Halloween night

Getting ready for trick or treating.

Charis did great standing still and not touching her face. I was really impressed.Charis really wanted to be a skeleton and asked several times before I agreed. But look at her, isn't she cute. And a little scary.

Daddy and Charis.

We went trick or treating with our new friends that live down the street.

Weird family photo.

We all had a great night and have lots of candy to show for it. Charis loves getting dressed up anytime but getting candy makes it even better.

Halloween day

On Halloween day, Kris had to work and Charis and I went over to a friends house to help set up a fall festival for a refugee group that we have started helping a little.

We made a fishing game for the festival. The kids were excited to help place the Nemo characters. I also brought stuff for the kids to paint some small pumpkins and they had a lot of fun.

The other two kids got dressed up right before we left and Charis was excited to see their costumes. We had a fun day of playing and working.

Pumpkin carving

We carved our pumpkin at the last minute this year and over two nights. Charis and I started by cutting the top off and scooping out the seeds.

Since Charis is not old enough to use the knife and actually carve her own pumpkin, we have started a tradition. The last two years she has made a face on the inside top of the pumpkin. What a fun little thing to do to include her a little more.

Then Kris did a little carving of the eyes on the first night with directions from Charis.

The second night Kris carved a funny mouth requested by Charis. Charis also wanted the pumpkin to have a carrot nose.

We used a green flashlight to test it out.
Even though we had to do it over two nights and did not have very much time, we all had fun and Charis loved the final pumpkin face.

Nut's present

Nut got Charis a very special present. But she was asleep when he came over. So Kris gave it to her and showed her the picture.

Thanks Nut! She loves it.

A thank you picture to send to Nut.

Imitating from memory - watching Katy play.

Simple gifts

After waiting the eight weeks that new parents are required to wait, I was very excited to attend my first Simple Gifts. Simple Gifts is a weekly event at Charis' school. The whole school attends, and the students can choose to sing songs and dance. Some dances are for everyone and some are just for some grades. Charis loves Simple Gifts and gets up and dances to any that they let her. The "band" and the older children singing.
The young kids singing.

Charis is very distracted in this video, but it a glimpse of what it is like.

Help, explore, play

After school on Friday, Charis and I spent the afternoon getting our garden beds finished. We tore out two beds and built and filled four new stone beds to match the existing ones. Also lots of weeding and fall vegetable planting.
Charis helped a little, explored a little...
And then played a little.Charis loves play dough, but I hate it. I don't know maybe the smell, or clean up? So I try to let her play with outside.

Fun pictures

Some fun or just funny pictures!Lunch for a sick Charis on the couch. (Which is against mommy's rules!)

Daddy's shoes.She loves listening to music on daddy's ipod.

Walking in the wet

After months of drought and 100 degrees days...something like fall is here. It's still yo-yo-ing between humid 90's and surprise 50's. Wearing more than shorts and halter tops is still a novelty at this point, and a welcome change.

Chica doesn't care for storms, but loves rain walks, so we did our first one since forever ago. With our jackets dusted off, drinks, and a camera we headed out.

I love how Austin switched from moisture-starved browns to lush greens in such a short time. It feels more like our time in the Northwest in comparison. Never saw any purple cactus in Oregon though!

I highly encourage this activity...leaf-boat races and hand holding a must. Happy Fall y'all!