Monday, October 31, 2011

Desert Fall


The desert fall so far has been mostly just hot, but it hasnt stopped us from getting out and pretending that leaves turn colors here too! Fall is my favorite time of year for this midwestern gal, even in the desert. We went to two pumpkin patches. First one just the four of us where we got to play western games (pretty much just climbing around on hay bails for Will and Ada), sit on a tractor, pet some mules and bunnies, and take a hay ride drawn by horses! Second time around was with Tia and Uncle AJ at the Desert Botanical Gardens. They took Ada and Will on a pony ride --Will signed "more" when it was all done--and loved running through the corn maze with them.

Then of course the trick or treating! Halloween is one of our two steadfast holidays we get to be an adopted Doneski, so we packed up and spent the evening with "Grandma" Linda and "Grandpa" Mike, the Murrays, and our pals Sofia and Leah (parents Steve and Kiva too!). I undertook my first costume making experiment with the kids this year, and in true toddler form, they wanted NOTHING to do with it the morning of Halloween. So they wore what they wore, and I still think they looked adorable! Didnt take Will long to get the hang of trick or treating this year. One house and he understood he was to run right up to each house and knock on the door. He led the clan without reservation around the neighborhood. Ada hung back with Leah, bringing up the rear, but was very good at taking "just one" from each persons dish. Then to get back to the house! One pack of smarties each, and they were bouncing all over the place the rest of the night! Buncha kids. Then I ate three Almond Joys. What of it?!

"Hi!"
Ada with death grip on her first pony.


Hay ride with Tia and AJ!

Fall cutie.
Halloween tat. Totally like, the coolest.

Chasing AJ in the corn maze.

The winner!
Cowboys and fiddles and a pumpkin patch. 
Found his pumpkin. Both baking in the sun.
Best of like a hundred uncle-aunt-pumpkin picture attempts.
But here my FAVORITE uncle-aunt-pumpkin picture! So awesome.

Painting our pumpkins. Here, at just starting.

Here, at finish! They turned out great. And Ada didnt want to take her paint shirt off.

Happy Halloween! Pre-trick or treat playing with our bud Chase.

Love birds! Ada and Will wore they're home made wings for exactly two minutes--snapshot! Gotcha Ada!
Blurry Will back shot, love bird. Adorable right?!

Mom and Dad were the trees.

Mom and her unused wings.
Hand over the candy dad...

Smarties heaven.


Happy Halloween!







Thursday, October 13, 2011

Seattle!





We took a family vacation together the beautiful Pacific Northwest. James and I had not been back to Seattle since the year with left, four years ago. It felt like just yesterday though, as we pulled out from the airport, Mt. Rainier at our back, the Puget Sound to our left, and the city skyline straight ahead. Grandma Cindy and Chip also came along to make it a smashing 60th birthday celebration! We had an amazing time catching up with the city we love so much, the landscape we still dream of, and family and friends we miss so. Oh, and the coffee! Did I mention we had five days of 60degree, sunny, blue, OCTOBER Seattle skies? Indeed, the gods looked favorably on our return! :)

Two toddlers. Five days. Seven checked bags.

Airport fun. Dad with the kids watching planes and trucks. Will would sign "more" after each one passed.

Will would have been content had that been the whole of the trip!
Go time! Operation flying with two 20 month olds! 

Ada looking like an old hat. "Bee" got a luggage tag.

Minivanning it in Seattle. Definitely new for us!

Uncle Ed and Aunt Erin were amazing hosts to us, letting Will and Ada have at them. They loved hanging out with them, "helping" harvest the last of the seasons raspberries, and taking Nabina's toys for a spin. They also hosted a twin babysitting night so mom and dad could hit the town grown-up style! Such a treat to spend as much time with them as we were able to. James and I literally wish we lived next door! ;)
When we weren't at Ed and Erin's we were crashing our dear friends Hayley and Thayer's pad! We loved the extra time spent with them,  seeing their new house, catching up with the cats Stu and Frank, and practicing our piano. We also took a great walk in downtown Renton where we saw Salmon swimming upstream to spawn. With a latte, of course. Perfect!
Just hanging out with Grandma on her birthday. We got lots of park time in Seattle.

Green Lake. Off roading to follow ducks.

Skippy showing us around her 'hood. We spotted a squirrel! Note Chips hat, courtesy of Will.



Skippy family shot. 



Grandma had a great idea to check out the Chittenden Locks during Salmon season. We caught the eye of one lone salmon in the ladder, but plenty a boat traffic. 

Two great days with family at Ed and Erin's cabin in Dabob Bay. Here, the morning scene. 



Ada "cheese".

The kids love borrowing Nabina's lizards. They "hopped" (aka got hurled) all over the cabin.
Cabin lounging.

with iPad, naturally.


The. Best.Toy.Ever.

Ready for our morning beach hike.



Destination. 




Lunch (Oysters).

Walk before birthday dinner.







Seattle Aquarium. Really fantastic actually.




Will seal watching. Amy Will watching.


Look! Fall! It exists!

Desert kid amazed at products of fall. Like being in a wonderful, foreign land!