Various

Playing dress-up out of the kitchen drawer.

Start 'em young.

Every year on Thanksgiving we dress up and do a "Turkey Trot" that ends up being more of a "Turkey Waddle" as we try to make our way to the park wearing awkward and ill-fitting costumes.

The day after Thanksgiving my cousin, Peter, had his sixteenth b-day party. He wanted it to be Lord of the Rings themed and we all had to attend dressed as a different character from the books/movies. My mom was clever and came as "Entie" Becky. The only time we ever dress up these days is when we're hanging out with my Aunt Connie's family.

Grandma and Grandpa Klassen are visiting from Ecuador for a month. They already spent a week with us and Levi was in his glory. One of his favorite things so far has been helping Grandma Mandy make cookies.

Halloween

Levi was a giraffe for Halloween. The costume was just a means to an end for him; his goal was to eat candy. In the photo above we are bribing him with candy so he'll keep his giraffe hood up. I can't believe it's come to this already. He now has three favorite words: "candy," "cake," and "cookie." We're going to have to watch this boy and help regulate his sweet tooth.

We went to our friends' house for dinner Halloween night. His buddies Belle (a fairy) and Lily (a gnome) helped celebrate. Then we went home to trick-or-treat around our neighborhood. Levi knew what to say, but was a little shy. He did manage to point and show some of our neighbors the moon, which was almost full that night. I guess that was enough because he scored a lot of candy.

Levi and Belle jammin' on the piano.

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we visited Stony Ridge Farm in Everson. It wasn't just a pumpkin patch; it was a fall extravaganza with farm animals to feed, fresh apple and pumpkin pie, apple cider doughnuts (my fave...warm and melt-in-your-mouth), little train rides, crafts, apple orchards, and wagon rides out to the patch. Levi loved running around looking at "punkins." He was little overwhelmed with the rest.

Kami came all way from Kelowna to help us pick out pumpkins (and to help celebrate my birthday). It was great having her.

Everyone who sees me hold Levi comments, "He's already half your size!" And here's proof they're right. He is 2' 8"... I'm 5' 3". Only 18 months and already over half my size. I can't believe he was ever in my belly.

Train Choo-Choo

A couple of weeks ago we went to the NW Washington Train Show. Levi is currently obsessed with trains. He had a lot of fun, but was a little overwhelmed. His favorite thing was a child-size train that he could go inside and play in.

Of Anniversaries and Reunions

August 24th was our seventh wedding anniversary. We went for a romantic walk down Taylor Dock to Boulevard Park where we played canasta and sipped coffee. It was a ton of fun and very relaxing. It reminded me of when we were first married and played cards all the time. We don't have quite as much time for cards these days. :)

My roommate from college, Julianne, and her husband, Joel, came for a visit. It was great to reconnect with her and to get to know Joel a bit more. We showed them around Bellingham and played a rousing of rook. We also got together with our other two roomies in Vancouver one evening, but I forgot to bring my camera.

Cutie Pie

He received a green sucker after getting his hair cut yesterday and, of course, he was sticky all over.

GGpa and GGma Overland

Way back in May we visited Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Overland. It was a lovely visit, and Levi absolutely LOVED Grandpa's walker.

Walla Walla and Wallowa

Walla Walla and Wallowa. Can you say that ten times fast?

Mid-June Mom, Levi, and I headed SE to visit my friend, Katie, from college. We stayed in Walla Walla for two days and visited the Whitman Mission, Ft. Walla Walla, and a couple of wineries. Oh, and we ate at this great French restaurant that was tres kid-friendly.

The Whitman Mission was a very interesting and solemn experience.

There was an old covered wagon on the mission grounds that Levi had a grand time playing in. My mom has always loved the "pioneer days" and covered wagons--and she loves Levi, too, so I had to take a picture of the two of them beside it.

Katie and I on her doorstep. She was a fabulous hostess and showed us about Wallowa Co. (as much as two days allowed.) It is a beautiful piece of this country. She calls it "The Shire," and I see why: community is rich, life is lived closely to the land, it is hedged in by mountains, and even its women have hairy feet :).

Yes, we are sitting on a giant chair. We hobbit folk are small.

One of my better photographs, I think.

Beautiful Wallowa Lake

I feel that this welcome mat by Katie's front step is very fitting. It is bright, cheery, and welcoming--just like Katie and her home.