I Am A Rock.

By the time I dressed up I was so very tired.  I think it worked with my costume.  The mustache was made out of REAL HUMAN HAIR.  Yuck.  Garfunkel and I had a good time.  Micah's striped shirt is too much!  I think we look just like the album.

Garfunkel is gettin' some love!

Sissy is fighting storm troopers in her poodle skirt.

Sarah is too scary as the crazed mad scientist.

Kawai!

The Madness Begins...

Halloween was a long day.  We had been up pretty late the night before, due to a Darth Vader breastplate issue.  It got worked out.  I dropped the kids off at school and then came home to finish some last minute sewing.  Sarah and I ran around most of the morning getting things ready for later.  Then it was off to the school for costume changes and class parties.  The kids all looked so good for the school parade.  We were so lucky that the sun decided to come out!  I read a Halloween story to the 2nd grade and the heat was turned up sooo high I nearly passed out.  Okay, enough talk.  Here is Luke Skywalker on his way to Toshi Station to buy some power converters.

Darth Vader looking deadly.

This might be the coolest f-ing picture yet!

Darth Vader and Luke battle.

Lots o kids!

Pumpkin Mania, Part 2

We had tons of fun!  Everyone made such cool pumpkins.  Micah carved an Obama pumpkin for Sarah.  We ended up with cats, kanji and devils.  If you want to see more pictures, check out Sarah's blog.  Here is Micah's intricate design.

And Maya's modern birds.

And Aidan's spider on a pumpkin, on a pumpkin.

Sarah, Sean and Mako are proud to hold the Obama-pumpkin!

What are we scared of?

Pumpkin Mania, Part 1

The Stephens Clan and The Kassell/Mori/Blatter Tribe decided to come together for a night of pumpkin slaughter.  It's interesting how one remembers carving pumpkins as a child and it's not quite the same as carving pumpkins for your own children.  Hmmm.  Here is Ethan possessed by some evil spirit.

Sayo and Aidan having a merry time.

Oh no!  Hunter's a zombie too!

Bryn looks happy with that balloon.

Maya and her special dudes.  Nice face, Aidan.

Old Growth Hike

We went on a beautiful hike in Forest Park with Sayo.  She is an intern from Japan who has come to live with us. This was our first family excursion and it was really fun.  We took a wrong turn and our 3 mile hike became 6 miles.  Here is an old growth tree.

The light filters through the trees and everything is still.  Except the kids.

The dudes pose in front of a big tree.

Sayo is now part of our family.

Sayo takes a picture of the rest of us on the railroad tracks.  She says it reminds her of Stand By Me.

Apple Tasting Is Rad When No One Pukes!

Micah, Alison and Maya brave public transportation with the Pre-K class.  We took the bus to Portland Nursery for their Apple Tasting Festival.  We tasted almost 80 different apples and pears and lived to tell of it!  The only traumatic event was seeing a giant rat on our way to the Honey Bucket.  Here is a great shot of much of the class on wagons. 

Could Noah and Alison be any cuter?  I think not.

Eli is enjoying the apple cider pressing.

Ada is soooo excited to finally have some popcorn!!

Aidan and Nova enjoy a riveting puppet show.

Oceanside. Part Three.

This trip was so damn fun!  The weather was a dream.  The Pemberton Clan left on Saturday evening, so we had to entertain ourselves.  Aidan is rockin' his Kung Fu Panda impersonation. 

Ethan shows us how he stands on his head.

Maya and Micah pose for their yearbook photo.  Most likely to break up and then get back together 15 years later.

When the tide went out we saw this amazing starfish!

An entire wall of beauty.

Oceanside. Part Two.

What a beautiful sight!  We were blessed with the most gorgeous weather ever.  

Here is the great view from Dan's house.

Scott braving the scary cave to the secret beach!

Kyzen barely escaping the rushing water!

Aidan and Billie spent most of the trip running through the waves in their undies!

Pemberton/Kassell Clans at Oceanside. Part One.

In October we hopped in our Prius and travelled to the quaint coastal town of Oceanside.  Our friend, Dan Balmer, owns an awesome beach house there.  Oh Dan, how we thank thee!  Our dear friends, Clan Pemberton, joined us for some food, drink and beach-time merriment.  Aidan is in awe of his surroundings...

Billie is radiant as she chucks wet sand at me.

Cool art shot self portrait.  Love the beachy hair!

Ethan busts a move while building his sand empire.

Kyzen shows us her skills too.

Oh Joy!

I had to put this rad picture of Jen and I.  Jen lives in Eugene and came up for a day of shoppin' and drinkin'. Anthropologie and martinis.

Konkies and Conanza!

Best band in the world plays at Jimmy Mak's. The Konkies are a fun-time band of musician/designers and designer/musicians. Those lines get blurred after a load of tequila. Scott (Bjorn Borg) Pemberton on lead guitardo.

I want to grab my man-boobs.

Could Micah look any happier?  Drummers get all the lovin'.

.

Maya and Sarah wondering where the drummer went.

Maya with the Amazing Norman Buccola!