Every little girl is a mermaid in her own bathtub

 I remember that feeling, waving my hair in the water.  Now Viola gets to be the mermaid.

Viola is an East Coaster

 And now we have the coasters to prove it!

 Get your own east, gulf or west coasters from Reed Wilson Design.

Fall

This is the first place that I have lived with a real autumn so I'm still pretty excited about leaves and want to throw them up in the air.  Today Viola decided to be "helpful" and put the leaves into piles, which was so sweet.  But when Charlie and I wanted to play in the leaves, she was not happy at the destruction of her work.  Sorry Viola.  There are plenty more leaves to be raked in the near future.

We did a bad thing...

 ...We went to Target and came home with new socks, sweater, and CAT GLASSES!

Note to self: "Stay away from Target!"

Farewell Old Friend

Tonight our '67 F100 pickup truck drove away with its new owner.   We have had it for about five years.  I have lived with parts of it scattered across my living room and spent many an evening hanging out next to it while Brian worked under the hood.  Sadly I haven't actually ridden in it for years.  But the kids, and their friend Will, had one last hurrah in the cab.

 Will has been wanting to "drive" the truck for a while.  It worked out well for him that he was here right before it got picked up.

 Brian thought that he might pass this baby down to Charlie.  Not any more.  Perhaps there will be another truck one day.  One that isn't quite as much of a rust bucket.

First Snow of the year, perfect for a field trip to the Harvest Farm.

We headed to the Wellington to visit the Harvest Farm with Viola's class today.   We tromped through snow and mud (I fell on my keister), saw some pigs race, did a maze and rode on a barrel train.  

Good Times!

 This is Viola's best friend Chase.  They are on the same play ground "team" whatever that means.

 Viola's favorite part of the day.  The barrel train.

 Charlie not so much a fan of the Barrel Train.  He screamed!  So, I had to yell for the nice man on the four wheeler to stop and let us off prematurely. 

 Viola is the last one.  Can you see the look of glee on her face?

 Pig race, or should I say Pig chase?  Poor pigs.

 Teachers: Mrs. Mary and Mrs. Kristen in the giant rocking chair with the most conveniently located students.

Art-ing

 There has been a lot of simultaneous art-ing happening lately.  And Charlie hasn't been eating the crayons! He's so grown up.

Super Charlie

 I want so badly to get a wonderful photo of Charlie in his mask and blanket cape in front of Brian's cloud painting.  But, the best laid plans do not always work out.  I even tried bribery.  I'm not sure he's quite old enough to grasp the concept that if you do this then you get a gummy bear (really a vitamin).  Maybe I'll try again not so close to nap time.

Almost. 

Pumpkin carving for Papa's birthday.

 To celebrate Papa Viola planned a special activity.  Pumpkin carving!  Farmer Ben at Hope Farms had given Viola this pumpkin in payment for her hard work in the field and she has been itching to carve it up.  Viola drew the face herself and Papa wielded the carving knife.

 Charlie is running for Mr. Colorado in his puffer vest and snow boots.

 At night we put some of Viola's candles (battery operated votives that she uses for a nightlight) in the pumpkin.  Now that's a good end to a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Brian! from BLAMO!

 We celebrated 32 years of Brian yesterday.  I made a pumpkin pecan "log" roll cake with maple cream cheese filling and butterscotch, dark and white chocolate "bark".  If I may say so myself it was a beauty!  We even played the "log" them song along for the surprise. Happy Birthday Honey.  We love you!

Guess who's sporting a "Petite Handlebar"?

 This Viola.

 While I was doing some work on these two gentlemen (old army buddies) Viola expressed a desire to don a stach. Why not?  She wears it well. Charlie (for whom I bought said mustaches)  screamed and poked himself with a stick trying to remove his handlebar.  Maybe some day.

Good news for Sweater fans.

 The professor cardigan still fits!