Hurry up and wait...

October was a long month for us.  It seems to be that way every year.  October hits hard, but when it is over we meekly peek through slitted lids to see if the smoke has cleared.  Then we sit back and wonder where the year went.
This year's October seemed especially packed with emotion, and not just for my hormonally imbalanced and pregnant self.  Quiet a few family members had a rough month too.  Lots of highs and lows all around.  Maybe it is the season change.

The month started off strong. It didn't last long. Shortly into the month Chris hurt his knee really bad playing basketball.  It is going to be a long recovery, requiring surgery in the next few weeks.  Luckily it is getting better with physical therapy. The first few weeks were really rough.  I am not looking forward to his surgery and moving back from all the progress that has been made.  It is going to be pretty hard on him mentally as well as physically.  I am not sure how it is going to effect our orders to Alaska.  As of right now we are just waiting.  Chris seems to think that it will be fine, but I know that he won't get orders while he is hurt... and this recovery will be long... May at the earliest.  We did get an extension for the birth of baby three.  So we don't have to be there until the end of April.
We took a really big hit in our marriage again in October as well.  Smoke is clearing a little, but this one is going to take a VERY long time to get over, and to be honest, I don't know if I will ever be able to.  There is sun breaking through the clouds recently though.  I am just going to leave it at that. 
The Temple Prep classes that we have been going to over the last few months came to a close last week.  This month seemed to be filled with Church and related activities quite a bit. Even with Chris being hurt and our relationship dissolved, we managed to get out and do quite a bit.  Probably a saving factor to my sanity. I am sure that the kids appreciated it as well.
We had a few fall fun activities. We went with the spouses club to the Sterling Cattle Ranch for the corn maze and fall fun. The kids had a blast, and we were even able to have some adult conversation with friends while we were there. Rare lately.

        

We had lot of Halloween fun as well.  Duncan went as a Pirate and we found a Strawberry costume for Millie.  The kids went trick-or-treating a few times this year.  We had the Church Trunk or Treat, the base had trick-or-treating, and we went to the mall and fairgrounds on Halloween itself.  We also painted pumpkins for the first time this year.  Maybe we will carve some next year, but I wasn't up to it this year.

There were some nice adult only things that we did in October as well.  Mostly for church, but I will take what I can get...  We were able to finish our temple prep classes, Went to our Stake conference for church for the adult session, and we went out to dinner on our anniversary.
I am sure that I am forgetting a TON.  November is in full swing and we all seem to be in a pretty good routine again.  It has changed quite a bit in the last few weeks, but it is growing on me. We are just waiting for our next direction.  The house is still on the market, baby is still cooking, Chris is still recovering, and holidays are approaching.  For now we are getting used to having to hurry up and wait.
Here are a few more photos taken throughout October.