Halloween Tricks and Treats

So Stinkin' Cute.........

Annie made a darling Halloween Dinner Party for the kids earlier this week. She had finger sandwiches, mummie hotdogs and mini pumpkins filled with candy. We made carmel apples for dessert.....yum!

This Halloween was just as nice, if not nicer than last years! It was so mild out and not raining!!! Griffin went off with his soccer team as the Grimm Reaper. We girls all dressed as witches and Brody wore the skunk costume I had made for Griffin, back in the days when I MADE my own costumes (those days are long gone!) I think all the kids have been through the skunk once...

Brody was so stinkin' adorable! He watched us as we all dressed up with a curious look on his face. Then it's out the door, a black bucket in his hand and the next thing he knows it's getting filled with candy! What must a little child think! He stayed out the whole 2 hours with us as we went from door to spooky door. I let a few friends scare him with their masks and spooky decor. It was great fun to watch him cry or pull a scared face. Child abuse!

By the end of the night Brody was fast asleep. And this was us prior to starting out.

I think Annie looks like professor McGonnagal (sp?) from Harry Potter.

Date NIGHT

My father, the hard working man that he is....had to fly away on business this week to India and Abu Dhabi. My mother came to play while he was away and entertain us. It's always a treat when Annie comes to town. The kids were counting down the days like it was Christmas. The first day she arrived Todd and I were pushed out the door to come stay a night downtown sans kids. Ok....twist our arms. We tried a new Marriott location on the Waterfront and loved it! Thanks dad :>

This was our view. Walking downtown is our favorite date destination. After checking in we put on our running shoes and carried two bags of books 2 miles to Powells Books to trade in. They were heavy bags! We got about $12 back and were thrilled.

Next we had the happy hour menu at PF Changs in the Pearl, went into Anthropologie and I tried on a few darling little jackets. Walked a few more miles through the park blocks up to PSU.

It was such a nice evening that we didn't want to head back to the hotel. Walking all over and talking it was so nice to be out with a best friend who also happens to be my husband. It's great to rekindle the love and funny sides we both have without the distractions and stresses of kids! We walked to Pioneer Square and tried out some plush mattresses at Macy's. Oh man....I never realized how bad ours our, now that I've lied on super expensive one's! Todd bought me a few PINK items at V.S.

Took a dip in the hot tub back at the hotel then went to Stanford's Restaurant which was just around the block for appetizers on their late night happy hour. Yummy.

Slept so wonderful....but fast. Woke up at 7:00 and did the run dad I used to do when he lived here. No disputing....this is the best run one can do in/around Portland.....am I right dad?

The Fall colors were in full swing and the morning was so quiet and peaceful. It is so rejuvenating to get the day going this way.....Ran 10 miles finishing across the Hawthorn Bridge from the East Bank.

After another dip in the hot tub and a big delicious complimentary breakfast we walked up to Portland State Farmer's Market....not to be confused with Saturday Market. This was a sensory experience. The setting could not have been more perfect. The leaves were falling, bagpipes playing and fresh produce everywhere you turned. Small pumpkins, fresh bread and green fried peppers scented the air. This was produce/products sold by the granola-organic-natural Oregonians. It's a whole different mixture of people to watch than you'd see at Saturday's Market. I love the eclectic mixture of people that make this city unique.

After loading up on some of the local fares we headed home. After the kids' games Annie took THEM (minus Brody boy) back downtown to stay the night. We took advantage of this fact and had some friends over for appetizers and games after Brody went to bed.

Camdyn--8 years My sister Linny just sent me some beautiful photos of her little girl. I on the other hand have not printed off a picture since before I started blogging...nearly a year?? Whoever said that pictures start to taper off after the first child.....they were right! Keep up the good shoots Linny, you'll be delighted to have them. Kennedy 6 years

Goals

Griffin has such a natural athletic ability. I love seeing this enthusiasm for running. He goes out for runs with Todd and keeps pace just fine. He took first in the mile last week during P.E. in 6:15 and goes out for an easy 6 mile run during the week...his goal is to stay fit and fast. I have loved watching him become such a strong soccer player. He has a love for the game that runs deep in his blood. Coach tells me his biggest asset to the team is that he can run up and down the field and hardly be winded.

Annie came to his game today and was able to see him score 2 goals! Way to go Griffin!!!

Growing Pains

Todd received a $100 movie gift card as a thankyou to a bed he recently made. We are not regular movie goers, so tonight we decided on a whim to go see Fireproof. He'd heard good things about it from some guys at the firestation. I haven't seen Kirk Cameron since he was the cocky teenager with curly hair!
First of all I highly recommend this movie. I must say that the first few minutes of acting I felt as if I were watching one of those RM or Single's Ward type of film. During other parts I wondered if this movie was really made and put out by the church.
There was religious message and theme, but real life events were played out as well. It addressed issues that I'm sure many couples are faced with. Several funny parts and I shed a few tears. I told Todd I am surprised.....with all the different ways God is being taken out of anything public due to people's "rights"..... that this movie is doing so well. Our whole auditorium even clapped at the end, and we're talking about NW Liberals :>

Recue 911

Several months ago Todd was promoted at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue to Lieutenant. Thursday night we went to the awards ceremony for all promotions that have recently taken place within the dept. It was a big to do. The bagpipes led off the evening and closed it as well with the song Amazing Grace honoring all of those within the dept whose lives have been taken while employed. Whenever the drums played it sounded like thunder outside. It was awesome.

After being sworn into office the wives come up to "pin" the medallions on their class A uniform collars. I could not get it on! See Todd, he's saying through gritted teeth, "honey, come on!"
The kids had their eye on the banquet tables of food. It was quite the spread!
We have pumpkin carving contests in the fall.....why not watermelon carving contests in the summer?!?
Mr. Boy was the entertainment to all the other parents in the back chasing their own small children. When he wasn't trying to pull grapes off the tables he was happily spinning around and hugging other babies about his same size.
We're so proud of Todd and the hard work and dedication he puts into his job each and every day. It's an honor having a husband whose career follows a path steep in tradition. Seeing all the officers there with their various ranks and positions makes me proud of Todd for choosing to promote and taking the added responsibilities that come with being a company officer.

Apples, pumpkins and marshmallows, oh my

Typically each Fall we take an overnight holiday to Cannon Beach. This year we wanted to try somplace different, but with taking the kids out of school, possible rainy weather and soccer-filled Saturdays, we decided to make a few fun day trips instead. Friday the kids were out of school. We left early to hit Washington Square (for a few essentials for the kids). Then headed out to North Plains Oregon. Seeing that I didn't bring enough apples we found this cute stand off the freeway. I just love this about the Northwest.....fresh seasonal fruit stands are so country living. Apples are one of the kids' favorite snacks! We've been coming to Lakeview farms pumpkin patch since before Kenna was born. It's quaint, NOT swarming with unpleasant crowds and has the most adorable paddle boat that takes us across the lake with a train returning back....pumpkins in tow.
This shark scares Camdyn EVERY year!

Brody was adorable trying to pick up baby pumpkins.....he kept tripping in the vines and falling.

No.....we dont' let the kids take home pumpkins quite this big.Picking out pumpkins is like picking out a Christmas tree....you usually end up with the first one you saw.
The hay maze was perfect size for Brody. He loved it!
I LOVE MY CAMERA!!! When my camera got lost and Todd suggested we purchase a NICE one, I was skeptical as to whether or not we really needed one so nice. I was wrong. I haven't even begun to figure out more than a few settings and it's amazing all I can capture compared to my old one with a 10 second pause time between each picture.

These were just a few I was figuring out how to take in action shots. No way was I getting these with my old camera.
After our pumpkins were loaded up and we purchased some carmel corn from the vendors we headed west towards the coast.
When we arrived at Cannon Beach we ate lunch at our favorite Pizza a Feta......
Todd gave each of the kids $5 to buy whatever they wanted at Bruce's Candy Kitchen. They were lovin' that independance and took quite awhile picking out exactly which candy they wanted.

The weather was absolutely perfect and sunny. Cammy wanted to walk barefoot and play in the water, yes her toes were red but she hardly complained.

Cannon Beach Sandcastle days has sculptures like this only BIGGER, about a dozen or more. We just found this walking down the beach.

I love candid action shots. I love haystack rock.
This was taken as the tide was coming in....faster than Kennedy realized and soaked up inside her boots.
I brought bread and hot dog buns from home. These birds aren't shy to say the least.....one grabbed it right out of Todd's hand as he was holding it just talking to me!

We like to throw it up to them while in a flight pattern. The stronger those birds can hold position, the more likely it is they'll get some bread. It's SO fun to feed the Cannon Beach Gulls.

Even Brody got the jist of feeding these birdies. They weren't afraid of that little pint size dude either..... ....however, he wasn't too amused with them chasing him around. This face is classic!
Griffin found this kelp. Looks like a snake or an Indiana Jones whip. Whapshaaaaa!
The crowning part of the day was the roaring fire Todd built on the beach, just as the sun was setting. We bought wood and smore forks at the Mariner Market and roasted marshmallows while the girls played in the sand. The most adorable part was when I offered Brody, who was playing with a stick of the kindling, a marshmallow and he stuck his stick out for me to put it on the end like we were doing with our metal forks. He may not speak a speck, but he's very observant.

Heading home we stopped for a LATE night dinner....9 p.m., at the most yummiest rest. Costa Vida. We all shared a few salads and got home by 10:00. I love fun-filled day trips....especially in SUNNY weather! I didn't even say WARM weather :>