Fall into Fall.

Happy 'almost' Halloween!

I love this time of the year.  I love the days where the sun is shining, but there is a coolness to the air.  I love all the traditions that begin in the fall.  I love spending time with friends and family, and getting to sit by the fireplace.  I love fall.

Jason and I are helping out with the middle school youth group again this year.  We had a superhero night last week....it you "Super-Starbucks" and his sidekick, "Half-Cafe." Creative huh?

Coffee Power!

Jason and his guys had a "Pumpkin Smash" last night.  They had pumpkin pinatas, and played video games.  Sounds like a good guys night to me.  This last week, I got to take my middle school girls to Bauman Farms.  Kinsey also made the trip with us, which made it even more fun.

Nial and Kinz :)

What was that?!

Zip-Line!

sisters.

This is the reality....love her. :)

We went through the dark maze, slide down a slide, jumped on a giant "pillow" (see video) and ate caramel apples and apple-cider doughnuts. I know we all had fun because the girls were falling asleep in the car on the way home. :)

Jason and I got to take care of our sweet little niece, Cayden, for a few hours this last week as well.  It has been so much fun getting to watch her grow up and to see her little personality come out.  Uncle Jason had a lot of fun making her laugh.  I think she has diffidently stolen part of both of our hearts.

Gotta love your aunt and uncle. :)

Loving spending time with each other.

Sweet little sleepy eyes. :)

* * New Things * *

Time for a Bernard update....many NEW and EXCITING things going on in our lives... :)

I had my 24th birthday on February 22, and it was a week long celebration, which I was fine with.  We got to spend time with both sides of our family.  I felt very loved that's for sure.  Julie made me a quilt, which you can see I love. :)

My new quilt, made by Jason's mom.

Kinsey, Me and Mom at Mo's

I also got to go on the woman's retreat this year with Salem Heights church.  There were over 250 women on the retreat, which was amazing.  This year was especially fun since my sister was able to come.  I also stayed in a room with four other girls, and we had an adjoining room that had another four. :) It was so refreshing to get to spend the weekend learning about forgiveness, healing and resting in God's plan.  That is something that I need to remember constantly.

Me, Kinsey, Jincy, Stephanie, Natalie, Michelle and Caley

Me and Elle

Shopping!!!

God's amazing creation.

Next...Jason has a full-time teaching job to the end of the school year!! He is teaching special education at Waldo Middle School.  It is the job that he was a long term substitute teacher in since the middle of January, and it finally became a full-time teaching job. :) Although Salem-Keizer can't hire permanent teachers until this summer...what with so many budget cuts...we are hoping this could open up doors for him next year! :)  Here he is in his classroom...and the bulletin board that he and I made last week to track his student's progress. :)  I am so proud of him!

Mr. Bernard's classroom.

Iditarod behavior tracking board...I was pretty impressed.

Auntie and Uncle and our little niece!

And....Jason and I can now also be called an UNCLE and AUNT! Bryan (Jason's brother) and Charissa had their first baby girl, Cayden Elizabeth Ann Bernard. :)  She is VERY loved that is for sure, and such a sweet little baby.  I am SO thankful that we didn't choose to move far away...this is exactly what we didn't want to miss. :)

Sweet baby girl!

Little angel that we WILL spoil ;)

Next...we are looking forward to our spring vacation to MAUI!!! We leave this coming Friday to drive up to Seattle and fly out from there!  Update and many pictures from that trip to come soon. :)