Petco confirmed that the two guinea pigs they sold us were females. Seriously, the employee actually examined each one before handing them over to us.

We brought home what we thought were two females…sisters, friends. Sugar and Cinnamon. Cinnamon and Sugar.

Until one fateful night when we returned from a football game around midnight. Sugar had been “growling” at Cinnamon all day. We were concerned that she would become aggressive toward her cage-mate.

But what we saw next made us realize that Cinnamon was no female; and Sugar’s “growling” was actually a mating call.

CinnaMAN.

Petco offered to take Cinnamon back; but Jim convinced them to give us another cage instead. So instead of cage-mates, the piggies are now neighbors.

Ruth was born nine years ago during football season. The beginning of playoff season, to be more precise. As I look back on pictures of her birthday from years past, the pictures of the birthday girl are surrounded by pictures of her brothers playing football. This year was no different.

Her birthday landed on a Saturday this year, and Saturdays are youth football days. We let her stay home with other brothers since Jeremy’s game was in the morning; however, birthday pancakes had to be pushed to lunchtime. She didn’t mind.

Thankfully, Peter was happy to prepare the birthday pancake lunch while we drove back with Jeremy from the game.

We gathered around to sing to and celebrate the birthday girl.

Later that day, we celebrated with more family.

Ruth enjoyed playing and being silly with cousin Grace.

The next day, she and Jim planted her second favorite flower: tulips. We will anticipate their arrival next spring!

The older Ruth becomes, the more I love her personality. God has given her such a joyful disposition. I tell her brothers all the time what a great sister she is…and they actually agree! She doesn’t complain (much) about watching a thousand football games each fall; she loves playing whatever her brothers are playing–including laser tag in the basement; and she doesn’t take herself too seriously.

I pray that God will continue to mature this nine year-old in her faith and direct her steps throughout her life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Last week, we learned about the pH scale and the difference between acids and bases.

Jeremy was especially excited to test the pH of various substances. A common sight these days is a litmus paper sitting on the counter, waiting for Jeremy to explain what he recently tested.

We discovered how much air makes up styrofoam by pouring pure acetone onto styrofoam cups. Jeremy had the idea to pour the acetone into a dish, then put the cup into the puddle. We took a time-lapse:

But what won the kids’ hearts over to science this year was a smoke bomb experiment. It was a lesson in exothermic chemical reactions, using potassium nitrate and sugar. We were expecting a bunch of smoke to come out. We got that…and more. Here’s a video of it in slow-motion:

Science this year is literally the bomb!

Every year, we find ourselves in the thick of the fall season and remark how FALL = FULL. The calendar is full, and our demands and responsibilities are full. With all the practices, church activities, and schooling, though, I am thankful that our home remains a hub. Everyone eventually makes their way back home and we can reconnect.

I decided to compile some assorted pictures from the past couple weeks in order to give a glimpse into the FULLness of fall.

Molly and I hit the prairie path almost every day. It’s become so much a part of our daily schedule, that for my birthday, I received a belt leash so that my running can be hands-free. Our access to the prairie path is a gift!

School is humming along, and we continue to greatly enjoy homeschooling.

The kids steal cuddles from the piggies often throughout the day.

Ruth joined the children’s choir at church and loves it!

Jim’s friend and teammate from Wheaton College was in town this week with his family from Oregon. It was great to catch up with them. Another college friend and teammate is coaching at WA with Jim, so the three of them got together for a pic after practice.

Thanks to great parent photographers, we continue to have memorable football moments captured. Have I mentioned lately how much Jim loves coaching?

This guy is having a superb first season of high school ball, donning his dad’s jersey number from college.

And this guy is exiting high school ball with a bang. The only time he is off the field is when he gets a bloody nose or some other malady.

And fall marches on…

We were offered tickets to the MLB wild card game a few weeks ago between the Cubs and the Rockies. Jeremy joined Grandma and Grandpa in the city to watch the big game.

Despite not ending the way Cubs fans wanted it to, the game was exciting. It also went long, going into extra innings, lasting past midnight.

After spending the night in the city, Jeremy commuted back to the suburbs with Grandpa. Off to work and school…

Each day of homecoming week had a theme, and the student body (including the two students who live in our house) really got into it.

On Monday, freshmen wore blue and seniors wore red…

Space Tuesday…

Those are the planets orbiting around Derek’s head.

On Wednesday Peter dressed as a hippie and Derek pulled out his toy soldier costume from homecoming two years ago.

Thursday they went as nerds. I wondered how this day was different than any other school day?

I always enjoy watching them walk to school together, but this particular week was especially entertaining.

The past couple weeks, we’ve been reading and learning about the periodic table of elements. Our culminating activity last Friday was making the table of elements out of cookie bars! First, the baking.

Then Jeremy arranged the cookies in the proper number of rows and columns while Ruth mixed color into the frosting.

Ruth was determined to pick out just the right colors, and Jeremy was happy to do the frosting.

After hours of work, we had a final product.

After dinner that night, everyone had fun picking out the elements we wanted to eat up. Shall I go for the hydrogen, or the silver? Who knew the elements could taste so scrumptious?

It was a successful team effort!

(This project reminded me of Jake’s research of the elements ten years ago.)

I remember Jake’s senior year of high school being filled with “lasts”, and here we are three years later, Derek in his own senior year, experiencing the sadness of “lasts”.

Last week was the last football game on home turf. He certainly made the most of it, playing one of the best games of his life.

Derek, who is the antithesis of a showboater on the field, showed emotion after a sac. This, ironically, was caught on camera by the local newspaper.

What no one knew is that it was an inside joke between him and Peter.

The seniors and their parents were honored before the game, which brought about unexpected emotion in all three of us.

It was the last time praying as captains before a home game.

We were grateful to have some old friends come to visit!

The homecoming informal dance was later that weekend.

Derek, along with six other guys, was voted onto homecoming court.

Lest all this go to Derek’s head, we are keeping things real by playing around with the fathead he received before the football game.

We’ve had some good conversations about the importance of finishing this chapter of life well, even while experiencing the sadness of all the “lasts”. Jim and I desire and pray that Derek’s life would honor God, both in this chapter and all the chapters that follow.

“So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)

This high school senior is a serious student by day,

athlete by night.