Trick-or-Treat!

Raggedy Ann with our pumpkins and "Ella-Scarecrow," as we christened her (looks just like a hay stuffed E, pigtails and all).

E & Benjamin at our annual community Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Edmonds, all the storefronts pass out candy (and hot cider and coffee for the adults). We were there right when it started at 5:00 and as we were heading to the car at 6:00 it was shoulder to shoulder! Quite a successful event!

We also attended a carnival at my parents church. E colored tiles, jumped in the moon bounce, fished for treats, and aimed beanbags at pumpkins. Whew, what a day!

We came home to a warm crooked smile.

BOO

I think we came up with a new tradition this year. Carve the pumpkin on Halloween Day. She woke up this morning asking to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to get some pointers for her masterpiece. It was nice to spread the spirit out over the whole day. At least it was nice to eat the freshly roasted pumpkin seeds all day (I tried sprinkling them with garlic salt, you know to keep the vampires away, very good).




The vision








The face










The insides











The scoop









The knife








The finished product

So-Cal Day 5

Our day was primarily comprised of traveling. Although we had misgivings about leaving Grandma and Grandpa, we were cheered by the fact that we'll soon see them in our neck of the woods to celebrate the arrival of E's new cousin.

Traveling alone with a pre-schooler is never an easy task, and with E setting off the metal detector in Security and delays due to mechanical problems for our 2nd leg of the flight, I breathed a sigh of relief to see the familiar view of water and trees filling our bird's eye view right before touchdown.

Home.

So-Cal Day 4

We had a relaxing day of family today.



Started the day off with some home-made scones and cocoa with Great-Grandpa Benny and Grandpa David









Reading with Great Grandma Hilda









A little concert with Grandpa










Just the Gals (4 generations!)

So-Cal Day 3

I adapted the pattern for adult fingerless gloves for E. She picked out her color (favorite - red) and whipped up a pair while on our vacation. She obviously hasn't needed them down here, but is excited to try them out at home!

Tried out a new hair up-do for E this morning.
It was a success, lasting all day even through her 2 hour nap!

So-Cal Day 2

Grandparents are so good at spoiling us! We got to visit Knott's Berry Farm today, and as an added treat, each October weekend the park lets the kids "go trick-or-treating." They hand out Pirate treasure maps, so the kids can collect candy and pirate goodies as they go (this was right up E's alley!) She loved the rides (especially the Ferris wheel she was brave enough to try this time), giving Pirate Snoopy a high-five, and of course all the attention D's parents showered on her! I loved the weather, screaming my lungs out on the big-kid roller coasters, and soaking up all the joy E exuded all day long.

So-Cal Day 1

Today's post is all about our walk this morning. David's parents surprised E with a new bike to ride while visiting.

Just as the brilliant colors of the changing leaves at home were so captivating, so are the still blooming flowers here.






Bicycle











Orange










Yellow with Pink








Purple









Family Shadow

Wait, WHAT?

This is a phrase that is in constant circulation at my house. I'm actually not positively sure where it originated, somewhere between Ben Gibbard and John Krasinski, I think. At any rate D is pleased as punch that E now seeks out opportunities to exclaim it.

All this said, it hit 70 today. Wait, WHAT? It was unusually warm, sunny, and strikingly beautiful. I don't know if we're benefiting from the catastrophic weather patterns that are rocking Southern California right now, but I am soooo into the warm breezes, rolling with the windows down, no coats, scarves, and best of all no boots and umbrellas!

Going Continental

I've caught the knitting bug again. This hobby seems easier to do when the weather is cool, and the evenings have taken on a lengthy, shall we say, appearance. After reading Tania's short post, I was inspired to try her recipe (a Jen-ism for pattern). I completed one glove and began to cast-off, when a question arose. Being late of hour and not wanting to disturb my trusty knitter side-kicks I perused this trusty online website. This very easy-to-use site could make a knitter out of anyone, and clear demonstrations have gotten me out of a pinch more times than this latest stall. I figured out my query and in no time was on to the next glove.

However, I was tempted to peruse the videos demonstrating 'Continental' knitting (or 'Picking'). Most US knitters use the 'English' (or 'Throwing') Method as it's apparently easiest to teach a beginner. The Continental style has always daunted me, but the site claimed it to be the fastest method and I'm all about that. And remember the old lady on the cartoon Sylvester & Tweety Bird? She just twirled her little animated needles and produced these long scarves...I'm not placing any stock in her animated abilities, I just want to give it a whirl and maybe by Christmas I can say I tried.

New goal.

Portland, OR

(breakfast sunbreak)

(make believe)

(wallpaper)

(after-dinner walk)

As previously mentioned, we like Portland, specifically we like to eat in Portland. So much so, that we very often have trouble fitting in all the restaurant's. D offered this jaunt in exchange for missing my upcoming 30th Birthday. It was gray & a bit wet, but a really nice family time. We walked, shopped, napped, ate, drank numerous hot beverages, and even fit in a trip to the Children's Museum.

(sign)

(shoulders)

(leaves)

Pumpkins Round 2

We've enjoyed this tradition with
our dear friends for the last few years!

(H & E wheel borrow)

(skyline at dusk)

(kooky kidos)

*to view much better photo's from our trip go here.

stickers

I came across this site this evening. Turns your photo's into stickers! This may be a different way to go for Christmas cards?

Leaves

We made good use of our rain-less day yesterday and visited the zoo. Although the animals were in good form (a lot in close proximity for viewing) the leaves were what caught my eye!

Amazing!

This video is insane!

New Baby

Minerva "Mini" Moon Leggett, was born to our very dear friends nearly 2 weeks ago, now. I had been aching to see her, but with all the illness floating around our house lately I wasn't going to risk it. She's beautiful the way all newborn are, and has a staggering resemblance to her older brother. I relished my time holding her, examining her tiny fingernails, eyelashes and ears. So emotionally beautiful.

Apples to Applesauce

We've inherited so many apples this season that it was time to take drastic action!

Field Trip

We went with E's preschool class to this pumpkin farm this morning.




the animals









the hay ride







the search










the find