I'm not one to blog about my feelings. I usually stick to family news and pictures. But I've suffered a pretty severe blow this past weekend. I don't have any recourse at this point but to "blog it out". I'm talking of course about my beloved Cubs. We enjoyed a stellar season this year. Lots of hits, lots of runs, lots of wins. It looked like this was our year. We were so good, in fact, that it never really occurred to me that we wouldn't go deep into the postseason. And the World Series was a very much within reach. Of course the possibility of losing was always there, but I never really entertained it. I didn't really consider the possibility of losing in the first series again this year, like what happened last year. We were good last year, but nothing compared to this year. Then the post season finally came, and we had a repeat of last season's nightmare. 3 losses and out. Unbelievable! Any team can have a slump. Even good teams like the Cubbies. Unfortunately, we slumped at the worst possible time. That's what I keep telling myself. An unfortunate series that could have happened to any team. Because I'm not about to start believing in rubbish curses. A true Cubs fan has to be an eternal optimist. 100 years with no World Series championship does that.
So now that the season is over, I'm wondering what to do with myself. There were over 160 games this season, and I must have watched the vast majority of them (MLB.com, baby). I planned activities and work around game times. On any given day I always knew how many games ahead in the standings we were, who we were currently playing and where, who the starting pitcher was, who the next series was against, what time the game would be on that day, etc. Countless hours spent watching and thinking about the Cubs. I'm sure a lot of people would say it's odd, even sad, to be that into a baseball team. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, I say. It's been a tragic week this past week. I was sick to my stomach watching the Cubs choke in each of those games. I'm still pretty depressed about it and it'll take me another couple of weeks to come to grips with it. But I'm not going to knock the Cubs for ruining what should have been "our year", or be like a lot of the bandwagon fans who were on board while the Cubs were winning but have since jumped ship.
I'm looking forward to next season. I'm talking with Ty about possible changes that will happen this winter. We're working on getting down to Arizona for Spring Training next year. I'm still a believer. I Still love the Cubs. I can't wait for redemption. I just really hope it comes in 2009.
Derek did all the dirty work on the three pumpkins.
Eva enjoyed the pumpkin carving from afar.
We had doughnut holes and apple cider. It was the perfect pumpkin carving night.
Eva loved her bottle carved pumpkin. We'd love to reveal the pumpkin Derek carved, but it must remain a secret until this Friday's pumpkin carving contest. Just wait and see!
We had a day full of fall fun as we were in search of autumn colors in Big Cottonwood Canyon. 
We took many opportunities to stop and explore everything around us.
We had so much fun spending time together as a family.
Dad and Eva play together.
It was a day full of laughs and love.
Eva saw and touched different things. It was a day of new experiences.
Man vs. rock. After an attempt to scale rock, man lost and rock won.
While boy did boyish things with rocks, girls sweetly played with leaves.
Dad and Eva make there way around Silver Lake.
Fall fun for our family.
Eva never ceases to amaze us! One minute she was happily enjoying her Rainbow Fish Hide and Seek book and the next minute she was wearing it. She had strategically placed her arm in the hole of a page while rolling and it flipped it on her back. We had a good laugh.
She loves playing with her cousin, Petra. They will be great friends!
The Dweebie and Chad were down for General Conference weekend. This little girl had some big smiles for her Pop pop.
We just love this picture of her cheeks in all their glory. We imagine that we see them get a little smaller each day and it makes us so sad.
Well, it's time to start baby-proofing the house. She has taken to getting up on her knees. Before we know it she'll be motoring around.
Sweet Baby Eva. What a joy!
Eva was happy to play with her Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Brady. She was in awe of her big boy cousin, Gabe and excited to see her Aunt Kayla and Uncle Spencer.
