Have you met Wilbur? He is Elliot’s imaginary friend. He is a character when the kids play (for example, Elliot is Jake, Trav is Cubby, and Wilbur is Lightning McQueen.) Wilbur is 7 years old and Elliot says he sits between the boys in the back seat. The kids are so matter-of-fact about Wilbur that sometimes I look around for a real person.

Today we are going crazy. The weather is bad and all the indoor play spaces are packed. So I pulled out the last resort: paint! I reserve paint for outside projects normally, but today called for something drastic. I had an actual project for the kids to do, but as soon as they saw the paint they wanted to just mix all of it together. Which is what they did.

And then Elliot used his mixing spoon to make a special drink for Wilbur.

Here are some photos from yesterday’s school program. The kids made their own costumes. Elliot’s is a train conductor and Trav is wearing an astronaut costume. The program was really just their regular circle time with a special treat: the kids had made their own caramel apples. I will try to post the video again. It didn’t work the first time.

Today I took the kids to the Bellevue Art Museum. Only one floor was open so we got free tickets to come back when more exhibits are installed. There was a modicum amount of appreciation by the Dunn Bros. Here, Trav wants to crawl under the bridge.

Elliot dropped his toy in one of these baskets.

Trav enjoyed this mountain of flags.

Finally: something they could touch! Yarn Wall was the best thing we found and kept them entertained and entangled like cats for the better part of five minutes!

We knocked on lots of doors last night and said Trick or Treat! And then Elliot generally complimented the door greeter on their lovely Halloween decorations before thanking them for the candy and meandering slowly away. He takes it all in. Trav, on the other hand, went to about half the houses before he was ready to call it quits and go home for the candy eating. So I took Trav home and Elliot stayed out with his dad and some other neighborhood friends. Hope your Halloween was just as much fun!

We visited a pumpkin patch with a friend this week. The kids pretended the pumpkins were different types of fish and they were swimming through the ocean. Great exercise on a rainy day!

Today we decked out the house with some spooooky decorations! I planned for this to take most of the afternoon, but it took only about 20 minutes. It will probably take me longer than that to write this post.

We started with these icky sticky window clings.

Next we gathered our plump pumpkins and supplies.

Wait, we’re supposed to decorate the pumpkins! Trav wanted to decorate himself too…

Elliot showed off his exemplary dental hygiene.

Ok, prepare to be horrified! This is totally spooky! You might have nightmares later!

Yes, Trav was still decorating himself. Elliot was too cold to smile. But the pumpkins will scare away any spookiness that dares enter the Haunted Dunn Household. Here are the close-up pictures!! Avert your eyes!!

This year’s cast includes:
Store bought pre-carved pumpkin
Sticker pumpkin
Bejeweled baby punkin

Baby vampire punkin
Bloody painted pumpkin
Mummy pumpkin
Angry bird pumpkin (also bejeweled)
Big brother bejeweled pumpkin

Cheers!

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Here are some solo pics of Trav that I’ve taken recently. As much as he pretty much does whatever Elliot does or tells him to do, he is more and more independent. Here he is eating sushi.

And here he is at gym class. He loves gym class and I think he’s one of the better students. Not only is he blurry in these photos (thanks, iPhone camera!) but he’s really a blur in class too. He does every activity with his whole heart and soul.

Here is the costume I made for Elliot before I went to target and saw that you can just buy them. Oh well! You can see how it is supposed to look here. We will see what happens when he actually wears the thing. You see, Elliot loves to play Angry Birds. Loves it! And by “play” I mean that he pretends to *be* an angry bird, hurtling his body into things/people in an effort to knock them down. I hope that doesn’t happen on Halloween!

These guys are playing Mario and Luigi. I am Princess Peach. We are at the Mushroom Cup. Fletch is a proud dad.

Does it get any sweeter than that? Elliot told us about the friendship after he spent some time pushing little brother on the swing. And doing underdogs! Sweet brother time!

And here is Trav doing his new favorite past time: sorting silverware!

I’m trying a different blog app on my phone. It won’t let me put pictures and text where I want them. But posting today anyway! Can’t remember if I posted this one of the kids and me where Elliot is doing “blue steel.”

These two rascals started preschool today at Newcastle Montessori. It’s such a small school that they are in the same class. Elliot will go five half days and Trav will go for three half days every week. It’s going to be a great year!