Sunday.

On Sunday, we made our way to the farmers market. Silas and I stopped by a local pastry shop, that usually has a line out the door, and finally got to taste the croissants that everyone in the city talks about. Silas agreed; they are the best (and he would know, trust me). Now we feel like official Ballardites.
At the farmers market, the kids ate tasty carrots and then made their "yummy carrot" faces.


After the market, Silas and I made our way downtown on the bus for the first time from the new neighborhood. Easy peasy. We found new boots for Silas and then went to a Japanese dollar store. I am slightly obsessed.
On the way home, Silas taught me a Halloween song. Once I learned it, we sang it loud and proud in the back of the bus ALL the way home. One little, two little, three little witches...

Harvest Howl.

Saturday night was the Harvest Howl at Silas's school. There was a haunted house, cupcake walk, fairieland, giant inflatable bouncy things, and all you can eat popcorn.
Silas dressed up as a knight and Ruby dressed like a princess/fairy/queen.

Silas and his best friend, John:


Me and Rubes FINALLY winning the cupcake walk:

Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Ruby's big gift for her birthday was this dollhouse. She is still a little too young to REALLY enjoy it, but she is learning how thanks to Silas. The house is actually two houses that can be separated, so that comes in handy with, well, two kids!
Tonight, the final preparations for the Halloween costumes will get under way. Silas's school has a fall festival this Saturday and costumes are essential. Unfortunately, that puts US under the gun to get them completed a week early.
And, Silas is Student of the Week next week at school. VERY big deal.

More Birthday Photos.

Here are some more pictures of the celebration:

Birthday morning breakfast,goody bags,tired girls,pumpkin wind-up.

Hello, Cupcake!

Wowsers! What a party. Friends, family, presents, pink, balloons, smoked salmon, Swedish pastries, lemon cupcakes, mimosas and lots of fun. The rain stopped for us today and we had a bit of a celebration for Ruby's second birthday. Friends, old and new, came by and grandparents too. Ruby was officially introduced to the color pink. Along with a princess cellphone and fancy shoes.

Decorations.

Working on decorations.
Tomorrow Silas goes to the pumpkin patch with his class. He is so excited about riding on the school bus. Too bad it will be raining nonstop.

On to the next one.

Wow. Already planning another birthday. Miss Ruby will be two and having some friends over for brunch on Sunday. I am busy planning the menu and making the goody bags (probably one of my favorite things to do). Yesterday I put together her dollhouse. So jealous. It is beautiful.

Weekendin'

We have been lucky to have had a very nice summer and fall here, and it looks like this past weekend will be the last of the *super nice* weather. Usually it starts to turn just around Ruby's birthday, which is Saturday.
Soooooo, we hit the bikes two days in a row and pedaled all around Ballard. I admit, it's a struggle for me to pull the Burley uphill and I get a little grumpy when Jeff and Silas get out of eyesight, not to mention the 80 year old man who effortlessly passed me.

Oh, and Jeff made scallops. So good.

P Patch.

Busy end of the week with anniversary celebration, no school on Friday, and two play dates. I made Jeff a pork chop for our anniversary and he bought me an iPhone. If you asked him, I think he would say that HE came out the winner in that one.
Anyhoo, we headed out to our favorite farm, Jubilee, for some pumpkin picking today. Jeff required us all to lift our pumpkins over our heads. Poor Tudy, she failed, and had to leave her gourd behind in the field.


p.s. I changed the settings so anyone can comment. Try it out!

Nine Years.

Married for nine years, in my heart for as long as I can remember...

It's all About the Setup.

One morning we woke up to find this greeting us outside our bedroom door. There is a little nook in the hallway where I set a flower vase. I asked Silas if he wanted me to move the flower, he said, "No".

Over the Weekend.

Activity packed weekend included morning dress up time.

Finding a new park.

And having a snack.

Lots else, including; bike rides, basement clean up, yard work, Swiss Family Robinson, Ballard Locks, dinner at a new Greek restaurant, and birthday planning.

Send those pledges in, Silas ran 32 laps (about 3 miles)!

Etc.

We thought the rain and cold would postpone the JOGATHON, but there was just enough of a break for the kids to run laps for 50 minutes. What a success! Ruby and I punched the kids cards as they made their way around the track and even walked a few laps with Silas. On Monday, I'll have an update on the number of laps Silas completed. All I have to say is that, if you pledged PER lap, you are going to be sorry!

Also, the plumber was out to look at our vent stack that is cracked and let us know that the situation is worse than we thought and will take several days to fix. Great! We love our old house!

On a happier note, Ruby received an early Birthday present.

Visitor.

Yeah! Auntie Mumu is coming for Christmas!