Happy Halloween!

Our cute little Dinosaur (or Dragon/Aligator/Crocodile depending on who asked him.)Testing to see if his "growler" works.

Trick-or-Treating with Dad.

DJ abd Evan with full buckets!

A Blustery Day

'Twas a bit windy out this evening...our neighbors lost a branch. A big branch. There's no trick photography here, folks. The limb they lost was as tall as their house. Unfortunately for us, it fell on our power line and ripped it off the side of our house.Since the power lines were laying in the middle of the street, the power company elected to cut the juice to our neighborhood. (Good move.) After a call to the power company, the non-emergency police number, a local electrician, and our homeowners insurance, it was all put back together and the power turned back on. Thank goodness no one was hurt!

Art Festival, Fire Department Open House, Driveway Races, and the Zoo!

The downtown Arts Festival is the second week in October every year. This year we walked down. It seemed like a good idea at the time: get some exercise, see some art, eat some ice cream...until the temper tantrum. This picture was about 10 minutes before Evan had a major meltdown and had to be carried home (after 6 blocks of a squirming, screaming, 45-lb. kid, Jeremy went home to get the Jeep while Evan and I sat in a time out.) It was a great day, but not such a great ending.Making a T-shirt (before the ice cream cone.)

The next day we stopped down at the Fire Department for their open house. Evan was a bit apprehensive at first, but once we got him in the truck it was hard to get him out!Thumbs up Uncle Justin! We are so proud to have a firefighter in the "family!"Jeremy and Evan drew a chalk race track in our driveway, complete with safety cones. Evan Jeremy tested it out! Side note: the tractor doesn't steer as well with a full-grown man riding it.

It rode much better for Evan - he even attached his red wagon to the back and pulled it around.

Our monthly trip to the zoo. New family favorite: Colobus Monkeys!

October fun

A few weeks ago it rained hard for two days straight. It was enough to make the river overflow and cause a bit of damage south of here. It was beautiful out yesterday and we headed to Colvill Park. In the photo below you can still see the levee wall (about mid-photo with a group of seagulls perched on it.) I am always looking for fun indoor things for Evan to do throughout the fall/winter. I enrolled him in swim lessons at the Y and he absolutely loves it! I love it, too, because the swim instructors stay in the water with him and I get to watch from the hot tub!Nice form! Maybe Evan will be on dive team when he goes to school.

And this is how I spend my time...a "normal" afternoon in the Nelson household: Evan, wearing NO pants, MY shoes, and a canvas bag over his head calling "MOM....MOM....LOOKATMEE!!! I'M A FUNNY GUY!" You sure are, Evan. You sure are!

A busy weekend!

Last Sunday Evan and I headed to Happ-E-Hills pumpkin patch with Grandma Barb, Aunt Tracy, and cousins Katarina and Victoria. (Evan thinks Katarina looks like Belle from Beauty and the Beast and therefore calls her "Princess Katarina.")

Evan's beautiful cousins!
Posing with Grandma

There were kiddie-tractors (of course, Evan picked the pink one)...

A petting zoo (Grandma's favorite were the piglets, Evan's favorite were the bunnies)...

Horse rides ("Buddy" was a bit suborn and wouldn't pose for a picture)...

A hay maze with big bales to climb and jump on...

And, of course, a pumpkin patch. Evan picked out a little one that we will paint or carve this weekend. I had to get a picture of Evan by the "How Tall This Fall" board - its become a tradition!
The night before we attended a friend's wedding and were lucky enough to sit by the Neumanns at the reception. It was beautiful but a bit chilly.

The Happy Couple: Annie and Derek"WOW MOM! This is a GOOD cupcake!"

Emma and Evan = cupcake aftermath. Emma referred to herself this night as "Emma Nelson" and if you ask Evan what his name is he sometimes says "Evan Neumann." So cute. Maybe someday...