Annual Tree Decorating at Grandma and Grandpa's house

A few years ago a large artificial tree was purchased in order to keep the house in one piece and not require a chain saw to remove it after Christmas.   This new tree requires the smashed branches to be fluffed up and wire connected which is pretty time intensive.

Ah, brother and sister selfie with bunny ears.

Most of the fun decorating a tree involves climging a ladder which these two do famously.

Hard at work.

After setting up, nap time during the decoration time.   Note Randy was decorated.

Supervisor Annie watches during her nap.

The start is attached.

Placing the ornament just right.

Imitating Randy sleeping.

Cousins!

Puzzle time!

Thanksgiving 2014

In the past, tradition was started on holidays with the mandatory game of pool.   Usually, the players consisted of Kevin and Julie with others randomly joining in the festivites.

This year the pool sticks were passed on to members of the new generation.   

The kids were learning the game from the original big kid who loves competition.

Sticking the tongue out helps with concentration and is an inherited trait.

Washing the dishes after the meal.

Great conversation around the table.

Color it green!

We decided to get rid of the white walls and chose a color of green which was light but also cozy.   The outcome is taking us some time to get used to but we find it a nice change.

The green we selected was in this painting of Todd Lake.

The other walls.

Our cozy fire during this cold season.

Twinkle lights.

Corduroy visits Corduroy

The highlight of the week was the long awaited visit of the class Corduroy!   Each child has a night to bring home Corduroy and play with him.   Then the evening has a journal entry and illustration in the class Corduroy book.   

Sabrina was given a Corduroy of her own when she was very young and we have read the first book at bedtime for years.  So needless to say, she was excited to have the two meet.   

Being that it was a super cold day, the three of them sat by the fire with cocoa warming up.   Then Sabrina's big project was to sew a quilt for the two friends.   Although she did not do the cutting, she did iron the fabric carefully and sat at the machine and steered the fabric.   The scraps of fabric were left over pieces from a quilt that is being made for her using old receiving blankets for the backing.  The project was a great skill booster.   The two Corduroys enjoyed sitting underneath it catching up on what bears do.

Halloween 2014

Halloween had a couple of stages this year:  carving a pumpkin and roasting seeds with extended family and then carving a pumpkin and dressing up as Mad Cat on the actual date.

Sabrina was allowed to draw on her pumpkin but the actual carving was done by an adult.

Mark assists in the carving process.

Daddy applies the nose and whiskers to Mad Cat!

Mad Cat was a little sickly on Halloween and so she had to tour with her own personal veterinarian.

Showing the claws.

All ready to go.

Showing the growly face.

Kindergarten

During the summer months Sabrina harvested some flower seeds which we delivered to her teacher for her garden.

The first day of school!   A day of new beginnings and friendships.

The first day of school was not cold out but Sabrina wanted to dress up for the leaving of the house.   

For the first few weeks, Sabrina brought a friend to school in her backpack.   Eventually she decided to leave her friends in the car.

Cheese!   Most days these braids were in hair when we left but were the first thing to be removed.

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip.   Waiting for her friend to get off the bus.

Before selecting their pumpkins, the class was given refreshments and allowed to play in the corn box.   Unfortunately, the skies opened up and dumped water on us as the kids were riding on the tractor to find their pumpkins.

Clear Lake and House Rock Camp Ground

Towards the end of September we decided to take advantage of the beautiful Oregon Fall and spent time at Clear Lake.  

There we could rent a boat and we had our lunch out on the lake.   Rowing sure takes getting used to and the wind kept blowing us off our path.

Lunchtime

After lunch we stopped at House Rock Camp Grounds.   This site was a place where Randy's family used to camp when he was a boy.   The old stage coach ruts on part of the trail bring the early history back to a modern period.

A cave along the path.  Fun to explore.

One large tree!

Near the base of the water falls.

Some of the plants along the path were edible.