Another pumpkin patch

We went to the pumpkin patch for a friend's birthday party. Raining one second, super sunny the next!

Crazy Hat Day

Here's some of the neighborhood gang at the bus stop, all ready for Crazy Hat Day at school.

Grampa's Visit

A few days after Opa and Oma's visit we got a visit from another Special Somebody--Grampa! Gramma couldn't come along because she was still recovering from having a detached retina re-attached...














One of the evenings our power went out for six hours because of a big wind storm. We went out for dinner at a nice restaurant that gives kids an etch-a-sketch instead of boring old paper and crayons. Check out this dog A sketched! (click on the pic to make it larger) I don't know about you, but I was darn impressed. I can barely draw a square with these things...




















Grampa got to go along to soccer practice. Uh oh, look who forgot his jacket! Here's daddy wearing A's hat and borrowing a friend's lovely quilt. Cute.















Grampa also got to work hard as usual! He always offers to do a home improvement project for us and why would we deprive him of that pleasure?! He installed track lighting in our family room, it is just awesome.














See?! Isn't it awesome?! We love it. Thanks Grampa and Home Depot!!

Opa and Oma's visit

We did a corn maze with Opa and Oma--they hadn't ever done one before. We got lost a few times but in the end we found the exit.














Posing in the pumpkin field next to the corn maze really near our neighborhood. Ahh, fall!














During their visit my mom knitted me a hat. Here's me looking like I'm straight out of a knitting pattern catalog! Although the shawl wasn't made by my mom, I got it for $1.50 at Liquidation World a few years ago...

Sleepover

This was Taylor's first sleepover ever! The girls had plenty-o-fun and got just a little bit-o-sleep.

Open House

Tonight was open house at school. E's "I just want to be me" picture was on the wall in the hallway.



















A and her classroom butler, Stanley. Her teacher has a sense of humour :)

Happy 5th birthday, Landon

A's buddy, Riley's, little brother, Landon, turned five (did you follow that?!). According to his mom Landon has a huge crush on A which I think is adorable. Funny that he doesn't care about the 5 year old boy in the family. No, his one request for his birthday party was for A to be there. Aww!














A and her little buddy on the frog hopper.

Ferry ride

Taking Eva (and Winkie) home on the ferry.

Cousin weekend

Eva spent the weekend with us. One night the kids did a riveting performance of Sleeping Beauty...














Clap clap clap.

Um, yeah.

We love you, David A!!

My friend owns his own carpet cleaning business and we love him for it! He made our carpets look as good as new. I know, dorky home-owner thing to be excited about but really, it was VERY exciting.

Kindergarten

Life is getting into a bit of a groove... Now I'm spending one morning a week helping in A's class and one morning in E's class. Here he is during free play time. Notice the other boys in the background playing with blocks and cars. Not my boy--he's crafting with the girls! Makes me proud :) Everyday he comes home with a drawing/card/note for us. Love it.

No thanks

My events coordinator job means I end up working at various county fairs. I don't really like county fairs. I don't like rides like this where you're up in the clouds. Upside down. No thanks.

Adults have fun birthday parties too!

A surprise 40th birthday party for Avtar (bottom right).















The kids all got into the dancing--check out E with his fancy dance moves! Right after this picture he took his shirt off b/c he was so hot. Whoo, baby!

Just the three of us...

E spent the night at a friend's house so the three of us had a fun evening together--miniature golf (on the world's LAMEST course) and dinner out.

Um, what was I thinking?

I went a little nuts on the after school snack... Leftover ice-cream and candy toppings from A's bday party. Can you say SUGAR??

Just chillin'

For once we were early for a Dr appt! On our way to A's 8 year old checkup we stopped at a Starbucks for a quick drink (imagine that, there was a Starbucks on the way!).

Bubbles

Our little neighbor friend, Gabo, made some great bubbles with our cool new bubble thingie!

Happy 8th Birthday!!

A and her teacher on September 13th--her 8th birthday. I brought cupcakes for her class.















After school we had some more cupcakes and some hip hip hoorays!















She chose to go to a yummy Asian restaurant for her bday dinner (thank goodness she didn't pick someplace like McDonalds!!).

The 3 Day Walk September 7-9

Four of us girlfriends made the team The 30 Somethings. We walked 60 miles in 3 days! Stay tuned for more pics from the event...














AT's mom came for the weekend and I missed the kids' first soccer games but thankfully Gramma got some pictures! Here are The Stars... Go, E!!















Uncle T with 8 month old Day.














Cousins (they came to cheer me on at one of the cheering stations and to hang with AT, Gramma and the kids)














Baggage pick up... Next on the agenda: pick up the limping mommy! The third day my knee was in a lot of pain so I limped the whole day. Ouchie.














This picture doesn't show the limp... Check out the video below!














Ahh, home! Icing my knee (I had an inflamed fat pad under my knee cap) and drinking a nice cold beer...

Mini Chef

Daddy teaching some of his cooking secrets to his son

First Day of School!

Backpacks and lunch boxes ready to go!!




















BOTH kids at the bus stop ready for school!















Our bus stop gang




















Our principal meets the kids out front every morning and shakes hands with as many of them as he can. Here's the big kindergartener getting his first handshake!!














Our 2nd grader and kindergartener...














Both kids in school means FREEDOM for mommy!! My friend whose kids are also in 2nd grade and k/g and I went out for some mommy time after the kids were at school. Coffee, pastry (we didn't have to share with anyone!), shopping, even a movie!! I could get used to this...














But wait, just b/c school has started doesn't mean summer fun has to be all over! There's still time for popsicles with friends.

Bumbershoot

ParentMap had an area at Bumbershoot September 1-3. A very cool music and arts festival in Seattle.















A came with me the third day to help out at the booth. Festivals are such a great place for people watching!!

Catching up...

Okay, let's just pretend that the rest of August never happened. In the spirit of catching up I'm going to just head right into September... I'll leave August with this picture of the Space Needle.