Shower time

Audrey took her first shower today. She said it felt like being in "a big fountain."

Class dismissed

Today was Audrey and Kate's last day of tumbling class.

Carousel Cuties

Audrey and Kate celebrated Brin's 5th birthday and enjoyed their first carousel ride at Salem's Riverfront Park.

Fall farming

Audrey and Kate helped plant seeds for a winter crop of veggies in our garden today. They were joined by Chico, a class "pet" from Audrey's preschool that each of the kids gets to bring home for a few days.

Kitchen's closed

Kate's breastfeeding days appear to be over. She hasn't nursed since just before Labor Day, and while she does occasionally still ask to, she's easily talked out of it. Her nursing, unlike her sister's, thus ended at age two with a whimper rather than a bang: Audrey abruptly stopped nursing when she was nine months old, during a bout of the flu, which stressed Mama and Dada out. Thankfully Mama had saved up some milk we could mix into her mush.

Prepping for Halloween

The girls test-drive new witch costumes Mama got them for Halloween this year.

Lil' kicker

Audrey braved wet weather this morning to give soccer a try at a free introductory class.

Dancing duo

Audrey and Kate started a tumbling class together this week at the Laurelhurst Dance Studio. The teacher is Miss Erica, who was also Audrey's teacher when she was taking ballet lessons. It was advertised for 2- to 5-year-olds and as a good class for siblings to take together, but it seems a little more geared towards the younger kids. They both seemed to enjoy it, though. Audrey is the tallest kid in the class, and Kate is the shortest.

Vroom vroom!

Audrey and Kate got a rare treat today: a chance to ride their bikes in the street, which had been closed off for a block party. They also got to swim at Grant Pool one last time before it shuts down for the season, after which they each had a snow cone to cool down before the hot bike ride home.

Flower children

Audrey and Kate enjoyed their stay at the Oregon coast. On the way home today we stopped at Aunt Jan and Uncle Dennis' place. We got to see some of Aunt Jan's cracker-making operation, as well as the huge garden of a neighbor, Mary, who let the girls pick out a flower they could have. Audrey picked a purple dahlia called "Rip City." Kate didn't feel like picking, so Mary selected for her a red dahlia that was just about as big as Kate's head (as demonstrated by Kate in the photo).

Go fly a kite

It was a gorgeous day today at the Oregon Coast. We went to Nehalem Bay State Park, where Audrey flew her first kite and found her first sand dollar. The girls cooled off in the waves, slid down sand hills, and blew some bubbles.

Sunny day at the beach

Audrey and Kate on the beach in Manzanita with Neahkahnie Mountain in the background. They had just come from the Manzanita Farmers Market, where they got to see Aunt Jan working at her table selling her crackers and got their face or arm (Kate) painted (hence the blotches on Audrey's face). They are staying at Honey and Honey Grandpa's trailer near Nehalem.