Tradition!

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving weekend if we didn't go to the moutains to cut our Christmas tree!  We weren't sure if we were going to find snow, since the temperatures had warmed up and it had been raining a lot, but once we got up there, this is what we found:

Snow!  YAY!

But when we got to our sledding spot, this is what we found:

Four wheelers, BOO! 

  

But there was still enough snow for the kids to have a good time.

Kylie sledding with Ben

Jillian and Charity

Brad found a beautiful Silver Fir, probably the best one yet!

Then he found another great one for his mom. 

Kylie and Aubrey

We were joined by five other families: the Kollodges, the Hooyers, the Kims, the Hickmans, and the Hansens. We tried to get a picture of all of the kids together, but some of them were trying to stay warm in the cars.

We did get a picture of all the moms, though! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had Thanksgiving at our house again this year.  It's become a tradition that I really enjoy.  We're able to mix my family and Brad's family and our "adopted family" very nicely! 

Kylie and I started the day with the 2nd annual Bainbridge Island Turkey Trot 5k run.  Another tradition I enjoy!  No snow this year, thank goodness! 

Coming down the final stretch!  We stuck together for the first mile or so, then Kylie took off and ended up beating me by a few minutes.

I was happy with my time, though, and it felt great to get a run in before the big feast.

After the race, Kylie joined Brad and Ben and many others for a pick up game of soccer, and I went home to start cooking.  Jillian and I had made pumpkin and apple pies the night before, so we had plenty of time to cook the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, herbed yams, and gravy.  Everyone brought side dishes to round out the meal.

Fortunately Mariann (our adopted crazy aunt) loves to take pictures so we actually have some from dinner.

Grandma Susan, Grandpa Tom, and Kylie

Jane, Ashley, & Brandon

Grandma Vikki and Alicia

Jillian getting seconds (or is it thirds???)

Me and Brad

Nate & Jimmy

Grandpa Tom, Jillian, Kylie, Mariann, Ozzie, Izaac, & Ben

Ozzie is a party animal!

He's checking to see if I'll give him some more!

After dinner we played a rousing round of "The Game of Things," and then ate pie until we fell into a collective coma.  Another successful Thanksgiving!  It has been an interesting year, lots of challenges and times for growth, and so many things to be thankful for.  I'm especially thankful for my family, all of them...my immediate family, extended family, "adopted family," and friends who feel like family. Without their love and support, it would be awfully difficult to make it through this crazy journey of life. 

Final Solo Outing of the Year?

Last Thursday was possibly the last "warm" day of the year; the forecast called for sunny skies and a high of 48 degrees. Funny how 48 with sun feels warm after a few months of grey skies!  I decided it might be my last chance to take the kayak out this year and promptly texted the rest of the Fantastic Four to see if they could join me.  Two used their babies as an excuse and the third had to clean her house for company that was coming.  Where are their priorities?  I felt like quite a loner, but couldn't waste the beautiful day.

I started from the bridge and headed north first to see if I could find the porpoises, but no luck.  Then I turned around and went under the bridge towards the Suquamish side.

This is the Suquamish Resort, which is behind the big Casino by the bridge. 

I paddled around here for a while and watched four seals playing.  They kept diving down and coming up closer and closer to me.  It got a little creepy after a while, not knowing where they would surface.  This guy was very curious and came quite close.  I backed off, afraid they would gang up and try to knock me out of my boat.  I'm not sure they actually could, but I didn't want to risk it!  I made sure I was close enough to shore that I could swim if I had to!

Farther from shore, the water was really calm,so beautiful and peaceful!

This contraption is a little south of the Resort.  Before I got close, there were about 30 large sea-birds sitting on the rails, but they flew off as I approached.  I think this is some kind of feeding pen for a fishery, but there were no fish in it.

When I finally decided to head back, this tug boat was coming under the bridge.  I paddled hard and raced it across the passage.  I don't think we would have had an encounter, but once again, I didn't want to risk it!

The trees under the bridge are all changing color and dropping their leaves.  I'm glad I took the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful day!

My Beautiful Children

I finally got around to taking their "annual" pictures, aren't they good-looking kids?  I love the red leaves in the background...maybe I'll wait until mid-November every year!

Easy to Please

It doesn't take much to make me happy.  Something small like this drying bar Brad installed this weekend makes my month!

I don't know why it took me 10 years to think of this!  I've been draping sweaters and other "line dry" items over the edge of the tub or bathroom towel bars or spreading them on towels on the floor or hanging them on hangers from knobs in the laundry room for far too long.  Now they can all dry together in one place and that funny little space between the cabinets has a use!

Halloween Festivities

We had three days of Halloween fun this year, starting Friday evening with a party at the Hickman's.  I wasn't planning to dress up, but Brad had a fun idea for a family theme, so I played along.  Only Ben wanted to join us, though. The other kids are getting "too old" for this kind of thing!

So here we are, Egyptian Princess, Pharaoh, and our Mummy!

"Nathan" Russell (holding Ozzie), "Dorothy" Wise, and "Cleopatra" Van Aken

We had the Kollodges over on Saturday for our annual pumpkin carving evening.  Some of our kids are getting too old for this tradition as well (Nate), but the rest of us enjoyed it.  Somehow I missed getting a picture of Kylie working on her pumpkin, but she did participate.

Ben's finished pumpkin.  He designed and carved it all himself.  I think it has great character!  I especially love the "hair" on the stem, it really goes well with the face!

Kylie's pumpkin

and Jillian's.  Don't you think it looks like a lot like Jillian?  Such a happy, smiley face!

The kids with their pumpkins...minus Angelina who was upset she didn't finish hers and wouldn't come outside.

On the actual day of Halloween, Ben's class had a party/poetry recital.  Ben wrote an acrostic poem, suitably titled, "Halloween":

Horrifying
Artistic
Living Dead
Lots of Candy
One time a year
Werewolves
Eerie
Exciting
Nightmares

"Gandolf" and the Mummy

Then after school, Ben and I went down to Winslow to Trick or Treat.  Jillian went home with a friend after school and I didn't see her until 8:00.  It was a little sad having only one child to trick or treat with.  We met Brad at his office and made the rounds to all the shops.  I love this "small town" tradition.  The main street is closed to traffic and it's a bit like a haunted fashion show:  kids and adults in fantastic costumes parading up and down the street, greeting each other and having a great time.

The Mummy before we headed out

We saw our favorite witch at Dr. Keyes' office...

and our favorite kitty cat down by the real estate office.

After Winslow, we stopped by Tif and Tad's for a delicious dinner, which we had to eat way too quickly so we could get on to our next destination.  We headed over to "Gandolf's" neighborhood and met up with some of Ben's friends.  I loved watching Ben with two of his best buddies running excitedly from house to house, mummy wrap fluttering in the breeze, glowsticks and a sliver of moon lighting the way.  We stayed there until it was time to pick up Jillian.  When we dropped off one of her friends, the girls begged me to let them finish trick or treating in her neighborhood, so I sat in a warm house drinking tea and chatting with the parents while the girls and Ben spent another hour obtaining more candy.  In all, we trick or treated for about three hours!

And here's the loot to prove it!

The best take of the night...a dehydrated green bean!  Not quite sure where this came from...

but it was quite the bargaining tool when it came to trading time!

I think this might have been one of my favorite Halloweens, even though I didn't have all my kids together (or maybe because I didn't have them all and wasn't constantly counting heads!) I really enjoyed walking through Winslow with Brad and Ben, we even waited in the looooong line at Mora's for a free ice cream cone, and trick or treating in Ben's friend's neighborhood felt exactly like Halloween should.  I read a blog post titled "Why Halloween is the Best Holiday", and this year, I'm inclined to agree!