Autumn... sort of. :)

Even though Fall here in Mexico is quite different from the autumn season in southern Kansas, I've been trying to "get into the spirit"... worth a try, eh? :)

85 degrees outside and rising, but you better believe that I'm going to keep drinking hot cider packets from now until Christmas... lol.

(Above: The Autumn pumpkin doll and gourds that I bought for our kitchen table... the kids wanted to know if they were for eating once they discovered they weren't fake!)

Candi and Diego showing off their permanent-marker-decorated pumpkins...

... that they are coloring in this photo.

It was really fun to see what the kids wanted to draw! Almost all of them put a mustache on their pumpkins... which is weird, but okay, whatever. :)

The completed pumpkin-itos, and the Big Mama Pumpkin... who is bald in back. ;)

I wrote the kids' names on the bottom of the pumpkin that corresponded with their "size"... so here's Jose posing with the bottom of his pumpkin! I tried to get him to turn it over so we could see what he drew, but I think he was more excited about his name on the bottom... :)

And... how do you create Fall sensations without Fall scents?!?

Cinnamon and nutmeg, mulled cider, pumpkin carnival... yum. :)

Tonight before dinner, I made Candi and Diego put on stocking caps and socks because their hair was wet, and they both have colds right now; this resulted in all the little darlings donning mittens, scarves, stocking caps, and "winter apparel" before venturing into the kitchen to show me... ;)

Above: Candi, Diego, and Aaron.

Admittedly, it's chilly. It's probably not this chilly!

In other October news...

How many kids/adults can you fit on one boogy?

If you live here... lots!

And honestly... I think more could have climbed on... lol.

Jenna, Pau, Bere, and some of the kids went for a quick spin around the yard on the Lazy-mobile... ;)

The kids love, love, love it.

Seriously.

They would sleep on it, or park it in our living room if they could. :)

Nicole's grandpa came to visit, and Candi was charmed (and did some charming of her own, I think) with his push-seat. She would climb up and sit on her makeshift throne while he walked around the cancha, the biggest smile adorning her little face!

I got some new rollers.

These were the pre-bedtime photos.

The pre-"I can't sleep and it hurts my head and take them out and..." well, you get the picture-photos.

The morning photos wouldn't have been so happy.

Desire for beauty did NOT win this contest... :)

Ponch now has a window in his room!

I've been really excited for this new addition of a door and window for Ponch's room off the kitchen... and I think he is too!

Thanks Joel and Mike for all your work... :)

At left: The three younger boys "working" with the men, and showing me their muscle poses. Right: Ponch in his new room... which is very, very green. :)

Gloria is growing super-fast... just like all the kids here, but I think we see it in the younger ones more easily!

Here we were all out on the porch, and she decided that she actually belonged inside the plastic bag instead of the blocks...

And... Rito!!!

He's so cute... [that's right, make cute "awwwing" noises, please].

He stopped lifting one ear for awhile, and I was [seriously] totally bummed... but now he's doing it again, and so my world is happy once more. :)

[Not to worry, my happiness is truly not contingent upon a dog lifting his ear... idioms, you know... :)]

And this is why the chairs on our front porch go from decent to scrap-pile material so quickly! Well... this and then eleven kids playing on them, around them, with them, behind them, under them... etc.

The past couple weeks the kids have all gotten pretty sick... flu-ish type stuff, coughs, runny noses, high temps... yep, not fun. Thankfully (except for a couple bad colds) they seem to be pulling out of it... even though I'm pretty sure I single-handedly used up the entire supply of Children's Motrin in a week and a half!

Above: Candi keeping Diego company while he ate breakfast in bed on a sick-day... and he was ever-so-generously sharing his marmalade-covered toast with the teddy bear!

And then... what can I say about this photo?

Other than... this is why I love you guys! Or at least part of the reason... :)

[Dad: Did you actually eat the cabbage, or were cabbage hats your intention all along? ;)]

Please pray for continued patience with kids, healing from the sicknesses that accompany a change in season, and for these kids' hearts... that they would continue to have the seeds of truth planted, nurtured, and grown within them.