First snow of the season

We had a couple of VERY cold weeks here (as in, HIGHS in the twenties, which just doesn't happen in the Pacific Northwest.  It was mostly dry, but we did get some snow one day.  It took me all morning to muster up the energy to bundle us all up to head out.  (For some reason, Judson wasn't too excited about it, which definitely didn't help my ambition.  Of course, once I got him out there, he was in heaven and would've stayed out all day.)

I didn't get many pictures, but you get the idea.

 

He didn't fall, but I can't remember what he was doing.

Thanksgiving weekend

We headed to my parents' on Thursday morning.  Actually, we went straight to Morgan and Anna's for a delicious brunch and then transitioned over to my parents'.  Our whole weekend was pretty low-key, which was just perfect.  My mom and I even managed to watch TWO Hallmark movies.  :)

The kids played so well together.  I know I say it a lot, but it is such a blessing to have them so close in age and location.  They simply adore each other.  So, get ready to see lots of kid pictures.  :)

Pre-Thanksgiving dinner pictures:

Pretending to be mad

I look sort of giant here, but I'm not really!

Macy brought her jammies over and it just so happened that we'd packed the same ones for Cooper.

The next morning, we headed to downtown Portland bright and early to meet up with the Nelsons at the Macy's parade, which started at nine.  It was a much bigger parade than anything we've been to, and we had a lot of fun.  (I think the Black Friday craziness helped keep the crowd down...there wasn't any traffic at all.)

Had to take pictures of the trains for our train guy.  :)

We ALL got Frango chocolates.  Score!

We stopped at Starbucks to use the bathroom and buy coffee and Grammie set the kids up with hot cocoa and a snack.  :)

My mom got the kids new jammies so we could attempt a picture to include in her Christmas cards.  Here are a few cute ones.

On Sunday before we headed home, these three had a parade down the hall in Grammie's shoes.  I didn't get the camera out until they added to their outfits (with help from Grammie, of course). :)

You can't really see them, but Cooper wouldn't take my mom's shoes off for a very long time.

Fall Fun

October was unusually gorgeous around here and we spent as much time as we possibly could outside.  (It's a good thing October was gorgeous...it made up for a miserably wet September!) 

This is going to be long.  I'm combining a lot into the one post.  :)

First off, before the crummy September weather hit, we got together with some of the Nelson families at our house.  Crystal took some pictures of us at Willamette University.  Unfortunately, between the kids not really cooperating (nap time didn't go as planned that day) and some funky lighting, Crystal wasn't very pleased with how they turned out.  Here are a couple that are pretty good.

Okay, now on to October.  One Wednesday it wasn't raining, so we decided to check out E.Z. Orchards' pumpkin patch.  We'd gotten a flier in the paper that said weekdays were free, so we headed out to enjoy the petting zoo, pedal tractors, duck races (with water pumps in gutters), and a really fun slide.  Phil, Kristin, and their two foster boys met us there (Bridgett was sleeping, as she was still working graveyard at that point).  The flier had also shown some really tasty-looking caramel apples and Judson REALLY wanted one.  (A few of our fall books have caramel apples in them, so that's what had originally gotten him excited about having one.)

It was more than a little hectic with Phil and the kids there, so I didn't get many pictures.  (If you think of it, please PRAY for him and Bridgett.  The foster boys are out. of. control.)  After they left, we got pumpkin spice donuts and apple cider donuts and this BEAST of a caramel apple.  As you can tell, it made Judson's month.  :)

 We found out that night that the Olsons were going to Bauman Farms the next day, so we joined them after Bible study for more free pumpkin patch fun.  Here's my only picture from that outing.

The NEXT day (yes, the third day in a row!), we met Jess Nelson and her daycare kids at Lee Farms in Tualatin for a little field trip.  Both Dee and Krista Nelson were there, too, so it was lots of fun to catch up.  This time we actually got pumpkins and went for a hay ride.  Once we'd had a picnic and the daycare kids left, my kids sat on lots of different tractors and I told them I'd pay for one additional activity.  They both had a blast and I was so glad I'd "splurged" for something extra.

Why, oh why, can't I get a decent picture of the two of them together?!

Picking out his pumpkin

The hay ride (Dee on the left)

Judson chose to bounce on this thing.  He absolutely loved it, and I loved watching him.  It wasn't that long ago that he wouldn't have been brave enough to go out there alone.

Cooper wanted to ride a pony.  I was a little leery because this summer at the Linn County Fair, after we'd waited in the heat forever (for a FREE ride), she freaked out when it was her turn.  This time, however, I could walk along beside her and she was thrilled.

*Side note to any non-Pacific Northwesters: there are TONS of pumpkin patches around here and they're so much fun!  They're also often quite expensive, however.  Though it was not my intention of visiting three in three days, one must get outside whenever it's not raining around here and it's a fun alternative to parks (which we frequent nearly every day in the summer).  ;)  My kids did go to one other pumpkin patch with my parents and Anna and her kids.  That time they got to ride a little "train" and go in a corn maze.

We've been to the zoo twice this fall.  It's definitely my favorite time to go!  My parents, Anna, and the kids met us this particular time.

We only go in the Lorikeet aviary when my parents are along.  I'm completely unnerved by the birds swooping inches away from me.  Thankfully one has never landed on me, but they've landed on both my parents.  Yikes!  No idea what Judson was doing here. 

Cooper insisted on wearing her giraffe shirt, because Macy did the time before.  She was very excited that Macy had worn hers again.  Such sweet cousins!

Lunch

Whew!  Now I'm caught up on our fall activities.  I still plan to go back and finish up a few more summer events.  Time will tell if that's going to happen.  Speaking of time, we only have about nine weeks until Baby comes!  Between two major holidays, house projects (mostly organizing and such), and everyday life, (s)he will be here before we know it!  And, no, I am not yet mentally prepared.  My two big kids and I really have a nice routine going these days...