A Little Escape

 We were once explorers. Now we tend to stick closer to home. With the kids getting older and their sports to attend, homework projects to get done, a cat that gets lonely and other commitments, we haven't been our normal vagabond selves. This weekend we made ourselves get away for one night. We took some time to hike and check out some winter snow shoeing spots. 

The above pic is the kids playing on stumps at Detroit Lake. 

 Greta in Bend. She really liked this buffalo out of metal. 

 Hiking at Smith Rock. The kids enjoyed watching all the climbers and there were ALOT and a bald eagle they liked to follow. Fieldin said he found it's nest but it was some dried juniper.. :) 

 On the hike. 

 we saw alot of deer driving around, here are some below

 Mt. Washington. A quick stop for a picnic and some trail searching. 

Now we are back and there is no place like home.. I don't think our travel days are over, maybe just on pause for awhile..even the kids that used to be as excited as me to get away were so happy to be back home. The cat on the other hand.. he was happy to see us and now looks like he is ready for us to leave again. 

Thankful

 Since both kids were three, I have had them work on yearly "Thankful books". Looking back at previous years it was pretty funny the things they were thankful for at that special time in their lives. If they could write, even a little, I had them do it and always draw a picture if they could. Besides cutting out the paper, I wanted as little to do with it as possible because I wanted these to be all theirs. They have been thankful for elephants, Tinkerbell, pumpkin patches, family and so much more over the years. 

 The only request I made this year is that Greta would write her name in cursive since she is learning this year. I think she will appreciate looking back on it one day. 

 My heart was happy that they both were thankful for family.  I got them going on this project thinking it would take weeks for them to do like in the past. Instead, it took minutes.. I need to get used to having big kids. 

 They both also were thankful for pumpkin pie which was interesting. If they had worked on these together I wouldn't be surprised assuming they looked at each others work. But they did these at different times.. Great minds think alike. :) 

 There were many pages more. Greta's answers are getting more mature where you can see she's seeing the big picture, like the world. She was also thankful for school and having a house etc.. Fieldin was mostly thankful for food & candy :) 

He Reads

Last Monday we borrowed some beginning reader books from Fieldin's preschool teacher.

That afternoon after Greta got home I had to run an errand so Greta grabbed the books and started teaching him to read in the backseat. When we got back home Fieldin said "Greta can we read some more?" so they spent more of the afternoon practicing. That night he read the three books on his own and sounded out the words he got stuck on. Since then he has been practicing everyday. 

That day he gave Greta  the biggest hug. 

Not sure which one I am more proud of, the kiddo that taught him to read or the little man for learning to read. Good job you two. 

Halloween

 Halloween is always a busy day but fun. Here are the kids, ready to trick or treat at 6 pm. We went with some friends trick or treating a bit earlier in a shopping area so they ended up getting double candy. 

 As you can see, Fieldin was really into it this year and noone could keep up with him... 

 After trick or treating our awesome neighborhood the kids wanted to go home and hand out candy. Here they are on the porch waiting for trick or treaters.. 

 Then they sorted their loot before bed. 

While I was celebrating a Halloween party down the hall at school, Fieldin had his party so Jeff stopped by to take some pics for me. 

 Then after work, I went by Gret's class for her party. 

 Here is Fieldin in the costume parade at school. 

I think we are all recovering today... :)

Pumpkins

 We are running a little behind on our pumpkin carving this year.. but that is ok. Earlier in the day the pumpkins were hollowed out for easy after dinner carving and searching for the perfect design. 

 Greta just does her own thing now without help which is neat. 

 Both Greta and I carved owls this year. Here is mine(above) 

 Fieldin carved a snowman into his.He drew it out and did some of the carving. 

 Here are the kids pumpkins.. Good job you two. 

 Jeff's R2D2.. Awesome 

my owl

 I can honestly say this is probably the only snowman pumpkin I will see out this Halloween :) 

And Grets owl on a branch with a full moon... 

Another successful pumpkin carving adventure.

 I showed Greta how to roast the seeds and she did most of the work this year except putting them in the oven. 

Halloween Portrait 2013

An Afternoon With Harry Potter

 Another day celebrating the Halloween holiday today. The kids did a church Trick your Trunk this morning, which means we have way too much candy in the house and it's not even Halloween yet. Then we took Miss Greta to Halloween with Harry at the symphony. It was very fun. If you look close at the pic above you can see the lit candles "floating" in the air. Very fun to see. She is wearing a bag I knitted her. It started out as a scarf for her but looked too big and I knew I wouldn't finish in time. So I made a bag. It worked well because it held her goodies from Diagon Alley. I love when mistakes turn out well. 

 Here are the kids making Troll boogers and potions. They both brought there troll boogers home... they really look like they belong to a troll.. 

 getting some butterbeers.. 

 and being sorted by the Sorting Hat. To her dismay she was put into Hufflepuff house not Gryfinndor. 

A fuzzy view of the Hogwarts logo and floating candles. Greta really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. Fieldin got antsy except for when Voldemort talked then he laughed and laughed.... anyway.. A fun afternoon and beautiful music.