Happy Halloween

{Happy Halloween}

Halloween at School

Oh, what a fun day we had today! The kids had an early release today due to

it being the end of the first quarter. I CANNOT believe how quickly the first quarter has gone by. Since it was also the last school day before Halloween, it was an all-day party! I began the day by volunteering in Ryan's class, then I headed over to Emma's for her parade and party. The photo above is from when we got to Ryan's class room...it's so fun to see the siblings excited to see each other.

The kids got to decorate their own cookies.

I thought she was finished...

...but she decided to add another layer. {Smile}

Yum!

After Emma's class was over, we headed over to Ryan's. While his class

was changing into their costumes, Emma entertained herself by spinning...and spinning...

and spinning.

Another parade...with grades 1-6.

Ryan's party...lots of sugar!

{We haven't even gone trick-or-treating and the house is full of sugar!}

Choffy

{Choffy}

When Mom and I went to the Women's Show before the Women's Fitness

Celebration 5K walk, we sampled the Choffy. Just like coffee is ground coffee beans,

Choffy is ground 100% organic cocao beans. And, let me tell you, it's delicious!

I don't like the taste of coffee, but I enjoy drinking mochas because of their warm, chocolate flavor. Now, I brew Choffy in my French press and add 1 tbsp of flavored creamer.

It contains little to no caffeine, 2o calories and no fat.

My mochas at Starbucks cost $3.02 after tax. A bag of Choffy costs

$15...I quit keeping track after I'd made 15 cups from my bag.

For more information, click on this link.

Emmalee

Dear Emmalee:

I love your "fake" smiles,

and the looks that really are you, that show your
character and just a bit of spitfired-ness (making up words, here).

I love how you love nature,

how you notice the tiny details that I miss.

I love your tender heart.

And I LOVE your dimple.

Sweet girl, thanks so much for being mine.

Nature Walk

Em and I took a walk last week while Ryan was at school.

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm Fall day.

The leaves were just starting to turn.

Emma collected leaves for a leaf book.

Investigating

Our Weekend

The kids and I took a little trip back home to deliver Carly to her

new home. The birthday party was postponed until next weekend since the girls

were sick, but we stopped by and spent a bit of time chatting and playing.

I love their friendship!

I think she likes her!

Ember and Carly

Her momma informed us that Carly didn't leave Ember's

arms for the rest of the evening...that made Emma smile!

Diggin' in!

Ryan had spent the morning at the airport with Hop and

Uncle Max working on Hop's plane. They were home when we got back, and Ryan

had convinced Hop to pull out his old saxaphones. Dad hasn't played these in probably 20 years...he pulled them out of the box and proceeded to play songs! We

were all impressed! One of my earliest memories is Dad standing on the bricks in

front of the woodstove with our dog Brittany at his feet. Dad would be playing

away (quite beautifully), and the dog would have his head up in the air, just

howling up a storm. Now, instead of dogs at his feet, it's the grandkids!

{They are a bit quieter.}

Mom picked Emma a handful of cosmos.

{Mom, I apologize. Somehow I didn't get a photo of you this time!}

Ryan and Dad put the rollbar on "The Flaming Banana."

Then the kids took rides.

Emma didn't want to ride on the road, so Dad just took her around the parking lot.

Posing for a picture...

...before these two take off.

Ryan came back from his ride and pretty much dared me to take

a ride. He thought I'd be too chicken! So, I hopped on and off we went.

Emma, on the other hand, would have much preferred that I stay with her.

As soon as we stopped, she ran up to me and tried to pull me off the bike.

Just a dreamin'

Entertaining ourselves while the boys are on their ride.

These skies were a warning of what was to come.

It poured all day Sunday...kinda felt like we were back in Beaverton!

Two are even better than one

I finally made my first quilt!

And then discovered that twins were expected, so I made another!

i LOVE how they turned out.

Airplane fabric is really hard to find, so I actually bought this over a year ago "just in case."

When I found out that twins were coming, I was very lucky to find some of the

same fabrics at JoAnn's. The twins' daddy is a pilot, so it's gotta be planes!