October: Cross Country, Pumpkin Patch, Halloween

 We had a great October and lots of fun introducing Saki to some fun American fall traditions. She ran quite a few cross country races and improved almost every race from her time before. We were all proud of her for trying a new sport and for being so diligent with practice and showing up with her team for races.

Saki played violin for a few years in Japan and really enjoyed this concert with a violin soloist...I loved the outfit she was wearing!

We visited the twins in Corvallis and went for a little walk up to a logging competition site

I love having all the kids together:)

Our backyard squirrel wanted to make a new friend but Peter was not having it!

Saki hiked in the Ape Caves with some other exchange students and had lots of fun

Saki prepared a traditional Japanese dish for us, Okonomiyaki

Hyrum and I took the Dan out for one last sail before we pull it out of the water for the season. It was a beautiful day...

...Hyrum couldn't resist a little (skinny) dip in the river.  He said the water was freezing!

We enjoyed a lovely choral performance by Voces8

My sister Kristen's niece (Savannah Porter) is in the group

I toured a Swedish home here in Portland with my friends Sherry and Robin

It's a historic home with lots of Swedish decorations and the man (red vest) grew up here as a boy and still lives in this house. He opens it for tours a few times a year.

We had to say hello to Ole Bolle troll which is located in this same area

We traveled down to Corvallis to go to a pumpkin patch with the twins. The sign says corn "maze" but Emerson said it was more of a corn "walk" because you really couldn't get lost:)

Saki's first time picking out a pumpkin in a real pumpkin patch!

I hosted my October book club. We read "Fahrenheit 451"...

...I was really proud of the cake decorations I came up with

Hyrum stopped on his way home from work one day to take this photo of a double rainbow...I believe we live in the most beautiful part of the world:)

Gorgeous fall colors on a walk around the neighborhood

We took Saki bowling. She had bowled many times before and was really good...but Steve still won overall:)

My friends and I went to a Halloween party as Gandalf and some Hobbits:) We won for best "group" costume:)

We went to a really fun Halloween concert and all of the musicians were dressed up for Halloween. It was a great concert!

Saki went to a pumpkin carving party with the other exchange students in the Portland area

Time to say goodbye to the Dan for the season. We had a sunny day to take the boat out of the water and everything went smoothly until we tried to pull the boat out of the water with the trailer. The rope snapped and Hyrum had to try to winch the boat out of the water without the rope. Super frustrating but we got it out in the end!

Saki's final cross country race of the season. Here she is with most of her teammates.

With the other Junior Varsity girls

Katrina came to cheer her on! Well done on your cross country season Saki!

Just another beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest!

Julian carved his pumpkin on Halloween Eve

Very cute!

A few people dressed up for Halloween at our spin class

Hyrum and his nurses at work went for a Toy Story themed Halloween

Saki and I got pedicures together...

...I got red and she got green (very Christmasy!)

Saki and Julian went to a Halloween party. I think they look super cute:)

We had to end our Halloween night watching Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin.  What a great October we had!

A Fun Weekend in Seattle

 Julian and Saki had a Friday off of school so we decided to take a very quick, last minute trip up to Seattle to show Saki a new and fun city. We had great weather and explored the city (my first time up the Space Needle). For a quick trip we got to see lots of things and I think everyone had a great time:)

Seattle Center

Fun fountain with space needle in the background

At the top of the space needle...

...I really hated being up so high!

Dave Chihuly museum of glass

Our hotel had a Pokemon theme...pretty funny!

Ivars Fish and Chips

Feeding the seagulls at Ivars

The view from our hotel rooftop

We had a great time walking around the Pike Place market

Saki wanted to visit the original Starbucks

This Little Piggy went to market:)

Crazy gum wall!

We took the ferry from Seattle over to Bremerton. The ferry is such a great way to see Seattle from the water as well as enjoy seeing some of the Sound..such a beautiful day!

We went a bit out of our way to go to Dick's drive-in on our journey home but it was Julian's special request...he loves Dick's!