Halloween haul

Audrey and Kate had a great Halloween! Audrey helped make a spooky dinner of "mummy dogs." Ingrid and Paul joined us for trick-or-treating. Mama put some makeup on Audrey and Ingrid to make their witch costumes extra spooky. Kate was a reluctant witch; she refused to wear her witch hat. We hit most of the houses on our street, then headed towards the "holiday house" on Alameda. Just like last year it was quite the spectacle, with an Elvis impersonator, a huge crowd, and a KGW News crew filming it all (Elvis gave Audrey a candy, but Dada was too slow with the camera and didn't get a picture). At about 8:00 we headed home, making one last stop at Audrey's preschool friend Charlie's house to see his costume and get one more piece of candy. Back at home, the girls counted their loot, kept a few pieces for themselves, and then saved the rest to give to the "Candy Witch", a friendly witch who needs candy to build her candy house. If you set out candy for her Halloween night, she'll say "thank you" by leaving a present or two for you to discover the next morning. (Click here if the slideshow doesn't play.)

Somersaulting

After the tumbling class Audrey and Kate took together ended, Audrey started up ballet again and we signed up Kate for her own tumbling class at the Montavilla Community Center. Here Kate practices her somersaults.

Pumpkin prep

Audrey and Kate got their pumpkins ready for Halloween yesterday. And this evening they had a dry run of trick-or-treating at Grandpa David and Judy's house. They're all prepped for the big day tomorrow!

Zero hour

Kate just said goodbye to her deedees. We told her we'll be sending them to babies who need them. Hopefully we can all get through the next few days without getting too frazzled.

Last night with deedee

Well, if Mama and Dada can keep their resolve, the plan is to take away Kate's "deedee" (pacifier) tomorrow. She's had it since soon after she was born, so it's not going to be easy. We've heard differing theories as to how best to do it, and decided to opt for the cold-turkey route rather than dragging things out. She got to pick out a new blanket-bear we hope she attaches to as a replacement. Wish us all luck; it could be a rough few days.

Mallrats

When they can talk Dada into taking them, the girls like to go to the Lloyd Center Mall. Sometimes we drive and sometimes we take the MAX. Their first stop is usually a little Japanese stationary and gift shop on the basement level next to Ross. It's called Morning Glory, but the girls call it the "Hello Kitty store" because of all the Hello Kitty-branded trinkets and tchotchkes for sale there. (There is a retail shop for Sanrio -- the company that owns the Hello Kitty brand -- at Pioneer Place, but Dada doesn't usually feel like venturing that far into town on his weekday off). They get to pick out a small, inexpensive item, which often ends up being stickers. Then they usually play for a bit at the indoor play area, after which it's off for a treat enjoyed while watching the ice skaters. Today in the rink was someone skating around in a large Halloween clown costume/puppet with a head and arms controlled with long sticks. It was fun watching him for a bit, but when Dada saw from a distance that it was supposed to be an evil-clown costume, he quickly took the girls to go see something else before the performer could get too close (lest a lifelong fear of clowns be born).

Pinkalicious!

Mama won two tickets to Pinkalicious: The Musical this evening, so she and Audrey went to see it. Pinkalicious was a favorite book of Audrey's, and she really liked the stage version as well. Her favorite part of the show was the part with Dr. Wink.

Pancakes and apples with Jackson

Audrey and Kate had a fun fall outing with their friend Jackson this morning. It started with a trip to Slappy Cakes on SE Belmont, where they got to make pancakes on a griddle built right into their table. For their pancake toppings, the kids chose blueberries, chocolate chips, and bacon (because everything tastes better with bacon!). After breakfast, they walked to Portland Nursery on Stark Street for the annual Apple Festival. There, the three painted baby pumpkins, tested out some jump ropes and hula hoops, got their face or arm painted, and had some popcorn and fresh-squeezed apple cider. They also got to taste-test a wide variety of apples and pears. Kate was quite into the tasting, trying just about all the apples and pears available, asking what each was called, and repeating back their names. Prompted by some activities sponsored by Kellogg's, Ethan as a joke got Audrey, Kate, and Jackson chanting, "No, no, GMO!" They really liked that, and kept chanting it for the rest of their time at the Festival. They were very cute little activists! (If the slide show below doesn't work, click here.)

Picnic with Uncle Keith

Audrey and Kate helped Keith celebrate his graduation from radiology tech school with a picnic at Wilshire Park. Kate insisted we take a picture of her showing her teeth, perhaps because we have a little ditty we sing while getting ready for bed that goes, "Brush, brush, brush your teeth, just like your Uncle Keith." Or maybe she was showing off how her front two top teeth seem to be closing up, such that her grin is now a little less gap-toothed.

Shower power

Following her big sister's lead three weeks ago, Kate took her first shower this evening. We were skeptical, as she likes to play in the bathtub and is not a fan of getting her head wet, but she actually liked the shower so much that she didn't want to get out.

Indoor recreation

Audrey and Kate returned to the indoor park and art park at the Montavilla Community Center this morning after several months away. With the wetter, colder weather upon us, there are fewer opportunities to play outside. Thankfully, the indoor parks offer an inexpensive way for the girls to get out of the house and let off some steam. The girls made Halloween decorations, played with "Floam," bounced on the trampoline, and tired Dada out by making him push them around in the Cozy Coupes. As is the custom when Dada takes them, the playtime was followed up with a trip to the Burgerville across the street.

Back to the pumpkin patch

Just over a week since their trip with Lily to the pumpkin patch, Audrey and Kate enjoyed another round of pumpkin picking today on a field trip for Audrey's preschool. In addition to taking a hayride, running a hay maze, and looking at farm animals, they got to see a cider press in action. In the pictures below, Audrey and Kate pose with pumpkins and Audrey's friend Cecily, and Audrey and friends (left to right) Nora, Adeline, and Cecily cheer on the cider press.

Family trip to Camp Sherman, October 14-17, 2011

Audrey and Kate enjoyed hanging out with cousin Elsa and many other family members during a trip to Camp Sherman in Central Oregon this weekend. They particularly liked staying in a cabin at Lake Creek Lodge, getting lots of attention from everyone, and eating lots of yummy desserts. Many thanks to great-grandpa Darrel for hosting the trip, to Mark and Sharon for preparing the bountiful and delicious food, and to Sharon, Judy, Grandpa Dave, and Carol for the activity books, Halloween masks, toys, and cute sweaters. (Click here if the slideshow doesn't play.)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

The girls accompanied Dada as he delivered the neighborhood newsletter today. They pitched in and dropped a few on doorsteps themselves before losing interest. As thanks for their patience, they got to warm up with a beverage from Starbucks (also known as "Honey's cookie place").

A trip to the pumpkin patch with cousin Lily

The rain held back long enough this past Sunday for Audrey and Kate to enjoy a trip to the pumpkin patch with cousin Lily and her parents and GG and Grandpa David. We went to Baggenstos Farms in Sherwood, not too far from GG's house. In addition to picking their pumpkins, the girls got to take a hayride (twice, at Kate's insistence), dig for potatoes, run through a tunnel and corn maze, check out a John Deere tractor, and enjoy a caramel apple. (If the photo slide show below doesn't play, the album is available in Picasa.)

Cake bakers

Audrey and Kate helped Dada make a cake for Mama's birthday today. They were given the important jobs of spatula-licking, frosting-tasting, and sprinkle application. Kate tasted a glob of frosting a little too early in the process and discovered the hard way that unsweetened chocolate is rather yucky-tasting.

Mama's home!

After a fun day with GG, the girls went with Dada to the airport to welcome Mama back from her trip to Washington, DC.

Visit with Grandpa Dave

Grandpa Dave came over on Sunday with some fall and Halloween decorations for the girls and a new ballet outfit for Audrey. They modeled their Halloween costumes for him.