falltime

School started and we got into our new routine.  Drop off is a bit easier, with both kids at one spot.  They are in after school care together until Richard picks them up, and he often will find them playing together on the playground.  Owen started piano lessons this year, done at school on Monday afternoons.  He learns several new songs each week, and practices most nights at home.  He is really catching on and enjoying learning. Most practices go on longer then we anticipate, with him going backwards in the book and playing all the songs he likes plus repeating the new songs till he has them down.  He is also doing cub scouts this year, with the old gang of Cole and Evan.  Richard is the leader, and has them learning knots, doing flag ceremonies, and all the other requirements to get their wolf patch.  Owen's going to need to get a bit wider around since his belt is almost full of belt loops he's earned.  Owen is also working towards his First Communion in Sunday school, which will happen in the spring.  He has been learning many prayers and participating more in Mass.  Between these activities and homework, Owen is keeping busy!

We had a beautiful September and October, with the rains mostly staying away.  This meant trips to the farmers market and parks and more bike rides.  For my birthday/anniversary trip this year, Richard and I took the boys to the Great Wolf Lodge in Washington.  We had a fun 2 nights.  Both boys enjoyed the water park.  Owen most enjoyed the Wizard game, and he and Richard conquered the game before we left.  Ben's favorite was the arcade, where we earned enough tickets to get some small legos.

October brought more intense discussions on what to be for Halloween, with Owen searching online and finding a magicians outfit.  Since he's been keeping up with practicing his magic tricks, this was an appropriate costume for him.  Ben was sure he wanted to be a pirate, until he changed his mind and switched to a boy witch, based on the witch from the Wii's Just Dance 3's "This is Halloween" song.  We expected that this wasn't a final decision but prepared just in case.

Ben's class went to the Pumpkin patch early in October, a wise decision- they didn't need boots and have to walk through thick mud like we would went we went as a family later in the month.  I joined the class on the hunt for pumpkins, and they ended with cider and donuts.  Later the four of us returned and selected bigger pumpkins for the front porch (and got more donuts- yum).  Owen's class went to a different patch- Arlie Hills- which Owen now considers "the funnest patch in the world".  He liked it because there is a ginormous slide on hay bales.  He and his class had a fun time despite the chilly rainy weather.