Day 1410

Election day!  In Oregon, we have vote by mail; so it's dropping our ballots off and the last minute for us.  Les took the kids with him to the library and had them deposit our ballots for us.

Day 1409

Parker and Les were so early to school that Parker was the first one in the gym!  As a family who is perennially late - this is sure to never happen again. 

Day 1408

More than anything else, Kaitlyn wanted to get her hair cut for her birthday.  As much as it killed me to cut off her baby curls - it was her hair.  So Grandma and Carrie joined us at the salon and watched as she got her very first hair cut and then a manicure.  Afterwards we headed over to BJ Willy's for a ladies lunch.

Day 1407

For Kaitlyn's birthday we gathered family and friends at John's Incredible Pizza in Tigard.  It was the first time any of us had been there - luckily they had a sports themed room so Grandpa didn't miss any of the college football action.  The buffet was surprisingly good with lots more than pizza.  The kids had fun running around playing all the games and riding on the rides.

Day 1406

Daddy/daughter Birthday date at Build-A-Bear at Washington Square.  Les picked Kaitlyn up early from daycare (and brought her flowers!) and they headed out for some birthday fun.

Day 1405

Hidden away in our dining room (under a tablecloth and usually the kids' backpacks) is a Donkey Kong Jr cocktail table game.  Parker convinced Les to unearth it for a while so that he could play.

Day 1404

This year we headed up the hill and went Trick-or-Treating with Ian and family.  Once again we lucked out and managed to do all of our candy hunting in between rain showers.

Day 1403

Parker and Les walking and talking on the way into school.  

Day 1402

Les and the kids have been spending time in the arcade again lately - here Parker and Kaitlyn are battling it out Super Mario Bros style.

Day 1401

Carrie needed some pumpkins to take to Outdoor School with her, so she enlisted the kids' and my help to pick just the right ones.  It was pretty funny seeing them try to push the wheelbarrow - it was just a little too big.  

Day 1400

Our good weather luck ran out just in time for Parker's last soccer game.  It poured the entire game and all the boys were covered head-to-toe in mud.  And they loved it.

Day 1398

It was Pumpkin Patch day for Parker's class and I was lucky enough to be able to get the day off work and chaperon the field trip.  We did a corn maze, watched a pig race, watched a duck race and even did the Hokey Pokey.  

Day 1399

We had an Oktoberfest potluck in my office.  One of my co-workers is next-door neighbors with the woman in charge of all the costumes for the Mount Angel Oktoberfest and was able to borrow costumes for the occasion.  Seeing everyone dressed up was just so entertaining!

Day 1397

After soccer practice we had dinner at Lil' Cooperstown.  While we were waiting to be served, Parker staged some epic battles with his Star Wars Squinkies.

Day 1396

We tried the Chinese place on the top of the hill for the first time tonight - the kids ate won-tons for the first time.  Les and Kaitlyn seemed pretty please with the dinner choice.

Day 1395

School pictures came home today for Parker.  That's my first grader - so cute.

Day 1394

Dr Seuss is Parker's new favorite author.  Here he is reading Green Eggs and Ham to his sister before bedtime.  It is so much fun to watch him become a better reader. 

Day 1393

Another Saturday volunteering with the Girl Scouts - this time teaching advanced lashing techniques to  several groups of Leaders.  I also taught a class on setting up a troop camping site.  Carrie was there to catch me showing off my lashed picture frame.

Day 1392

It was Harvest Party time at the kid's daycare.  We ran home to put costumes on and then headed back.  After we tried out all the booths, we went to our favorite cafe for dinner.

Day 1391

Parker's school raised enough money at their FunRun that the principal had to kiss a pig at Morning Meeting.  Afterwards all the classes got to take a photo with the pig and the principal.

Day 1390

It's Wednesday again, time for soccer practice at the park.  All the parents kept moving around the edge of the field so that we could stay in the sunshine.  We hold out hope the nice weather continues until the season is over.

Day 1389

A birthday muffin and some flowers are a wonderful way to start off your morning.  Handmade cards from the kids is a great way to end it.

Day 1388

Mama Kitty has still not warmed up to the idea of Lucy yet.  One of the few places she can go without the dog getting her is the counter in the bathroom.  She now keeps me company every morning as I am getting ready for work.

Day 1387

We had to get up pretty early to catch our flight home, we got to see the lights of Vegas just as dawn was beginning to brighten the sky.

Day 1386

After lounging by the pool and getting a pedicure with Jennifer, the four of us had a fabulous Italian dinner and took in the Cirque show "O."

Day 1385

Even more surprises were in store when Job and Jennifer joined us in Las Vegas.  We went to see the Beatles themed Cirque du Soleil show "Love," then had a late dinner at Lawry's the Prime Rib Restaurant. 

Day 1384

Les stole me away to Las Vegas to celebrate my birthday and we stayed at the Venetian   (Thanks to Grandma who saved our bacon at the last minute and agreed to watch our kids!)

Day 1383

For Gretchen's last day, a group of us went to the Thirsty Lion for a send off lunch.

Day 1382

Parker's first homework for the First Grade; he was really excited to play Heads and Tails with us.

Day 1381

She may drive me crazy at times (please stop eating the couch!), but Lucy is pretty darn cute.

Day 1380

I spent Sunday morning teaching Basic Outdoor Skills to adult Girl Scouts.  It's my volunteer activity of choice and I even get to do it with my mother.

Day 1379

Saturday morning Soccer - Parker throwing in the ball with help from his coach.

Day 1378

Here is a piece of Kaitlyn's artwork that is hanging up in her classroom at KinderCare.

Day 1377

Here is my new washer - I am sure it does all sorts of things that I will never use, but it sure washes well.

Day 1376

We are trying to get in the habit of brushing teeth at bedtime - the kids got new battery operated tooth brushes to encourage it.

Day 1375

Me at my office - gotta love the front facing camera on the iPhone.

Day 1374

We've been having a hard time trying to get the kids to eat pasta, but today Parker was actually enthusiastic about it. 

Day 1373

Shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market - picking up a few things for next week's dinner.

Day 1372

Game day at Oppenlander.

Day 1371

Parker and Kaitlyn headed to school - it's picture day for both of them.  Kaitlyn had to bring a family photo to school today, so she is showing it off.

Day 1370

It's time to say goodbye to the old washer and dryer.  We purchased them back in 1999 when we first moved into the Ankeny townhouse.  However, the dryer is not actually drying any more.  We purchased a new set at Lowe's and the new dryer it being delivered today and the washer next week.

Day 1369

Another glorious day for soccer practice.

Day 1368

Getting gas at our local station, I had to snap this photo Parker as I saw him in the rear-view mirror.

Day 1367

After dinner the kids built a fort in the bedroom and when they weren't fighting, had a great time.

Day 1366

We had some arts and craft time at home today and Parker made himself a necklace with his name on it.

Day 1365

Father and daughter holding hands walking in to Saturday dinner at the Olive Garden.

Day 1364

Parker's first field trip with his new class was a down to the boat dock near the school and I got to chaperon.  All the kids got binoculars and we were looking for birds.

Day 11363

After my colossal crash nearly a month ago, the Traverse is finally fixed and looks good as new.

Day 1362

Soccer practice at Willamette Park - loving the weather so far this season.

Day 1361

New hair cut for Parker.