We had photos taken with Santa. Look at those sharp new haircuts!    

Then we had conveyor belt sushi. 
    

The scout troop made things out of recycled materials. 
  

This guy finds a quiet place to work. The step stool is just his size! 

Elliot completed a difficult Lego set. 

Silly faces from our last Texas visit.   

Trav’s kindergarten had a feast today. It was adorable. His class hosted, so they set up a long table, made decorations, and also practiced shaking hands, asking questions, and had to sit between kids in the other kinder classes. They also had a performance that they did that included a dance. It was so cute! Here are the photos that don’t do any justice to the scene. I helped set his feast up, but then I went to help in Elliots class. One hour later I came back and the feast was over. That’s funny. 

Video of a crackling fire on the big screen. Cozy!    
  Each kid was assigned a food to bring. There was a lot!   
  Trav in his turkey hat.  

Elliot got his new belt! It’s white with a black stripe.    
    
    
   

Travis made some creepy cupcakes!!   
Trav and Stuart painted the little ornaments that Cassel sent. Spooky!! 

 
 Trav’s angry jack o lantern. And a paper lantern. Yikes!! 

  
Stuart made a spooky sticker pumpkin. 

  Trav’s original pumpkin went to pumpkin heaven a little too soon. 

Trav’s class had a harvest party. They dressed up as farmers and scarecrows. Trav is in the floppy hat, fourth from the right, middle row. His teacher is in there too. We adore her, and she adores our sweet “T”.   
  Waving in the parade!   
Here is a haunting story written by Elliot and “hisss snakes.” 

    
Travis in a bat hat. Spooooky! 

  We went to the Valve Halloween party. Great creepy fun! Stuart had a cheese treat.   
Angry pumpkin face paint! Eeek! 

Astronaut and pumpkin awaiting their turn to whack the piñata.    
Taking in the show. 

    
  Elliot’s favorite thing from the party was a poop stuftie. Yes. Poop in a hat. “Crummy Wizard”   
    

The kids made witches’ brooms for our own Halloween party. And this pumpkin cake looks crazy scary!    

Our neighbors came over to our house for chili before we all went trick or treating. Sorry we didn’t get pictures of the group! The kids were adorable. I snapped this one of our crew before everyone arrived. Kelly, they still wear the astronaut costumes you sent. 

When we went trick or treating, it was raining. But Stuart wanted to do all his own walking! He was a trooper! We have very steep streets. 

We went to the houses on our cul de sac first. When we got to the top of the hill we realized that the rest of the neighborhood had no electricity! Total bummer. We all just went back home and ate our own candy. 

  
Here’s something funny. Stuart loves to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar…only to the part about the food. When the caterpillar gets fat and builds a cocoon, he closes the book. 

So proud of our Travis! He passes his belt test with flying colors. He had almost all perfect scores. Now his belt is yellow with a white stripe because he’s still in the level below the official belts. Elliot’s test is later this week. 

2015 pumpkin patch official visit (and hayride) 

   
Apple cider: check! 

 
Trebuchet: check!! 

He doesn’t have many words yet, but that doesn’t stop him from expressing himself. 

It was chilly but I couldn’t put a jacket over this cute outfit.    
Nope, that’s not where you put things, son. 

  Chicken and boy stare down. 

  
As tall as the bird feeder! 

 How old are you, Stuart? 

Just found this photo from Cama beach last year. Sweet little baby snuggles. 
 

Trav and Fletch made me an apple pie for my birthday. It was so delicious!   
   
  Trav’s card to me is a picture of him holding a walkie-talkie.   
Elliot’s card depicts us as sheep. 

  Trav made this Lego pyramid for me a month ago. He saved it this entire time in a box. 

  
Trav’s self portrait at school is him “sling-shotting” Elliot. 

We went to our first Mariners game yesterday! It was very exciting. The Seahawks were also playing an away game so there weren’t many people at Safeco Field. 

   
This little Mariner got to skip his nap. He ate enough sugar to compensate. 

Speaking of sugar…   
 

The foam fingers were a big hit! These super fans were really paying attention to the game. 
   
   

 After the game, the kids got to run the bases. 

On the way home, Elliot asked, “Who won the game?”  

Elliot’s first day of school was yesterday, but Travis didn’t start school until today. That gave us two days to take “first day” photos! These sweet little faces are growing up so fast!    
    
  Trav rode the bus today for the first time. Elliot said that “Trav got on the bus and instantly made a friend!” 

  
  Elliot takes his coffee with lots of cream and lots of sugar.   
Stuart takes his coffee with no coffee, just sugar. Haha

Here’s the littlest barista! I’m pretty sure that’s how the baristas at Sbux clean their measuring spoons too. 

  Spaghetti and meatballs and an angel.   
  We made homemade peanut butter cups. The boys were super helpful.   
    
This muddy cherub even got mud in my coffee! 

    I love Trav’s face peering over the cabinet. He made this little Lego guy.