Halloween 2009 - Another Halloween has come and gone. This year was just as wonderful as they all are. We were in the mist of royalty and super powers. Sara was a Snow Aurora Princess and Syd was Supergirl.

Mom and Bruce joined us for the trick or treating festivities.

Our Halloween family portrait.

As always the girls were thrilled with the idea that you ring a door bell, speak a few words and you get free candy. They know how this whole thing works but each time it is REALLY happening they are overwhelmed with the simple wonderfullness of the whole affair. Syd this year after hitting her 3rd house said happily "I am just so pleased!!"Sara was little miss quick feet. She seemed to be floating from house to house as her running feet were hidden under all that dress. She was often off to the next house leaving her candy bucket behind in her haste.

By the end of the night her quick feet became heavy feet and Pat got to do all the grunt work.

The girls enjoyed their spoils.

Sara likes licorice.

One last flight for Super Girl.

Hello My long lost blogger fans.
It has been months since my last post. I think the last time we spoke Sydney had just graduated from Kindergarten and summer was just beginning. Well, there has been a lot of life in between now and back then. I will be posting some summer memories in the weeks to come.
For now, here is what we are up to this Halloween season.
The girls are very excited to go trick or treating.
We carved pumpkins the other evening. Every year this task get easier and easier. Sydney scooped about 40 seconds worth of pumpkin guts before saying "Ooooo that's gross, I'm done Daddy". Sara lasted about one look and asked to not have to do it.
Syd designed her own and cut quite a bit of it herself. Sara is just not quite ready for finger slicin' fun yet.
Here is the final product:

Today was Syd's 1st grade Halloween party. We had lots of fun. I manned the cookie table. Whew! It is very stressful to manage two tubs of frosting and 6 bottles of sprinkles with 27 kids. Nothing in my previous work life prepared me for this kind of work.

Supergirl and Aurora (Sara helped herself to the lipstick and I let it stay on)

Sara and Syd with Reese and Abby (Sara goes to Montessori with Reese. Abby sits next to Syd in 1st grade. They are good friends.

This is Erik. Syd has a crush on him and I completely approve. He is the kindest boy. Syd cries a lot in class and he is always trying to comfort her. Genetics are a funny thing. Syd has been chasing him all around and give him kisses all over his face. Hmmmm....sounds familiar.

I dressed up in Pat's old cop uniform and I looked VERY official. So much that everyone thought that was my real job. Wish I had a pic but couldn't get one of me.
As for me:

Please excuse Mulan...She is a nudist here at our house.

I have been having a great fall. It is totally beautiful here. The trees are completely beautiful this year. We have had some good windy days so the leaves are all swirling around.
I am getting used to our new schedule. I am getting some time to myself a couple times per week. That feels GREAT!! Ahh.. grocery shopping by myself...such a simple pleasure.
I am reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Good book for sure!
I've been knitting again. Still can't believe it but...Yes, I am knitting. The girls love their scarves.
The coaching practice is going great. I am so grateful for my little office downtown. My job is still one of my favorite things.

As for Pat:

Saturday Morning

He is great! He is working away with computers. He has started working on the basement again. We have been motivated by a big stinky cat poop...Literally. He has built a mud room so the cats can do their business in there and then enter the house through a cat door. No more smelly cats for us. I can hardly wait.
Pat read the first book I have ever seen him read in our 9 years together. Shocking! I think it was a Tom Clancy.

We are off to Hawaii in a month and it is my goal to get our summer memories up and posted before we go. We'll see how I do.

Sydney is crowned a first grader:

Classroom Birthday -

Sydney has been looking forward to her birthday crowning and song all year. We had some tears on her assigned day (Her birthday is in the summer so they celebrated on June 10). We showed up with her treats and there was a substitute that day. I kinda thought things might get messed up and sure enough the substitute forgot all about it and Syd came off the bus in tears. Luckily her darling teacher wrote her a special note and they celebrated the next day. She was so happy. They sing the cutest little birthday song:

Happy Birthday, happy birthday, we love you

Happy Birthday, happy birthday, may all all your dreams come true

When you blow out your candles,

leave one left aglow,

That will be the light inside your heart,

where your dreams can grow.

SYDNEY'S CONCERT:

Our little monkey got a speaking part in this year's spring concert. Sydney loves music class and made us so proud that she got up in front of all of the families. She had a great time. Can't wait till next year.

Her kindergarten class's song - Goin' Bananas

Syd with her friend Abby.

FUN AT THE PROPERTY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! I get a special birthday group hug. Ahhhhh! That felt good!

I was able to keep up my birthday camping tradition. This year we were able to spend it at our property in Leavenworth. It was the first time we all could sleep inside!!

I had a GREAT birthday! I turned 39 and I am so grateful for the life I have. I look around at all that brings me joy and truly my cup runneth over. I am so in love with my husband, adore my beautiful healthy funny girls, have a great relationship with my parents, a great home in a great area, AND I have this wonderful property full of sunshine and endless wood to burn. What more could I ask for. I love life at 39.

I find that there isn't a lot of sitting around at our property. There is so much to do that everyone just picks something and starts working. Little by little it is all coming together. The outside is starting to become usable thanks to lopers, clippers and chainsaws.

Pat and B work on building the picnic table.

Mom working on burn piles. Check out that huge one behind her. They may take a while.

B hauling up chopped down brush from our new creek play area.

Mom and I take a lunch break on our new table, just minutes old.

The inside is now fully furnished and the loft is next. We will get that done this weekend. Pat built the ladder last weekend so now we can get up and down easily. I am so amazed by all that Pat has done with wood and nail gun.

Sara is zonked on our new Ikea futon.

The girls make their maiden voyage up the new ladder all by themselves.

They are very excited to be at the top....especially Sara.


My parents have worked really hard for us here. Then they still have the energy and creativity to tells scary stories around the fire. If you ever run into my Mom be sure to ask her about the adventures of Slippery and Lippery.

While we work the girls get LOTS of playtime. I am so excited that we cleared out the creek so that they have a great place to splash around.Hard to believe this spot used to be completely covered over like the spot upstream.

Syd practices for her school concert.

FUN DAYS AT HOME
I am a bit behind in my blogging. I guess it is bad when you have to back date a bunch of entries. Anyway, we are having a wonderful spring. Truly this is the most beautiful weather I have ever seen in May and June. We have been spending some fun days just hanging around the house.

Syd was sick in this photo but the sun was so beautiful she wanted to be outside. Dad always comes through with great ideas.

I have reached out to some of Syd's classmates for some fun playdates. I have to say that I am really enjoying getting to know all the kids in our neighborhood and their parents too.

Playing Green Eggs and Ham with Anna.

Dancing to Hannah Montana with Abby.

With Sydney just in half day kindergarten that leaves her lots of playtime with Sara. I can't believe how fast time is flying by and how grown up they are becoming. I fell like clinging onto every cute saying, every cute picture. I am so glad I get to be here these girls.

The girls playing pretend (they are such good buddies) and enjoying the yard.

Sam came over for a Saturday visit. They LOVE playing with cousin Sam.

Kriszta, we have your hat.
Sara just kickin' it with Rubatube.

Sara rides around the sport court with her precious collections.

Sara and I have had fun with our time together with Sydney at school. Her game of "Frog" brings lots of laughs. It is a funny game that totally matches Sara's little personality. Sara hides in the frog. You knock and say "Frog? Are you in there Frog?". She pops out the tops and croaks "What?!" They you ask her for something like ..."Frog, may I have a piece of pie?" Sara croaks "No!" and slams the lid shut again. She gets such delight in saying "no" to whatever you ask.

"NO!"

A girl's weekend and Jody's wedding:

Syd and I headed down to Eugene, Oregon together to go to Jody's wedding. I decided to make a weekend out of it since it was such a long drive. Sara and Dad had a special weekend planned at home.

Syd with her motivation for the drive from Portland to Eugene

It was so fun being with one daughter and being able to give her all of my attention. Hotels are wonderlands for Sydney and she was so businesslike when we checked into our first hotel in Portland. She had her purse, her teddy bear and her rolling suitcase with her as she strutted into the lobby. When we got there she wanted to call Gram because we were just like Eloise and staying at the Crown Plaza and there was even room service.

Syd talking to Gram about the goodies on the bed (linen spray) and room service.

We had great girl time, staying up late watching movies (Bolt) and eating M&Ms in bed. We went shopping and painted toenails. I even let Syd wear a little make up to the wedding.

Syd in her new dress.

What a joy it was to see Jody get married. I was so happy to see her and Bob so happy. I didn't do a very good job of snapping pictures but thank God I got at least a couple.

Me and Jody, friends since 1986. Congrats Jody and Bob!!