Christmas Tree is Up!

We all worked really hard and finally got the Christmas tree up and decorated! And with only 2 glass ornament casualties!

Evan's Thanksgiving Day - Do The Turkey Boogie

I don't know if it gets any cuter than this!

Evan's Thanksgiving Day

All 4 Kindergarten classes put on a Thanksgiving program this morning. Evan was given a speaking part and practiced for a few weeks. Here's his big debut!

Fall City Farm

After the Fall Festival, we went to Fall City Farm to get some pumpkins. We were also planning on picking some vegetables from their UPick garden, but found out they're not doing that this year. Very disappointing. :( Evan was looking forward to digging up potatoes and cutting the zucchinis and lettuce.

Fall Festival Animals

The kids enjoyed their time at today's Fall Festival, but one of their highlights was the animal area. They had a bunch of animals available to touch, hold, observe and even adopt. There was a table with snakes, cockroaches and a lizard that the kids were at first leary of, but warmed up to very quickly. Evan loved the snakes.

There were also: pygmy hedgehogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets and a wallaby! The kids could also sit and have a bunny in their lap. Evan really took to the bunnies and said he wanted to have a bunny. Sorry kiddo, not happening.

Camp Korey Fall Festival

Today we went to Camp Korey's Fall Festival in Carnation and had such a great time! There was a corn maze (Evan and Isabel running in the above pic) and your goal was to find the fire pit within the maze to make smores! Yum! We also got a tractor ride, which Ellena was really looking forward to! Lunch was delicious - pumpkin pancakes and hamburgers!

Karate Belt Testing

Last night Evan had his first belt testing for karate and he did awesome! Such focus, determination and effort! He should be getting his yellow belt next week - exciting times!

We got to sit inside the classroom and Ellena got a little restless, since I was snapping all the pictures of Evan. So she decided to swoop in front of camera as I was aiming at Ev. Stinker!

Grandma and Grandpa were able to watch the testing as well - their first time seeing Evan in action. They were very impressed!

Another Fishing Trip

Last Sunday Evan and Pops were back on the river with Uncle Ring, determined to catch a fish. They went on the boat for a few hours in the morning and Evan came back with 2 pink salmon. (We ate it that night for dinner!) Ellena and I joined them later for lunch and some time on the river and tending to the chickens.

Rustic Apple Pie

Today Ellena and I got to visit Evan's Kindergarten class - what a treat! We helped the children make "Rustic Apple Pie". We'll be baking it tonight for dessert!

River Time

Thanks to Uncle Ring and Aunty Jane, we have been spending lots of time on the river. Evan is learning how to fish from Uncle Ring and is loving it. He can cast on his own and has hooked a salmon and a trout. So far, he's the only one to catch anything out of the river! He hopes to catch something that we can cook and not just release back to the river. :) Ellena enjoys walking along the riverbank and looking for special rocks.

Here's the salmon Evan caught - huge!

Big Day for Evan

Evan had a momentous day on Tuesday, Sept. 27. He lost his first tooth! It had been wiggling for quite some time and after going out for a sweet treat, he played with his tooth a little and showed me how it was barely hanging on. On our drive home, he said, "Mom, you are not going to believe this." "Did your tooth fall out?" "Yeah, and it's bleeding all over." So on our drive home, I'm passing kleenex to the backseat and by the time we get home (5 minutes max), the bleeding has stopped. He has mentioned that he hoped the tooth fairy would bring him a penny, so we gave him $5 and a penny. He woke up excited the next day and asked what I used to get from the tooth fairy. When I told him a quarter, he said, "When am I going to get a quarter?!" Uh, hello, you have $5!

The other big thing that happened that day was after school, Evan exclaimed with a big smile on his face, "Mom! I have a girlfriend!" Huh? He has never talked about girlfriends or anything like this before so I was a little floored. He said he played soccer with the boys and a little bit of tag with his girlfriend at recess. He couldn't remember her name, but recognized her when she walked out of school. When I asked him what having a girlfriend means he said, "Well, she's a girl and she's my friend." Ah, makes sense. But the way he talks about her with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes makes me think there might be a little something more there. :) You can be sure he doesn't talk about his buddies the same way!

Happy Anniversary, Grandma & Grandpa!

We went out to dinner to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's wedding anniversary. We tried the new WildFin restaurant in Issaquah - food was ok/pretty good and there were a few kinks that still need to be worked out (they were only open for a few days).

Evan's Soccer

Evan has a few more weeks remaining in his soccer program. Soccer took a break in the summertime, when he picked up swim and karate lessons. Evan has since decided that swim and karate were much more fun and declared he doesn't like soccer. He missed the last couple weeks due to rainy weather and getting over an ear infection, and I'm sure he was not put out to miss soccer practice. But he sure looks adorable in his uniform!

Ellena & Her Cats

Ellena has become very attached to Piko and Poki... well, more Piko than Poki. The kids hold a grudge against Poki because she takes their stuffed animals, carries them around in her mouth and licks them as if the furry friends were her babes. Piko went through a medical scare (end result - detached retina and lost vision in his right eye, confirmed hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure and low potassium = 2 transdermal meds that we rub into his ears and potassium chew treats; thankfully he is doing well on the meds and even gaining some weight!) and Ellena made sure to check on Piko throughout the day. He now tolerates her snuggles and makes it a point to visit her during our bedtime tuck-in.

This picture cracks me up because Piko is in the middle of begging for food. He gets very vocal when he thinks it's time for mid-afternoon snacks. He paces around the kitchen and meows and I happened to catch him mid-meow.

Ellena & Poki

Karate

Ellena and Evan had a couple months of karate classes through a Living Social deal. They both really enjoyed it. However, Ellena was not quite ready to take the classes on her own. I sat in the classroom and sometimes held her hand when she needed a little boost of support. Evan loved it and asked to continue even after the deal was over. We moved him up to the next level of classes (5-6 year olds) and they continue to challenge him every week. He has his first belt "testing" next week, to move up to a yellow belt. I'm probably more anxious about it than Evan, but know that he will do great!

Evanism & Ellena-antic

Last night's Evanism - We went out to get a frozen yogurt treat. The sun had set and Evan was so stoked. I guess he does not go out of the house at night... EVER. He could not stop looking around at how different the world is in the dark. "Wow, I can see the MOON!" "There are lights everywhere! It looks like Christmas!" "Will the stars come out later?"

Today's Ellena-antic - We were filling up gas and I told Ellena to look at the car pulling out. I told her it was a fancy car. It zoomed off and even when idling, it was super loud. I told Ellena that car is called a Maserati. She then asked, "Is that going to be my car?"

Today's "Wag of the Finger" for Momma - I dropped the kids off at school and drove into Bellevue and back, in time to get Ellena. On my way back, it dawned on me - I can't use the carpool lane anymore! Good thing the tint is dark and I didn't get pulled over! I'm just so used to using the carpool lane - "Give me a break, Mr. Officer! I've been using this lane for 6 years!" Oops. Will have to remember this for next time.

Evan turned in his first homework assignment this week - it included pictures about himself and his favorite things. We needed to get a family picture, so we set the timer on the camera and got a good one of the four of us. I've posted one of the six of us (furry friends included).

Ellena's First Day of School

Today is Ellena's first day of school - she attended summer school with Evan, but today is her first day without big brother in the class. She's such a clown.

This is probably a pretty accurate picture of what Ellena was feeling as we waited in the drop off line. A little sad, scared and nervous.

Drop off went pretty smoothly. Mrs. Robertson, although not one of Ellena's teachers, is still familiar to Ellena because she walked Evan into school many times over the last three years. Like a pro, she swooped in, unbuckled Ellena and helped her out of the car. They went to unload another student and then walked into school together. No tears, no fussing. I think Ellena was a little surprised with how fast it all went down. Pops is patting himself on the back since he believes it's his presence today that kept the tears at bay.

Ellena's Open House

After dropping Evan off at Kindergarten, we headed to Ellena's school for her Open House. She got to show me around her classroom and do some of her favorite works. She was quite tickled that I went with her to school. Tomorrow is her first day without Evan and without Momma. I am anticipating tears and perhaps a tantrum, but she will eventually be ok.

Evan's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Evan's first day of Kindergarten! He was a little excited, a little nervous and scared, and a little worried about not knowing anyone in his class. But he did great and we couldn't be prouder of our big boy! He took home lunch today, but is anxious to buy lunch at the "cafe" when it's chicken nugget day. So funny, my Plateau boy calls the cafeteria the cafe! We look forward to a fantastic year for Evan!

Here he is when he finished his first day. What a smile!

Seattle Sounders Soccer Game

We won two tickets to the Sounders game and with one of Grandpa's season tickets, we were able to go to our first (me and Ellena) and Tommy and Evan's second Sounders game. It was a blast! We ate lunch together in the main concourse area and got to our seats about 12 minutes into the game - the Sounders had already scored twice by then!!! The score ended up being 6-2 - wow! So much fun!

Lemonade with Uncle Stu

The kids insisted on making fresh squeezed lemonade with Uncle Stu - lots of hard work, but soo, soo tasty! Thanks, Uncle!

Anniversary Dinner

We celebrated our 7th anniversary at John Howie - yum! Evan made it a formal affair with his painted on mustache!

School Bus Ride

Our school district bus drivers put together a way to introduce riding the school bus to students entering Kindergarten. We got to go on a bus ride and learn safety rules. Look how happy the kids are to be riding the bus! Needless to say, it was a grouchy morning for all. Kids were in a bad mood, my neck was really bugging me, and once we started moving, I flashed back to the elementary school field trip to Lahaina that made me car sick and turn green. Fun times for all!

Summer BBQ with the Mommy Group

Evan "met" these friends when he was 8 weeks old and we've stayed in touch ever since. Can't believe how quickly the years have gone by!

It also happened to be Ivy's birthday, so Miss Wendy made some fancy cake pops that looked like ice cream cones. Yum!

Ellena's Birthday Party @ Little Gym

Ellena had her birthday party at the Little Gym. This was her first time inviting friends to her birthday party and she was absolutely tickled. When it was her birthday on Tuesday, I said, "Good morning! It's your birthday today! You're 3 years old now!" She responded with her daily question, "Is today my birthday party?" Sorry, that's Saturday. Well, the day finally arrived and she had a blast! We're so glad her buddies could attend and help us celebrate our big girl's birthday! The above picture was taken as we were loading up - Ellena was excited!

Ellena & Jelina - 2 swinging monkeys

Blow out the candles, Ellena!

Wrangling cats!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ellena!

On July 26, Ellena turned 3 years old! She had a special birthday circle at school and she got to be the line leader for recess time. I surprised them with McDonald's happy meals for lunch and then we went out to dinner with Grandma, Grandpa & Uncle Stu. Ellena got to pick the restaurant and she chose her favorite place - Similan Thai. The girl loves her tofu pad see ew! We then came back for her blue cake (homemade chocolate cake with homemade strawberry jelly in the middle, covered in homemade buttercream frosting - Ellena chose blue this year) and presents.