Halloween weekend

We had a beautiful, warm autumn weekend. Temps got up in the 60s-70s and the leaves are really beautiful right now. We took Alder to Maymont park - hundreds of acres with miles of walking paths, a petting zoo, and a Japanese garden (oh yes, and it was free!). Embarrassingly, this is the first time we have been there! We loved it and will certainly return again soon.

Oh, yes and Halloween: well, I am very thankful for hand-me-down costumes from generous neighbors! Especially since mom has not used her sewing machine in a LONG time.

What a change from last year!!

Our buddies we had not seen in awhile came over Friday to experience suburban halloween! We had a good time mostly hanging out around the house and eating dinner. We had several families of kids stop by - more than last year because I guess we know a few more folks now. Alder and Sylvia (or 'Ya-Ya" as Alder says it) wondered what the bigger kids were taking from the big shiny bowl, but did not seem too disappointed when they never got to know for themselves...

We walked around the neighborhood a little bit, but the kids were tired and not amused by all the lights and spooky yard decor.

This was a very fortuitous picture - big open mouthed smack right before Alder fell backwards on Tsuga's bed...swooning!