Leaves

Thanks to our two huge cottonwood trees in the backyard, we have had ample opportunity to rake leaves this fall!  The kids really have a fun time doing it.  Matt has a leaf blower that speeds up the process, but also takes away some of the fun for the kids.  So, we let them rake for a while and jump in the leaves and then Matt gets down to business and gets all the leaves off the lawn.  The leaves are usually damp and muddy, but the kids don't care and we just clean up when we are done!  I love the memories the kids are making!

Ballet

My little ballerina, Laurel, finally is taking an actual ballet class!  She was so excited to be part of a class, but was a little intimidated when she realized she didn't know anyone else in it.  But, that lasted for about 30 seconds the first day of class and then she jumped right in and did what the teacher asked her to do!

So happy!

Following the teacher across the floor for warmups.

Working on her plies!

She had a great time!

And this is what happens when a little brother comes to ballet class and has to be entertained.

End of Soccer Season

Last Saturday marked Erika's last soccer game of the season.  Just in time, too, as the field was disgustingly muddy and wet and the spectators were cold.  She loved her first year playing soccer and is excited for next year already!

So happy with her medal from her coach.

Laurel was cold and bundled up in whatever she could find.

Levi fell in the mud, several times, and was wet and muddy and gross by the end of the game.

So he got to strip before riding in the car on the way home!

Halloween

We were able to celebrate Halloween the Friday before with a really fun party at Matt's office in downtown Portland.  There was candy....lots of candy!.....pizza, cupcakes and games.  We all had a really great time!

My ladybug, butterfly and lumberjack!

A few years ago, I was going to dress the girls up as lumberjacks for Halloween.  I a so glad I finally got to make a little lumberjack costume!  Matt was a lumberjack (forester, for those who are PC) when I met him and it makes me so happy that Levi, Matt's mini-me, got to be like his daddy!

Stimson's newest employee at his desk.

On Halloween, we broke out the google eye glasses.

And then headed to trick-or-treat around the neighborhood.  Laurel was the cutest trick or treater!  She literally sang about trick-or-treating, Halloween, or candy the entire 45 minutes we walked around to different houses.  She was so excited!  Levi picked up some new phrases including "trick-or-treat", "next house", and "more candy".  Which he repeated over and over!

We managed to stay out of the rain, luckily, and it drizzled for about 5 houses.

The loot!

It was a great holiday!  I love Halloween because it kicks off all the fall/winter holidays.  My absolute favorite time of year!

Disney on Ice

Sarah treated the girls and I to a trip to Disney Princess on Ice: Dare to Dream.  We had so much fun!  Erika keeps telling me she wants to go back to the Rose Garden.  As the older the kids get, I am so enjoying all the fun things we can do with them!

The girls wore their Cinderella dresses and their princess doll necklaces (Ariel for Laurel and Rapunzel for Erika)

The first exciting thing that happened was Laurel handing her ticket to the ticket taker!

Thank you Aunt Sarah for a wonderful trip!

This carriage was made entirely of Legos.  So cool!

Waiting for the show to start.

Their faces were so much fun to watch.  I watched them more than I watched the show.  They loved the skating and the lights and the fun fireworks that were part of the show.

Sweetest expression on my sweet girl!

Erika really liked the popcorn.  Really. Liked. It.

They also got snow cones in a souvenir cup.  Lucky girls!

A great trip with my awesome little girls!