for our one-on-one tonight.  He held my hand and skipped all the way to the door of the roller skating place...only to be told that roller skating was canceled.  :(  So we got frozen custard instead.  And he skipped all the way to Andy's.  #lovethisboy #cutestdateever #agefiveisthebest #welikeeachothernow

Didn't get much of a cardio workout today, because I had to keep stopping to take pictures.  #morningjoginparadise #evanstonpeak #myheartlovesfall

More.  #housesintheirprime #evanstonfall #myneighborhood #heavenonearth

Best workout of the week: garage sale roller blades, pushing two boys in jogging stroller, trying to keep up with Henry on his bike.  When Ben is out of town for the weekend, #thisishowweroll #sohappyrightnow

Proud of my bike-riding buddy.  #chasingfalloutthedoor

And this sweet boy puts up with a lot.  He is sick today and begged to go home and go to bed right after this picture.  I justify this type of parenting by reminding myself that it's only getting colder and uglier after today.  #seizetheday #chasingfalloutthedoor #freshairforafever?

Happy to be watching this from inside our nice, warm house.  #firstsnow #goodbyeautumn #readyornot #thisishappening

Getting crafty.  #christmascraftexchange #curlygirlcollage #fakeitdontmakeit #ibrakeforglitterpaper

Beautiful moment captured.  #lastedfiveminutes #thencrazinessensued #joyschool #ohthejoy

Celebrating ten years today.  #happyiversonday #besttenyears #loveallmyboys