A Happy Hodge-podge (October 2011)

Some fun shots from the month that really didn't fit anywhere else...but too much fun to be forgotten.Joseph is enjoying his jump up contraption and Dad is playing games with the colors (sorry this one just turned out looking like a poorly lit warehouse)

A and J hanging out looking cute

Two of Joseph, because today was his day!

Hanging out in the new bed...

Annie helped Joseph give her dollie a piggy back ride. Classic. And no there really wasn't much ride that ended up happening...but little Baby Boop didn't complain, at least not out loud.

Now on to November...and LOTS to be Thankful for!

Scarecrow (aka Mr. Flower-Flower) October 2011

So Annie saw some scarecrows out on a drive one day and we thought well hay, we can make one of those. Darla found some old pants of Annie's and then she MADE A SHIRT AND A HAT in about 5 minutes...my basic contribution was hay procurement...beyond that it was the Darla and Annie show. Annie drew the face on this little guy whom she affectionately named Flower-Flower.

Anniversary: 5 Years (October 2011)

Five years in, we have two amazing kids and we decided to take them with us for a weekend get away. Granted it was not really that restful, but we had a great time. We headed to a cabin in the woods with no electricity, but that did have some water and heat. The weather was supposed to be rainy and cloudy but we had some beautiful patches of weather in between the down pours. The cabin is on the grounds of a retreat center which boast a small lovely lake...this bridge spans a narrow part of the lake.

And for some unexplained reason there was an old piano undercover on the bridge...Darla happens to play a little and apparently so does Annie.

This beautiful little guy stopped by for some sunshine and music.

Years ago they moved an old school house to the grounds and we took advantage of some lovely light to set up some anniversary pictures. Our camera also has a feature that allows us to pick up just one color...hence the emphasis on rustic brown in some of these images.

Annie walking out into a sun swept afternoon.

A little fun family photo.

The lake is wonderful in the late afternoon sun...Annie and Darla and I also gathered apples from the old orchard on the grounds and made homemade apple sauce back in the cabin.

We set out some home cooking on the table by the lake for our anniversary dinner, definately a 5 star establishment!

Some moonlight and hurricane lamps for the evening hours.

In the morning Annie got caught up on some home improvement reading.

Joseph got caught up on the way the inside of his eyelids look.

And Annie and I had some good old daddy daughter nap time.

Refreshed, Annie works on a bird house

and learns how to use a hand water pump to wash dishes (we didn't make her wash all the dishes...just the ones that were really really dirty HA!)

We stopped at the Cornelius Road House (where we got married 5 years ago!) and looked around the grounds as a family...the old eight sides barn still looks as inviting and rustically elegant as ever. Good memories, new and old.

And as Darla and I often say, sixty more years of marriage sounds just about right!

Annie's New Bed (October 2011)

About two months ago we got Annie a new bed...she went with me to pick it up and wanted to be in on putting it together...she was a BIG help. This is her "concentrating on a hard task" face.

Joseph encouraged us to keep up the good work!

Ta-Da! Bed is together and Annie is proudly occupying the space...but it seems to be missing something.

Ahhhh yes loads and loads of stuffed animals...perfect.

Halloween 2011

There are more photos from earlier in October but public demand has resulted in posting pictures not in chronological order. So Halloween 2011, first year in our new neighborhood and the consensus is that we are in a good candy part of Portland. Annie when asked the name of this holiday, told Darla that it is "Sugarween." I feel that she has understood the spirit of the day.

Joseph has no idea what to make of being dressed up in a Tiger costume...but he is ticklish and that's a trick and treat all rolled into one!

The sacrificial pumpkin...

Annie drew some of the designs for the pumpkin and added some decorations to the top.

Annie was a homemade pink Bunny and Joseph was a Tiger, in an outfit that makes a great sleeper

Joseph has not yet mastered his terrifying tiger face...I think he was a little nervous about the over sized pink bunny jumping around the yard.

Annie had a cute little bunny tail that struggled to stay on throughout the trick or treating adventures...but Dad resorted to duct tape and all was well.

At first she was some what hesitant to knock on strangers' doors but once she saw candy flowing into her bags she was very eager to go to as many houses as possible. A great time was had by all.