Pumpkin patch trip

School kids picked up

Hayden and I picked up the kids from school. They were so excited for this trip to get pumpkins with Rowan, Katie and Evie.

We're at the PUMPKIN PATCH

Courtney carried a sleeping Evie while the other kids posed for a picture near the van before setting out to explore. Rowan was happy to be there, since he was missing out on his class trip to a pumpkin patch in their area.

Pay no attention to the sign, I think Lys and I are priceless.

Giant Hay Pyramid

I saw this huge haystack the last time I was out there to pick up produce and was hoping to bring the kids out to play on it.  We had a few minutes before the tractor came to take us out to the pumpkin field so the cousins clamored up to the top.

Hayride out to the fields

The fantastic four had to scrunch up for the first part of the ride as the hay bale next to Genevieve was coming apart.  It was replaced and they all had a front row seat.

Garrett sat in the back row with the Uncles.

What a beautiful day to pick pumpkins!

Waiting for our ride back

We got back to the barn and paid for our pumpkins. After loading them all into the van the kids went over to the animal barn and then climbed on the farm equipment in the play area.

Heading for home

Genevieve rode out to the farm with the guys and me in the convertible with the top down. She wanted to ride in the van on the way home.  Rowan had a warm enough jacket to ride with Uncle Cam in the back seat. He thought it was "cool" in more ways than one.  Our days of traveling with the top down are numbered for this year. I'm taking advantage of every one of them though.

I snapped a couple of parting shots as we got out to the highway. The u-cut flowers were so pretty with the late afternoon sun shining on them. The final one is the sun starting to drop below the West-hills.
We had a terrific trip to the island.

NW natives return to Oregon

PDX.... they've arrived!

The scheduled arrival time of Alyssa and the kids' flight was 7:55. I luckily checked the website and they were making good time and would arrive at 7:31. We got to the airport at 7:30  and saw that they had arrived at 7:42. I think I'm confused.

They're really here!

 I love Skype! These guys have been gone for 9 months and yet they know us. Everyone was pretty anxious to get to the house as they were operating on east coast time and way past everyone's bedtimes.

Baby Evie didn't play strange at all. She came right to us. Such a sweet snuggley girl. Katie was pretty proud to be sitting back with "the Uncles".

Tired dolly

 She was so tired, but very cute with her new blankie though. 

The next morning

 Getting 15 people out of the house by 9 a.m. is quite a feat. Harlan, Krystle and Hayden headed out on their own and I ran the 3 school kids up there for 8:20. Back at home, Joylynn, Alyssa and Courtney had the kids ready to load into the van and we drove to the west side to bring Joylynn home.

Fred Meyer - how you've changed

Alyssa got to get her Fred Meyer fix. There's not much familiar about our Hollywood west store but the stuff is the same, just in different places. The katz-n-jammer kids were back together! We stopped at the OSU gear and put hats on the two year olds. You have to get creative when you have toddlers and crawlers traveling in the same cart. Evie was tied to the cart handle with her sweater tie.

Everyone posed while Courtney took a picture near the fireplace and I picked up some snacks. They made short work of the fruit we bought and began exploring and wandering.

 Coffee breaks aren't leisure affairs when you've got preschoolers.

Enjoying time with these dollies

I have plenty of pink and purple and girly stuff around here with Genevieve and Danika's stuff but having these little girls in paisley skirts and puffed sleeves makes me so happy!

I'm loving every minute so far. Katie tried out the wings that will be part of her Halloween outfit. They look so natural it's almost easy to believe she is a real pixie.

Gramma blankies X 2

Getting ready for Katie and Evie

I wanted to make a special quilt for each of the girls to use while they are visiting here. I've had the fabric for Evie's for some time but I picked up the cute umbrella fabric for Katie's last week.

It was getting down to the wire. It takes about 3 1/2 hours per quilt from yard goods to ready to wash quilt. 

 I cut them out on Saturday, did a tiny bit of sewing on them on Sunday, including the embroidery.

Monday, I brought them with me to snip seams while waiting for the kids up at the school. Finally sewed all of the columns together, snipped the final seams and washed them this afternoon

Finished and ready to snuggle

 The quilts need to be shaken out a bit more to get all of the little snips of threads off of them but they are ready for the girls to use tonight. 

I do have some fabric to make one for Rowan sometime this coming week. He still has the "Gramma Blankie" I made for him here.

Impatiently waiting!!!

They are on their way.  We are soooo excited.

 Tomorrow I hope to post pictures of the girls with their blankets.

Alyssa is looking forward to visiting Fred Meyer first thing.

I guess there's no place like it.

October! You're so lovely

Hurray for harvest

October always reminds me of my dad. Probably because his birthday is this month but I think it's more of a feeling. October to me is the beginning of coziness. Time to start eating warm soups and fresh bread. Watching football and wearing sweaters. The colors of autumn are amazing too! 

Fred Meyer Photo shoot

I took tons of pictures at Fred Meyer today of the glorious flowers and fall displays. This display was missing one flower pot so Garrett filled the space ;0)

I must complement these folks on the terrific job they do of setting up their products.  

Very nice and picturesque!

My memory fails me sometimes

No Godivas or Emperors this Friday. 

It's Picture Day at the school. I should have put "sign forms" and "send money" on the calendar too.

The October b'day girl

Genevieve is a sweet one that will be 7 on the 11th of the month. She has a cute little grin here, but I want her to smile with all her jack-o-lantern teeth gaps on her birthday.

This display inside of the garden center was missing 3 pots of flowers! 

A perfect place for three precious people to pose!

It's a Danika game!

She is a funny girl with her asking, "What's the word on the street?" when she saw "No Parking" painted on the road. She's getting to recognize all kinds of letters and words.  Still it will be a little while before we can buy this game for her.

Illusion of full blown fall

I took a picture of this water tower and the colorful leaves in the sunshine. It made it seem like there was a maple in full color. Not quite. There is maybe an eighth of the tree changed the rest is still very green. But there are hints of the season changing all over town.

If you give a Mom a cookie...

She's going to want a cup of coffee to go with it.

Shortbread and coffee to dunk it in...the perfect afternoon snack.