Pumpkin pose

Kate posed amid the pumpkins for sale at Safeway this afternoon.

Horsey ride

Dada gives Audrey and Kate a horsey ride during a pre-bedtime "pajama dance party."

Homework time

Audrey brought home her first batch of homework from school today, which she diligently got to work on this evening. She did get activities to keep and work on at home last year, and has been filling out and turning in a reading chart for a couple of weeks now, but this was her first official "homework packet," in this case some math worksheets.

BFFs

Audrey and Kate were discussing with each other who their "BFFs" (Best Friends Forever) were. Mama and Dada weren't sure where they picked up the term, but they've decided Kate's BFF is Finley and Audrey's is Hannah.

Back to School Night

Mama and Dada got to see Audrey's classroom, sit at her desk, meet her teacher, and see some of the classwork and art she's worked on so far at Back to School night this evening.

Outing with Hannah and Noah

Audrey and Kate went to dinner in Sellwood with their friends Hannah and Noah. Afterwards, they checked out some metal sculptures that were for sale in an outdoor gallery.

Spuds

Audrey and Kate dug up the potatoes they had planted back in March this afternoon. They had help from several friends, Stella, Olivia, and "big" Kate, a neighbor girl up the street. Audrey and the friends got started after coming home from school and cooling off with popsicles (Audrey also got to show them her LEGO Friends sets and journal). They kept a few potatoes in the ground for Kate to find after coming home from preschool later.

Pretty posing

While on a ride through the neighborhood this evening, Audrey and Kate discovered a yard with a couple of benches that were perfect for picture-posing.

Family camping trip

Right after Audrey's soccer game, she and Kate went home and started packing up for a short camping trip with the families of some of Dada's high school and college friends. As Dada loaded the car, the girls walked down with Mama to block party, where they got to jump around a bit in a bounce house before hitting the road.

As with last year, the campsite was at Silver Falls State Park. Arriving a day later than usual, there was not as much time for the girls to partake of any grand adventures in the park, but they did have lots of fun reconnecting with friends they don't see often, playing in the woods, eating junk food, and telling (non-scary) bedtime stories in the tent.

The next day, they packed up and headed home, stopping in Silverton for a late breakfast. Then it was off to a party for Uncle Keith and Aunt Allison in which they revealed the gender of their baby girl due in January (a girl, as it turned out).

Audrey's first soccer game

Today's was Audrey's first official soccer game, complete with uniform and opponents, the Cubs of the Holy Redeemer Soccer Club. At her level, the girls play three-on-three with no goalie, parents volunteer as the refs, and they don't keep score. Audrey got lots of playing time, and seemed to have a good time.

Chico makes a return visit

As he has several times before, the Heartwood Preschool "pet" Chico came to stay with us a few days. Kate got to be the first kid to bring him home this school year. She and Audrey made sure Chico was properly secured in a seatbelt for the trip. He accompanied Kate on the family camping trip.

Back on the bus

With her teacher and classroom now figured out, Audrey was ready to resume riding the bus to school this morning. It's a different driver than last year, and this one seems more relaxed about where the kids sit (and more relaxed in general), so Audrey got to sit with her friend Stella.

Back to School!

Audrey and Kate headed back to school today. Audrey was nervous at first, but, after meeting her new first-grade teacher, Ms. Melcher, and getting settled into her new classroom, was fine. Mama took her to school and picked her up for the first day back, but tomorrow she plans to take the bus.

Kate seemed ready for her "senior year" at Heartwood. At dropoff she was telling the new kids how to wash their hands, and she and a new friend, Sophie, got right in and started playing at the light table together. Dada had to interrupt them to say goodbye. 

Pedal power

Audrey and Kate wound down their summer vacations with one last trip to swim at Grant Pool. On their way there, they stopped at the food-cart pod on Sandy Blvd. near their house for lunch. Audrey helped make part of their lunch by pedaling a bike-powered blender to make a smoothie.