Day trip

It was a wet and wild day in the Gorge. Multnomah Falls was our first stop and the rain was coming down sideways. Ben was a trooper. We then made our way to the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery. He loved watching the fish!

He kept calling this huge sturgeon the "Grandpa". The photo below is one of the trout ponds.

On the way home we took the scenic route on Hwy 30 and saw several other water falls. It was gorgeous even though very cold and rainy! The photo above was taken at Crown Point - it was so windy!

Japanese Gardens

We have been showing our Arizona friends around Portland the last couple of days. Yesterday we went to the Japanese Gardens and they were so pretty with the changing leaves etc. I can't believe we live so close and I have never been there!

Day off

This is a short week for Sam because of parent/teacher conferences. Brian took him into work today while I kept Ben busy. We picked him up around noon and he was having a great time "working"....playing on the computer, writing notes on post-its, making paperclip chains and talking to Brian's students.

They came home for lunch and a nap, tore up the house, and wrestled away the afternoon.

Sam has been awarding us paperclips for doing good deeds... He has them hanging on the fridge in groups of 10. He is so his dad.

Oct 31st

The kids had a great time trick-or-treating with Lizzie and Ian tonight. This is the first year they have spent Halloween together and they had a blast. The little ones tired out quickly but Sam and Lizzie kept on going until they too ran out of steam. Lizzie turned back before Sam and then he decided his bucket was getting too heavy... so we finished up and counted the loot. They are all in bed, and with the time change tonight it's only 8pm - yeah!

Happy Halloween!

Just in time

Sam came down with the flu last Saturday night and is finally feeling better. I sent him to school this morning and picked him up at noon since he has been so exhausted. He took a 4 hour nap this afternoon! Ben finally broke his fever today and is so much happier. They are both still coughing and tired but it's nice to see them smiling and playing after a week of being miserable. They are super excited for Halloween tomorrow.

Last Game

Last Saturday was Sam's last soccer game for the year. We were so lucky - no rain the whole season except for one miserably cold and wet practice!

Sam has a crush on Lucy - they play on the same team and ride the same bus. Now that the boys are feeling better he keeps asking when she can come over for a playdate. :-)

Two down... who will be next?

Both boys have been down with the flu. Sam is doing much better today. Ben had a rough day and we are hoping for a good night tonight.

Yikes

Poor Sam has been sick since Saturday night. Looks like the dreaded flu. I am trying to keep Ben away from him but he is very concerned about his big brother. Hoping he doesn't get it as it has really knocked Sam out the last couple of days. He was so bummed to miss school today and his end of season soccer party tonight.

Buddies

Pumpkins

Ben found the perfect pumpkin right away...

Hayride...The two little guys crack me up...

Still have my pumpkin...

Crazy cousins...

Crazy brother in laws

Pumpkin bowling...

It was great day!

More soccer

Sam only has one more game this season. When watching him play we go back and forth between frustration and cracking up. Seriously, the kid is a good player when he actually tries and wants to play. Other times he just jogs around and people watches. Yesterday he spent most of the game watching another little girl on his team he has a crush on - Lucy. At one point he took the ball down the field and scored for the other team - oops! He still has no clue and is proud of himself - I didn't have the heart to tell him so we just cheered and smiled.

Fall

Ben loves yakisoba!

This kid cracks me up!

Columbus Day

Sam came home today and told me everything he learned about Christopher Columbus. He made this book at school and drew pictures representing each part of the story. He was very proud!!

Kick and Chase

Some days Sam is aggressive and quick and knows what to do on the soccer field.

Other days well... we pick grass, watch the ref and chase the other kids around.

Fashion Statement