evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

This is from one of the times we visited Evan for lunch downtown (the first trip). We had been walking some time, and soon as I parked the stroller on the pier and Nina was out, she ran off to join these other kids running around in circles. Then she insisted on taking pictures with this giant penguin by a souvenir shop.

Made by Rosalie!

A few nights before Halloween I was putting something together for Nina to eat for dinner. I asked her while she sat in her high chair "What would you like to eat?" She thought about it and then said something in a very serious tone that I didn't even know she knew the word for, "Candy". but it was more like "gawnday" hahaaa She trusted me completely with an honest answer. And she expected that's what she would get! It was too much. i didn't even know she could say that. Out of left field.





We picked up a little pumpkin costume for Nina at goodwill a few weeks ago. Good thing, because I never found her size 2 cat costume which she wore last year and was supposed to fit her this year! She had so much fun at our ward's trunk or treat shin dig on Saturday night.

Her first car or two were baffling to her. That these strangers walking around wearing costumes and standing by their cars will drop food in your plastic bucket. After a while she got used to it and strutted around from car to car, watching her pile of candy grow. You can see by this picture of her and her friend Abby how she is taking all this in, costumes and all.





She got really into the pixie stix

AND This wasn't from Halloween, but they're kind of costumey, so i'm tagging them onto this post!

Ever since my family had a number of exchange students living with us, we've continued a tradition of singing happy birthday japanese-style. "Happy birsaday to you" It does sound a bit.... what's the word... offensive? But as my cousin Rosalie said, "I asked my Japanese friend. That's how they sing it in Japan." i can't argue with that. Not even on my birthday.

This year I got to celebrate my birthday three times, each time with food.

The first celebration was with delicious ethiopian food thanks to the wonderful Kokeb restaurant. They threw a great little party just for us. I got all the wot I could ever want. I embarrassed myself trying to dance ethiopian style. They put a crown and cape on me and fed me baklava with a candle in it.









Kaysi also wore the birthday crown for a bit

The second was more of a Kaysi-Lindsay joint family birthday party. We share our birthday - Nov 7th. It was mostly her party since I'd already had mine! Pictures from that great day:





Nina just wanted to play with and organize the paper plates.

The third celebration was a yummy dinner my mom made this past Sunday. I got to pick anything I wanted. I've been taunted and teased with simple beautiful dishes on that "French Food at Home" cooking show, so she made a few of their recipes. Including chocolate millieux (sp?). mmmm

We met up with our friends the Bowens at the museum back in September. The whole day was one of my favorites since we moved back.









Awkward spinning shots (do you think these would qualify for awkwardfamilyphotos.com?)







There is nothing like relaxing by the puget sound with loved ones on a warm day. Paradise. Everyone was out enjoying the weather and the beautiful green/blue fresh loveliness.

These pictures are from October, back before dayligth savings.

Not to be a whiner but, I HATE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!!! Other than for meeting our (non-existent) early morning agrarian farming lifestyle needs, remind me what purpose daylight savings serves?

Daylight savings means: My girls get up 1-2 hours earlier, extending the length of our day, and it means that if I want any time to myself at all in the day I have to wake up before 7. This means that I have to be in bed before 11 to get enough sleep, so Evan & I will get like maybe one hour alone together every day. Also we can't go to logboom park to wait for evan to arrive on the bus anymore because it's dark at FIVE!!! So those remaining daylight hours fun before bed (which are the hardest hours of the day!!) we have to be indoors. AUGHHH Isn't there someone I can call to complain to about this?

Anyways, from the glory pre-daylight savings days of early fall: