Family Pictures

Last weekend we went had our family pictures taken. I was a little worried because for the three days before it had been raining and really yucky. Well, we got up Saturday morning and the weather was beautiful, sunny and not to cold either. However, it would have been nice if it had been a little overcast (you get better pictures). Funny how we can never be completely happy about the weather?

A gal I meet through homeschooling Dinea (of Dinea de Photo) took our pictures and I must say she did a great job. I am showing off some of them. It was all very causal, we went down to the waterfront and walked around while she took pictures, we did have some poses ones to, but the ones I like best are the snap shot ones.

(Auntie, I didn't forget about you, they are coming ;-))

Silly Boys!

Best Friends!

Halloween
What fun the kids had. They don't celebrate Halloween in Germany, so Marja had a fun time dressing up and going trick or treating. The kids got lots of candy and chocolate for Mom! Actually, my favorites are smarties and the kids were fine giving me those as long as I didn't take their chocolate.

Marja the Pirate, Abbigail "Hannah Montana"
Austin "Venom" and Steven "The Ninja" without the mask since he couldn't seem to find it.

CANDY!!!!! Lots of CANDY!!!!

More fun pictures

So innocent!

Austin being a crazy boy!

Marja took this one and I did a little editing/cropping. I really like the way it turned out.

Steven being silly

Lattin's Farm

Wow, sorry it has been so long since an update. We have just been busy busy, so I haven't gotten a chance. Here is a little update and some pictures of what we have been up to.

Every year we take the kids to a pumpkin patch to get their pumpkins. This year we went with our homeschool group to Lattin's Farms. Lattin's is a great family operated farm in Olympia, they make the best apple cider and apple fridders (on the weekends only)! Since we went on a Thursday, they gave us apple cider doughnuts YUMMY! They kids got to feed their animals, the cow was hilarious, the kids found out that cows have very loonnngggg tongues, as you will see.

Steven holding his pumpkin he picked

Austin is very proud of his little pumpkin!

Abbigail tried to find a big on, but Iguess this late in the season, all the big ones were taken?

Austin showing me that the goat slobbered on his had.

Austin getting his turn feeding the cow. See her long tongue. Austin thought it was pretty funny.

Abby was afraid to put her hand out and feed the cow so she would drop the food and the cow would try and get some.

English Tea

This past week we studied about England, so what better way to end the week than with afternoon tea. A new friend loaned me her table cloth and we pulled out G.G's (Pete's grandma) china. Abby made cherry, choc. chip scones, which were so yummy! We decided not to make the triangle sandwiches and went with fruit instead. The kids all tried the tea, but in the end switched to hot chocolate. It was a nice time. I think we would like to have a little afternoon tea, with some poem readings or something like that once a month.

Look how pretty the table is!

Even Pete joined us. The roughed looking guy drinking from such a dainty cup.

Whale Watching!

When I asked Marja want was something she wanted to do while in America, she said she wanted to go whale watching. So I found a great day trip on the Victoria Clipper. Marja, Abby and I drove to Seattle and caught the Clipper (ferry) which took us to the Friday Harbor (San Juan Islands), then out searching for whales for 1.5hours. We were lucky enough to find what they say was 2-3 pod (somewhere around 50 whales). It was quite an experience, an amazing site. After the whale watching the Clipper took us back to Friday Harbor where we ate lunch and walked around town for 2 hours, then we came back to Seattle. Not only did we see whales on this trip, but many birds (blue heron, eagles, hawks and more), dolphins, sea lions, and harbor seals, it was a great day.

Marja goes to Homecoming

Marja is our exchange student for Germany that will be staying with us until February. She went to the Homecoming dance last Saturday, she said, she always hears and sees it in movies and such so she wanted to experience it for herself since they don't have anything like this in Germany. She said she had fun, but didn't dance to much. I thought I would post a couple of pictures of her since she was so beautiful.

Today was a very Fall day, it was sunny and cool. Fall is my favorite season! I love everything about it, the colors, the weather, pumpkins, leaves, the feel I get when fall is here. I especially love making yummy things with pumpkin; muffins/bread, pancakes, shakes, choc. chip pumpkin cookies you name it I would probably try it with pumpkin. Pete thinks I am a little crazy! Why do I only make these things during the fall, since I like them so much? I think it just make Fall that much better and special, it just wouldn't be the same if I made them all the time, I am not sure I would enjoy them as much ;)

This last weekend I got out all our Fall decorations and I bought new yummy smelling candles, pumpkin spice and apple cider. Candle just make the home so inviting. I decorated our front entry way with leaves and a scarecrow sitting on some crates holding Fall Welcome signs. I would like to get some corn stalks and a few little pumpkins, since ours in the garden aren't quite ready yet.

Well, Pete has been doing a lot of pruning around the yard, today he pruned a maple tree on the side of the house. When I went out to talk to him this is what I found

They were using some of the branches from the maple tree to make walking sticks...wood carving tools and all. The kids really enjoyed themselves, and I think Pete did too.

I think Abby said she was carving a deer foot?

Austin's walking stick. You can't really see it in the picture, but Pete carved out some designs for the handle. On Steven's he made a dragon, he is really a talented guy. :)

Whew, what a busy day. Tuesdays are a chaotic day this year, we are on the go from the time we get up, until the time we go to bed. We have ORLA (Olympia Regional Learning Academy, a parent partnership program) from 9:30-12:30, then we head to the YMCA for P.E. 1:00-3:00, we are then luck enough to come home for a couple of hours, before heading out again for Power Tap 6:00-7:00 and Taekwondo 6:45-7:45. When we get home the kids go to bed, then I can find a little time to chat with Pete or find myself before heading off to bed myself. Are you tired yet??LOL

Today was the first day of ORLA for us, I think the kids really enjoyed themselves. I think it will be a nice mix with homeschool. Abby really craves the socialization and I think ORLA will give her that "school setting" she is looking for. Steven enjoyed himself, it gives him a nice taste of "school".

Well it's late so I am off to bed. Goodnight!

First Cultural Gathering

Each week with Children Around the World there is a cultural gathering, where we celebrate the country we have been studying. We finished up with our first week talking about our family, traditions and whatnot. So this gathering Abby prepared a menu of Tortellini, casear salad, parmesan pull apart rolls. For dessert we had Ice Cream and then after dessert we played charades. Abby did a great job preparing everything. It was a lot of fun, I am really looking forward to the other gatherings. Here are some pictures, I forgot to take more after everything was cooked and of us eating.