Travis is another year older

When I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, he said nothing special.  So, we stayed home and I baked him his favorite Chicago styled stuffed crust pizza for dinner and made him a sad looking German chocolate cake for dessert.

Halloween

It's not quite Halloween yet, but the kids are ready thanks to our Stake's Trunk-or-Treat Night.  Shelby is a butterfly - something she's been planning for several month now.  I'm glad I was able to find a costume for very little $$.  Gretchen is a puppy.  Shelby wore the puppy costume 4 years ago - it's cute to see it being used again. 

Bauman Farms

A sunny, non-raining day in Oregon NEEDS to be utilized.  We spent the warm, dry afternoon at Bauman Farms!  Apple cider donuts, candy, popcorn and the pumpkin patch.  So fun!  It was really hard to get a good picture of the girls together.  After a while I gave up and just decided to enjoy the day without worrying about getting the right photo.  Way more fun that way.  

 
Best shot of both girls in the patch....

Best shot of both girls by the hay bales...

Such a great day!! Blue skies!!!

My parents brought their dog, Kitzel.  Kitzel met a pig for the first time.  She wanted to play.  The pig did not. 

The goat was enormously pregnant.  And we didn't feed her the food she was expecting...poor thing...

Violin Lessons

Shelby started taking violin lessons from Sister Jeanette at Marylhurst University.  Sister Jeanette taught Travis (and the rest of his siblings) how to play...and it seemed fitting to carry on the tradition.

 

She's in Kindergarten

Shelby started Kindergarten today at Beavercreek Elementary.  She's in Mrs. Livermore's class; the kids call her Mrs. L.

Driving to school this morning I asked Shelby how she was feeling.  Was she excited? Anxious? Nervous? Scared?  Her response to my question; she said she feels like its raining.  It was raining, but I was hoping I'd get more insight about how she felt on the inside rather than what she felt on the outside. 

I on the other hand had a funny tingling feeling in the palms of my hands - the kind of feeling I get when I'm anxious or doing something new and exciting.  We arrived to school early becuase I had to get Shelby's vaccination record up to date and Shelby ended up being the first kid to come to class.  Shelby didn't waste any time; she hung up her coat and backpack and was off doing kindergarteny things.   The next 13 years is going to be great!
 

Gretch and I had a good time waiting for Shelby's bus.  

Looking and waiting!

There it is!!!

There she is!

PCC Employee Fair

I say it every year and I'll say it again.  The PCC Employee fair Travis' work puts on is the best thing ever!! All the fair foods you can eat, all the rides you want to ride, all the games and activities you want to do.  All for free! It's the bomb.  It's also the best way to end the summer!

Yes, Gretchen is eating a flower and instead of taking it from her I took of picture of it instead. 

 

The 5-Year Old

Shelby is 5!  For her birthday she wanted to be able to wear her Sleeping Beauty costume dress all day.  So, I let her. 

She wanted to go to lunch at Sweet Potatoes.  (Most people call it Sweet Tomatoes) So we took her.  She was excited her Dad could come even though he was at work.

  

She wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  So she got one.

 She shared the cake with her Uncle Ryan, who had a birthday a few days before.

She wanted the party at the splash park so she could get wet in the fountains.  So we partied there and I forgot to bring her swimsuit.

She wanted her family to come.  So they came.

And she got presents!

And she got a violin, which is thinks she's excited for...  We'll wait until lessons start for her to make-up her mind completely....

She is already looking forward to turning 6!