Happy Halloween

Today was a very long day for Tessa, with requests to go trick or treating as soon as she woke up this morning. I think we will wait until Christmas Eve to explain the gift giving and Santa aspects of Christmas. But the night finally did arrive, Daddy was able to leave work on time (that part was Mommy's treat!), and the girls had fun meeting some new neighbors, walking with "old" friends and of course collecting all the goodies in their bags. Phoebe was Snow White and came home from school with a head start in the goody dept. (Yes those are casts on her legs, no they are not broken, I'll explain some other time...)Tessa was a ballerina. This was my ballet recital costume when I was three. (Yes my mom is a pack rat) Phoebe wore it when she was barely two. Tessa will be three in about a month. She liked wearing it, thankfully, as I doubt I will have much say about future costumes. It's fun to have a few traditions to carry on with your kids. And with a high of 88 today we were able to carry on this one. No warm, bulky costume required.Tessa began the night with lots of momentum. She was surprisingly focused on going to the next house every time we were done with our current one. She seemed anxious to see what kind of candy they'd have, who would answer the doors and what the decorations would be like. She was afraid of a few of the houses, especially one with a spooky soundtrack blaring from the doorway. Phoebe didn't appreciate the chainsaw sounds as we left that house, either. Tessa said "I'm scary" (meaning I'm scared) and asked to be held. After about an hour she was requesting being held for more than just the scary houses. At this point we decided on the quickest route towards home.

The last half hour was dragging and we were all ready to call it a night. For the final stretch, Tessa didn't even want to sit on Daddy's shoulders anymore, she wanted to lay down.

Halloween = candy

This realization entered Tessa's brain the other day when I set aside a few bags of individually packaged goodies ready to hand out tomorrow night, and she caught sight of them. She informed me politely that she "wantsome" and I informed her politely that we were going to give it out on Halloween to the trick or treaters. She said "I want Halloween, I want trick or treat". I reassured her it was only a few days away. She then went around the house singing about candy, trick or treat, BOO, and Happy Birfday! (I guess birthdays just go right along with candy and festive moods). Tonight we had the final costume fittings for the girls and the pumpkin carving ceremony. Tessa was fascinated but truly disgusted when daddy convinced her to touch the insides.

She then helped me decorate the porch with fake spiders and such and went to bed talking about trick or treating. (Yes, I procrastinated this year but who cares? At least we all had fun tonight instead of me dragging the decor out a month in advance and coercing everyone else to get into it). My only fear is that tomorrow is going to be the longest day of Tessa's short life, anticipating the arrival of night fall.

Sidetrip to western WA

When we found out that Cass' mom was staying with them, and that her brother Tyler was a willing and capable helper, we decided to entrust them with our children's lives and head out west for a few days. (Darla said that she could almost guarantee they would be alive, and who could resist an offer like that?) On day one we left Spokane, headed through the mountains and got a glimpse of Wenatchee (apple growing capitol), it's cute little neighbor Cashmere, the very touristy Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, and then on to the coast.

We stopped for some German food at Oktoberfest.

This is the canyon we drove through just past Leavenworth.

We spent the night in Bellingham, and explored it the next day. We both thought it was beautiful but Tim had a hard time imagining the work there.

Lake Whatcom Falls park. My eyes were popping out of my head, it was unbelievably gorgeous.

This is the view of the Pt Townsend lighthouse from Sequim.

Taking the ferry from Whidbey Island to Seattle.
The Seattle skyline as we approach.We ended our trip here and headed back to Spokane. It was short but fun, and we saw lots of places we can imagine retiring (notice I didn't say working...). We'll see what opportunities come along. We were so grateful to Cassandra and team for keeping the girls with them while we went. It would have been much harder with a carsick Tessa and a sleepy Phoebe. So now we have returned to autumn in Tucson where it is 90, there are no trees, no color, but we are home in our own beds, Phoebe is back in school which she loves, and we have reassured Dallas that we are not leaving her again any time soon.

Autumn in Spokane pt 2

The "kids" fell asleep in the backseat while Dave drove us up to Colville. It was quaint and beautiful but I can't imagine getting transferred there.
We went to a park in Coeur d'Alene, ID (only 20 mins from Spokane). It was right on the lake. It had a gorgeous old neighborhood right next to it, with restored craftsman style homes and tree lined streets. If only Couer d'Alene were a transfer option!

I thought this was funny because Tessa couldn't stop licking the fur on her hood.
Grammy Darla (Cass' mom) getting her workout for the day. The park had a little kid section and the cool swing that doesn't need a belt to hold Phoebe in. It was nice to not have to lift her above my head to get her in, as she is getting pretty tall these days.

Crashed in front of the tube. Tyler, Cass and Tim fell asleep watching movies. Isn't that what vacation is all about?

Happy Birthday Shayne

We celebrated Shayne's 8th birthday today. Boy, how time flies! I remember the cluster of anxious grandmas waiting outside the delivery room at Saddleback Hospital. What an exciting time and the beginning of the era of Westlake grandchildren. A shot of two families' worth of grandchildren today. (Baby Jaleina will be here soon for Shayne's baptism but we will miss her).
Clockwise: Shayne, 8, Tessa, 2, Ethan, 5, Nolan, 1, Phoebe, 7. We spent the afternoon at Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. Everyone but Nolan rode the carousel and all had a great time.

Dave is showing Ethan and Cass the video he took of Ethan getting sprayed in the face by the water fountain.
The birthday girl in her new outfit from Mom that she got to open before school today.

Autumn in Spokane pt.1

I don't know if she is just messing around at bedtime or needs a little extra comfort, being away from home, but Tessa has climbed in bed with Phoebe a few times. It's so darn cute, but I always have to move her because of how restless Phoebe sleeps.

Phoebe always falls asleep in the car and since she is in a borrowed booster seat she isn't used to all the freedom and flopped over onto Shayne. She was so patient I after I tried to adjust Phoebe and she just wouldn't stay up.

Ethan and Tessa playing piano. They are cute little buddies.

We visited a pumpkin patch in Green Bluff, WA that had a corn maze that led to a castle and a pirate ship. Tessa is peeking out of the porthole.

Shayne, Ethan and Dave looking for pumpkins. I am in shock at how used to the cold their kids are. We have coats and they have t-shirts!

Tessa having fun in the dirt. She laid in it, kicked it, threw it in her own face, and ate it. A hard days' work. And shockingly that coat came clean after one wash.

The kids walking back to the cars. I think it's cute how Ethan (just turned 5) is the same size as Tessa (2.10). His mom swears his friends are the same height.

Great Uncle Clint helping Tessa swing on the trapeze bar in his backyard. How wonderful to have grandparents around the corner!

Tessa taught herself how to twist the swing around like a corkscrew. Phoebe is falling asleep (shocker!).

Nolan thinks he can drive.

Ethan and Tessa trying to outrun Phoebe and I. They stopped to let us catch up alot.

After a fun day of running, jumping, swinging, playing, sliding, climbing, hiding, seeking, walking, riding, her hair wasn't fuzzed out by bed time! I had to get a picture of it.

A Day at Apple Annie's

It wasn't started until my sister and I were adults, but our family has a tradition of visiting apple orchards in the fall. Sometimes it coordinates with pumpkins and Halloween, and sometimes it's almost Christmas time, but we go every year possible. This year, I was able to show my dad (a produce expert) where they grow apples in Arizona. The big kids had fun using the poles to pick them and Tessa insisted on carrying around the bucket that was almost a big as she was. Actually, it was bigger because she got inside it once. We rode around behind a tractor (almost a hayride but without the itching afterwards). We had a fresh BBQ lunch and bought some bread to take home. Since most of the apples we picked were Granny Smith I volunteered to make pie out of them. It actually turned out yummy, even without a recipe handy! This day was part of why fall is my favorite season.

P.S. I love this website: www.pickyourown.org. Awesome way to find little mom and pop farms in places you might be visiting in the fall.

Lucky Number 7

Happy birthday to Phoebe! She is seven years old today. We had a small party yesterday, just a casual get together with friends, no themes or entertainment, just kids running around the house playing while the adults ate and enjoyed each other's company. Taking advantage of Phoebe's naivete, I strictly forbid any gifts from being given so we didn't have to torture our guests with the unwrapping ceremony. One friend said that is was the best birthday party ever, and they should all be like that! Phoebe enjoyed the commotion, the chocolate chip banana cupcakes that Tessa helped me make, and when we all sang to her. Tessa did NOT like the singing and ran screaming from the room. (a foreshadowing of her birthday in a few months...) Later, when she returned to good spirits, she decided to honor Phoebe by stripping down to her birthday suit and paraded around the house naked. Everyone loved Phoebe's haircut and also noticed that her dress was the same color as her amazing eyes. After the party I sat my girls down for a few photos (with Tessa's clothes back on, of course). As usual, Tessa struck a pose of her design. I asked her to stand or sit next to Phoebe and then she flopped down behind her. I thought they looked pretty darn adorable.

Like Sands in the Hourglass

These are the Days of Tessa's Life.

I just wanted to add some cute pics of Tessa and that's all I could think of for a title. Sorry!

Eating salsa with a spoon.

Learning to swim. She was afraid to leave the steps at the beginning of summer and now will swim out to the 4 foot section alone with only her floaties for assistance. Brave girl!

Always willing to smile for the camera so that she can "see Tessa" after I take it.

A purple fairie making herself "bizzy" by twirling in front of the mirror.

It's hard to give in to sleep when there are so many adventures to be had. This is Tessa's version of "staying on the bed" as her parents repeatedly tell her to do.