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Seasons Change - and so do we!

Somehow we sailed through the summer months without one update.  And by the looks of it outside, I totally missed the fall season too!

As the snowflakes fall and we enter one of my favorite times of year, I start the annual year in review process and think about all the changes in the Carter household.  So much growth and change it's hard to keep up!

During the summer months, Joelle became an avid swimmer!  It was so fun to watch her confidence grow as she tried new ways of jumping in and perfecting her doggy-paddle.  We also had the fun of regularly watching for our little tree frog friend who took up residence poolside!

This summer we enjoyed a wonderful family week at Bug Bee Hive Resort in Paynesville!  Our first full fledged family vacation!  We had a wonderful cabin just down the road from the larger "Lundell" contingent to make for a super week.  To add to the excitement my Aunt Sue Hedlund and uncle Brian joined us and stayed in the cabin across from us celebrating Sue's retirement from Washington County Public Health!  It was a week filled with laughs, giggles, swimming, art projects, soccer, food and so much more!

In August we soaked in the final days of Emma's 4H career at both the Chippewa County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair.  She had a great showing with the rabbits, earning Grand Champion at the county fair with her Cinnamon buck, Harmon.  He placed 2nd in his class at the State Fair too!  It turned out to be a lot of fair time, but we enjoyed every moment and just kept watching that daily step count increase each day of the fair!


As the summer months changed to fall months, Emma started her first year of college at Minnesota West Community & Technical College.  The transition was fairly smooth.  Once comfortable with her class assignments and schedule, Emma sought out her first job in the Dietary Department at the Granite Falls Hospital & Manor!  She got the job!  She is doing a great job according to her supervisor who thankfully stopped me in the grocery store to let me know of how well Emma did in her interview and in starting in her position.  It was a very proud mom moment, and by the things I was told, I now have proof that she did listen to all those things we have told her over the years, the eye rolls were just a cover!

Joelle spent the first week of "school" upset that she didn't get to start Kindergarten yet.  But I think she has now decided that being in Pre-school is pretty good and she is learning so much!  She loves to be the teacher to Aryn, although Aryn enjoys being "that" kid in the classroom. It is fun to watch them roll play, even during the times they are mimicking something we do as parents!  (Always a good reminder...)


This fall also found Bob a bit busier as he started a second part-time job as the Greenhouse Manager at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. He has enjoyed getting back to a greenhouse, and has made a special connection with the culinary program in the items they want to grow for their program. This has meant more juggling of time when the Post Office calls and needs him to assist with mail delivery, but all in all it's good!

And now I see the snow continues to fall and it must be time to cuddle up by the fire and work on some Christmas projects while thinking about the design of this year's Christmas card, not to mention preparations for the Thanksgiving feast next week!

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