Well, if last week was Autumn goodness, then this week is winter madness. It is currently snowing outside with lots of cold wind to go with it.

...Which means that ski season is right around the corner! To get ready, we went to the annual ski swap to make sure the kids all had fitting gear. Also, Addy has been asking for a snowboard ever since last winter, got one for her birthday in IOU form, and finally picked it out this weekend. Let the falling begin! She'll be in good company too, because I decided to get some park skis and do some falling of my own this year. Should be a good time. Can't wait.

Last weekend, Rachel and I went to see Miss Saigon. It was a wonderfully depressing show (I really do mean that in the best possible way) with amazing stage effects and some great numbers. It probably wouldn't make my top ten, but it was definitely a nice night out with Rach, capped with a quiet dinner at a nice restaurant and some good conversation about the show.

In other news, the kids are all getting prepared for Halloween. They have their costumes ready, candy is purchased, school projects are done, and Ev is planning a "trunk-or-treat" booth downtown with her youth group. We will carve pumpkins tomorrow, and decorate the yard as soon as the snow melts (which also should be tomorrow).

But Halloween night is supposed to be twelve degrees! Bwahahahaaa! I will be handing out candy from my nice cozy house with both the heater and the fireplace on.

Maren's pumpkin book report sits in her classroom. Gerald and Piggy.

Well...that's about it. Have a good week!

This week was full of Autumn goodness, and one big piece of exciting news for Evelyn and Rachel.

First of all though, I am going to complain a little bit about the weather. I love, Love, LOVE the fall season. The brisk cool air. The colors. The frost in the mornings, followed by beautiful sunny days. The smells of smoke and spices and furnaces and, for some reason, diesel fuel. I don't know why that last one, but it is a part of it for me. The crisp sounds of leaves or frosty grass underfoot. The cozy feeling of wearing a down jacket over flannel while allowing the cold air to nip at your face. All of it, put together, makes for the best season of the year.

However...

This year it was almost forgotten. We went straight from summer in August to a wet and cold September and then straight into snow in October. Snow! We don't usually see our first flurries until around Thanksgiving. People, including us, are scrambling to get their houses, yards, boats, and vehicles ready for the winter and it hasn't left much time to just enjoy the season as it was meant to be. Autumn is fighting back though, like a withered old man refusing to let go of his last tenuous grip on life, and this weekend was able to make a little resurgence. And it was beautiful.

We took advantage of all this niceness and went apple picking at the local hot spot. Besides the apples, there is a large play area for kids which always reminds me of "future world" from the movie "Split Infinity" (Feature Films for Families). Those who know what I'm talking about can thank me later for the memories. Those who don't...don't bother. Anyway, this year was particularly nice because for about an hour Rachel and I were able to leave the kids to their own devices and, caramel latte`s in hand, walk around the area enjoying the acoustic music, country smells, and each other's company. It was a good afternoon. 

Later that weekend, of course, we had to do some baking with our freshly picked fruit. Ahhh, Autumn. It's a glorious thing.

*****

Knowing that our window of sunny days might be short, we also got out this weekend to go on a hike. The destination was "Outlaw Wall," a new climbing area that used to be on private property but is now open to the public. It was a beautiful walk to a not-so-beautiful crag. I know, it's just barely getting developed. I know, it's supposed to be great easy climbing on longish routes. And it's true that I may be a little spoiled, but to me it just looked loose and dirty and...yuck. But it was a beautiful hike.

*****

And now, for the big announcement.

These two beautiful women are headed to Bolivia next summer on a service mission to work in an orphanage! Rach and I have talked about doing things like this with our kids as they grow up to help them get outside of themselves and to give them a broader perspective of the world. When the opportunity came around, we applied knowing that Ev might be a little young, but we found out this week that they accepted her application and that she is on the team! I am really excited for both of them. 

*****

Well...have a good week!

What a week it has been.

Rachel was gone most of the week in Seattle for a work conference. She also got to catch up with a friend from our dental school days who lives in the area. Talking with her, it is obvious that she has had a good week.

Meanwhile, we took advantage of her absence and ate fish for dinner.

And we went exploring. These are pictures from a hike we went- a couple of miles up a mostly dried up creek-bed. Maren's shoes didn't match, and Lindsey was wearing princess heels, but they all did great.

Rachel got home on Sunday evening. Monday morning, the kids went off to school and her and I headed off for a quick climbing trip to Vantage. While there, we met all of our goals. She led 3 climbs- two 5.7s and a 5.8. I did endless laps up moderate cracks (no place better than Vantage for this) in an attempt to develop more efficient technique. I ended the day by doing "Red M&Ms" a thin fingers 12a that I was hoping to be able to do. I very nearly got the onsight too, except that I threw myself off balance on a simple move toward the top. Stupid. Second attempt was an easy send. All said, it was a great day, and we got home in time to tuck the kids in bed and hang out with Evelyn who had been watching them after school got out.

Have a good week!

Well, here we are well into Fall, and we still haven't posted about Jackson and Adalie's birthdays. But first, a brief catch-up of our week:

Maren, Addy, and Jackson all had cross country meets. Addy and Jack both placed in the top ten (I think), and Maren ran the whole way without walking, which was her goal. Lindsey had her kindergarten open house and had fun showing us around her school. Rachel took off for an interpreting conference in Seattle, and had fun listening to the Seahawks game on her drive down. The kids and I all went roller skating at their school fund raiser. 

And all that was just on Thursday. It was a fairly busy day.

Besides cross country, we have Jackson in scouts, Evelyn in band and a weekly youth group, and Addy, Maren, and Lindsey all in different dance classes. Rach has been working more since Lindsey has full-day kindergarten, and the extra time has allowed me to pick up a climbing gym membership where I am able to go (usually) at least once a week. 

Writing all of this down makes our lives, even to me, seem a little exhausting. But honestly, it doesn't feel that way. Usually. I guess we have managed to find a nice balance where everything seems to work. 

*****

Ok. Birthdays. Last week, Rach did an update on each kid so I don't feel like there is much to add. Neither Adalie nor Jackson wanted a big party this year to celebrate; instead, they opted for sleepovers with some of their closest friends (on different nights, so it could be focused on them). There were some planned activities, but for the most part it was just unstructured hang-out time that they enjoyed. I can't believe how big these kids are getting. 10. Wow.

Jack decided on RC boats, nerf guns and a campout for his sleepover. It was nice to have boy activities take over the house!

Jack and his friends with their RC boats

Campfire cupcakes and Nerf wars. Who could ask for more?

Camping with his buddies. As for the bunny ears...Addy is our only child who habitually wears a watch.

They were so proud of the cake they made

Matching PJs

They are so weird when they get together. That's what friends are for, right?

Addy opted for an artistic theme with canvas art, friendship bracelets and cake decorating.

Have a good week!

Now there's a throwback for you- Happy birthday Addy and Jack!