Christmas kickoff

Audrey and Kate kicked off the 2011 Christmas season with some holiday festivities over the weekend. They began on Saturday with breakfast at the Cadillac Cafe to celebrate Honey Grandpa's birthday. That afternoon, they went to Mississippi Avenue to hear Mister Ben and Tyleena Fairy Funkmother perform at a Christmas tree-lighting. Then they went home -- tasting some edamame from a new Japanese restaurant on the way -- where they had Thanksgiving leftovers and decorated mini-Christmas trees with Honey (and Audrey tried on Mama's glasses). On Sunday, they went to the Advent Festival at church, where they got to decorate an Advent log, create some origami ornaments, do some other crafts, and take a few whacks at a piñata. After church, they played together in the Fred Meyer Playland so that Mama and Dada could get some shopping done. Then, after nap time, they helped Mama put up some of the Christmas decorations and drank hot chocolate by the fire. (If the slideshow below doesn't play, click here.)

Beach trip

Audrey and Kate spent time at the family beach condo on the Oregon Coast, which they call the "beach house." While there, they visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, met up with Uncle Keith and Allison for lunch at Mo's, swam in the pool (Audrey's swimming is really coming along now), and ventured out onto the beach during a break in the rain. After they got home, they went to Ikea to help Mama and Dada pick out some new chairs. While there, Audrey asked to go to the playland and was content to stay there until Mama and Dada were ready to go and picked her up (we were quite impressed with her independence). The girls liked the chairs Mama and Dada got, mostly because they came in huge boxes they got to play in. (If the slide show below doesn't work, click here.)

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.

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.)