It's 5 o'clock and dark outside. Can't believe how the days change so quickly. The kids are playing nicely together. I'm missing Keith and can't wait to see him tomorrow. It looks like we have finally figured out all the details for our move. Yeah! I have movers coming to my house on Monday, November 23, to pack up all the valuables, and the moving truck comes on Tuesday, November 24, to drive them away. We will stay for Wednesday, November 25, so the kids can attend their Thanksgiving feasts with their classes. Then we take off to spend Thanksgiving in Salem, Oregon. We will leave Salem and drive straight to Provo, Utah sometime that weekend so the kids can go to school on Monday! Whew. Hope I can get it all together. Looking forward to being together as a family.

I was showing my kids my cousin Emily's halloween pictures on her blog 'cause they love Star Wars, and they live in Utah, and we all will get together, etc. Anyway, Tate comments, "did you know that Anikan can beat up Darth Vader?" I have some explaining to do. I say, "actually, Anikan IS Darth Vader." My kids respond, "Whoa!" I guess they'll figure it all out one of these days when I actually let them watch the movies. Here's my cousins website... she's super creative and she somehow remembers all the fun things her kids say! http://waltonsinoakley.blogspot.com/ And she (princess Leia) and her kids look great in their costumes.

I've noticed that many of you have posted your halloween pictures, so I had better get it together! I didn't take too many pictures this year and the kids dressed up in lots of different costumes, well I guess Emma stayed with her witch costume for most of the time. For school, Tate was a pirate, for the trunk-or-treat, Tate was Darth Vader (right before the trunk-or-treat Tate was a vampire), for Halloween, Tate was Batman and for the cute picture that I took of both of them and their Jack-o-Lanterns they were Cinderella and the Incredible Hulk! The kids had a blast this year and managed to run me ragged from house to house. Somehow Keith managed to stay home to pass out candy. It was fun to watch the kids however and I realize that they will grow up too soon. I saw a few families with grown kids sitting outside with their bonfires and thought that would be fun one day. But for now, I will relish in the excitement and enthusiam of my two elementary aged kids and wish for them to never grow up.

For Keith's birthday this year we spent the day in Seattle and Keith and the kids took the Sounder! They had such a great time. I met up with them in Pioneer square and then we drove down to Pike Place Market for French pasteries and Russian piroshki. Yum!
Emma wearing her glasses with her new haircut. It's been a few months since her haircut, but I love this picture. She's looking so grown up.

My sister just entered an amazing post about our summer vacation in CA! Go to the link below to see what I was up to in the month of June. Cheers! Catherine

http://owensfamilysmiles.blogspot.com/

A bonus picture of a family night when we were kids!

The boys on their bikes and Emma with some fresh Strawberries. What could be better than this at Grandma and Grandpa Call's?!You guessed right. The Boardwalk!!!! Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk baby!
Here's Beth and Seth on the log ride.
Lots of us on the FREE FALL..... Shawn, Tate, Seth, Emma and Me!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My Dad by Emma

10 I love my Dad because he reads me books.
9 I love my Dad because he helps me to be kind.
8 I love my Dad when he makes me laugh by doing silly dances.
7 I love my Dad because he taught me how to ride my scooter.
6 I love to hear my Dad sing Beat It.
5 I love my Dad because he finds time to go bike riding.
4 I know my Dad cares because he gives me big hugs.
3 I know my Dad is smart because he reads a lot and has glasses.
2 I love my Dad because he works so hard at work.
1 I love my Dad because he's the BEST DAD EVER!

Happy Father's Day, Dad! Love, Emma

My daddy is pretty old years old.
He weighs 28 lbs.
His hair is bald and his eyes are green.
My dad loves to relax by laying on his bed and he likes to wear short sleeves.
He loves to cook hot dogs.
His favorite chore is making his bed.
His favorite TV show is boxing and his favorite song is nothing.
Daddy always says he loves me.
It makes my dad happy when he gets to go to McDonalds .
When my dad shops, he loves to buy hot dogs.
If he could go anywhere on a trip, he would go to Oregon-California and he would bring his suitcase.
I really love it when my dad goes boating in Oregon.

I love you dad!!

Love, Tate

Saturday morning the kids were up early and we went to the San Jose fairgrounds to watch Uncle Dan ride his dirt bike. Tate, Conner and Emma thought this was soooo cool. Here's Uncle Dan mid-air. Marnie and I tried hard to get a good picture but this is the best I could do. I do have a great video but I have to figure out how to post it still.
Marnie with the kids. They all wanted to sit by her and she was a good sport! We had lunch at Chevy's which we don't have in or near Auburn, WA plus Keith doesn't really like to go their either but I love their chips and SALSA! YUM.