Fall Fun with the Kettering Crew

 

We hosted the Kettering crew for our annual fall gathering and had such a great time catching up with everyone! The kids built Legos in the basement, we gathered around two cozy fires, and enjoyed a taco bar and apple crisp together.

It was fun to see Nathan’s new car and hear about Nolan’s adventures as a new driver — lots of laughs and stories all around. 

Emerson Earns the Rise Up Award (Again!)

 

Congratulations to Emerson for once again receiving Shale Meadows Elementary School’s Rise Up Award!

We’re so proud of his positive attitude and the uplifting influence he brings to those around him.

Grandma's Home & Little Sammy

 

We visited Grandma and Grandpa to see how Grandma was doing after her stay in the hospital. She was actually released the very day we were there, and we're so glad that she could go home and have support lined up.

Meanwhile, Grandpa brought home Sammy, their adorable new mini dachshund. He’s so tiny and cute!

Miller's Country Gardens 2025

 

We went to Miller’s Country Gardens for our annual hayride and pumpkin patch adventure — laughing almost the entire time while the kids sang in their best “doi” voices. We picked out some wonderfully unique pumpkins, munched on warm kettle corn, and selected a few farm-fresh goodies before heading home.

Fall Choir Concert

We enjoyed watching the Berlin High School choirs perform their fall concert, and Simon joined us for the evening. They sounded wonderful, and Mr. S has such a gift for choosing uplifting, inspirational music. Great job to both girls — what a beautiful performance!

Catching Up With Craig

We enjoyed having Craig Morgan (our “Christmas Cousin!”) stay nearby at Cross Creek for a few days en route to his Army Special Forces reunion. One evening we shared pizza at our place, and another he treated us to a wonderful dinner at Local Roots. It was such a fun time catching up, swapping book and TV show recommendations, and sharing stories. We just wish Sherrie could have joined us too!

Balancing Act: Emerson at the Skatepark

 

I took Emerson to the skatepark on Sunday, where he practiced on both his skateboard and scooter. This kid has incredible balance — he makes it look easy!

Wrapping Up a Great Soccer Season

 

Emerson and Coach Seth had their last soccer game on Saturday. They played hard and almost won — the other team slipped in just one goal. It’s been a great season filled with learning, teamwork, and plenty of Saturday sunshine. Big shoutout to Seth for stepping up, even when OSU games overlapped. 

Downtown Delaware Car Show

 

I took the kids to the downtown Delaware car show on Saturday. The girls grabbed coffees while Emerson and I walked around checking out all the cool cars. His favorite was something really unique — a “Fonda,” a modified motorcycle turned into a trike using part of  car. It definitely stood out — the kind of thing Emerson dreams up himself!

Bears Win Pinkout Game

 

What a great night for the Bears! The stands were full of pink as everyone showed support for breast cancer awareness. Berlin played hard and came out on top against Dublin Jerome. 

Also on Friday night, Simon DJ’d live at the Glenross pavilion — keeping the good vibes going with great music. Kit said he did a great job!

Celebrating Seth's 48th Birthday

 

We celebrated Seth’s 48th birthday by jumping out and yelling “Surprise!” as soon as he got home from work—after a long drive thanks to 270 being closed. After a nice sit-down dinner, we served the traditional puppy chow for dessert. The girls gave him a weighted jump rope, I got him a monitor, and Emerson proudly made a wall sign.

Roasted by the Girls

 

"Not even room for a leaf to fit down there."

"Enough room for a whale."

Sister Style Session

 

Winnie helped Kit get her hair done and ready for her five-month anniversary date with Simon.

Emerson's First Mow

Emerson was excited to try mowing with Dad’s help. He was so thorough and didn’t want to miss a single spot.

Kit's Jr. Homecoming

 

Simon made it back to Ohio from Detroit just in time to shower and get ready for homecoming photos with Kit at Orange Township Hall Park. It was especially kind of his parents to drive him back, knowing he had to be up at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday to return to Detroit for another hockey game.

Before Simon arrived, Kit took photos with her girlfriends. Friend (previous YL leader) Jamie even stepped in to help since I had to be at Winnie’s photos. It was such a gift to have her there.

After pictures, Simon and Kit went to dinner at Señor Antonio’s, where an anonymous diner generously paid their bill—a surprise kindness that made the evening even more memorable. They danced at the homecoming dance (really danced!), then ended the night at an after-party, playing Imposter around the fire.