Costumes X 2 and Oh Happy Halloween!

We are gearing up for Thanksgiving, and excited to celebrate in the mountains of Maryland, but I haven't yet posted about our two cuties and their Halloween Festivities.

The day began with International Day at the kid's school. The school worked very hard to prepare and the kids talked about practicing for several weeks before. I heard several previews of their songs in the car. Bridger's class learns quite a bit of geography preparing for the day. He probably can pick out more countries on a map of Africa than I can. Bridger was representing Ethiopia. We made Yemerina Yewotet Dabo (Honey Yeast Bread) for his contribution and he wore an fabric wrap gifted from a friend from her travels in Africa and a vest made by Grandma Ross. He also had a big part introducing the finale song "It's a Small World"

Larsen represented Ecuador and had a fun dress and hat in the spirit of both Ecuador and recreating a round Ross toddler in native dress. She did love her Ecuador dress in the end...once we convinced her to wear it. Someone is opinionated around here. She brought Arroz con Leche but I am pretty sure none of the kids ate it. Trying new strange foods with toddlers is never a good idea!

After a busy morning, a quick trip for me back to the office to make a deadline followed by an early pick-up to go home in time for the annual Halloween Parade in our neighborhood. It was a bit overwhelming for all of us, because there were 5 million kids in costumes and a fire hula-hooping local teacher. We survived intact and headed out trick or treating. Larsen was well aware of the candy stash at home and seemed most excited to partake in that and greet the trick or treaters on our front porch. Bridger couldn't believe his good fortune that he could go to so many houses he could fill up his entire candy bucket. I think he might have gone longer but it started to rain so he decided to come home and survey the loot. We are still eating Halloween Candy around here!!

Happy Fall for a final few days before the Christmas decorating and season comes on in full force. 

 

I'm Five Years Old Now!!

So I turned five on October 9. All of October I have had lots of fun celebrating my birthday. We have also had lots of visitors to our new house. For my birthday Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma and Grandad came to visit. Grandma and Grandad slept in my new room. (I will have to take pictures soon!). I had a birthday party at our new house, and I invited a few old friends from my school and a new friend from down the street.

We had lots of fun being crazy and painting pumpkins.

 After the party my baby sister and I were a little tired so Grandad read us some stories. All of my grandparents had fun at the party, but they aren't as cute as the kids so they didn't get to be in many pictures. 

Last weekend Uncle Jake and Aunt Denise came to visit. Grandma and Grandad came too again!!! Uncle Jake and Auntie Noodle took me to my very first movie. I liked the candy and the popcorn the best. We also carved our jack-o-lanterns.

 Mommy likes this picture because Daddy and I are squinting the same eye. I love being just like Daddy!

 So really only Daddy had to work hard cleaning out the pumpkins.

 Larsen just went crazy!!

 Daddy and Jake did an excellent job carving. 

 I really wanted a scary one and Uncle Jake carved one just like his shirt. 

I also decided I wanted to take my own pictures. Here are some of the pictures I took. Everyone was going a little crazy that day!

Oh I almost forgot. I also went on my first field trip this month on October 8. Only the kindergartners went to Jones Family Farm to see what farmers do and pick corn, kale, radishes, and pumpkins. We got to ride on a school bus and Mommy came to have fun with me. 

 We also went on a hayride.

 There was a fun hay play thing that I was very good at jumping off of!

I am so excited for Halloween this week. We are going to go trick or treating at lots and lots of houses. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Jumpstarting Fall!

Hard to believe but we have been apple and pumpkin picking here in Maryland 4 years in a row. Last year we took a break from our usual Larriland Farms, but decided it is the best place for us. Yes it is busy and not the small personal family orchard experience, but it has great apples, lots of fun for kids, and delicious apple fritters. Had to do a repeat performance of our kids and pumpkins in the wheelbarrow. Still so cute, buy my how they have grown!


We went this year with some dear friends that we see too little of. Mike and John belong to Meredith and Jeff and they are really close to the ages of Bridger and Larsen. It was lots of silliness with the four of them. It was IMPOSSIBLE to get everyone to look at the camera together, but here are some attempts. 

 

The Dads spent much of the day debating how best to make an apple pie. Bake it already, the rest of us just want to eat it!

Here are more annual pics of our adventures while apple picking. We ended up with nearly 30 pounds of apples. We had an apple galette last night. We had pork chops with a delicious sauce with cooked apples in it tonight(Thanks Matt for both!). My job is to look into making applesauce. I think we will be set on apples until at least November!