halloween preview

First day of preschool for kate and first day of halloween for the rest of us. It's a month long celebration culminating at anne and dug's haunted house in october. Who doesn't love a chance to dress up?

Mt Rose

5 miles with 5 kids at 8000 feet up mt. rose to the waterfall = exhasting. But we did it. Lake Tahoe was beautiful as ever, and Ella passed the time by learning about survival. (We are going to buy her a pocket knife this week.)


Ella packed her own backpack. She brought Tina, her stuffed puppy, her blanket, sunglasses, a pear, a pop tart, paper and pencil in case she needed to draw a map. It is fun to see how her mind works.

Then there is kate. We now tell people we have "2 kids and a kate." She has been quite a handful lately. This is her new hair cut. All the layers are her own.

Dash is a man's man

Nevermind the fact he likes to push my mom's cat around in a pink stroller.

ella's long awaited day . . .

Dash had the flu. Then ella had the flu. But all was forgotten when ella lost her tooth. Hurray! She was much happier than she looked in the picture. P.S. what is with the wind in this town?

Girls night out

A couple of us went to get our nails done and watched this shortly after. SO FUNNY. Will definately give you a laugh . . .

Pretty things

I want to make a few of these flag pennants. They are so pretty. They make me happy just looking at them.

free range kids

I am excited about this book. Just thought i would post in case any of you are interested in reading a book about raising self-reliant, smart and resilient kids . . .