happy halloween

We had an amazing Halloween - the weather was perfect (a triumph itself in rainy Portland), the kids were happy and the neighbors on the street all celebrated together.





Em was a pretty, pretty princess and E was a dangerous ninja. Em found a lollipop ten minutes into the evening and that made her entire night.

E looks grumpy in this picture but he was actually trying to look like a tough ninja. Em totally kept up with the boys, running from house to house.

E had a school parade and class party - lots of candy, games and costume modeling.

Astoria Goonies weekend

We had a great time recreating scenes from The Goonies during our weekend trip to Astoria with the Davis family. The kids patiently went along with all of the stops though the posing got a bit silly.
This is the jail from the opening scene when one of the Fratelli brother's escapes.


Here is the Goonies house. The owners are VERY nice to welcome visitors on foot - and the view is amazing from up here.

We also hit the Maritime Museum where the kids could run around a real ship . . . . we loved the whole weekend.

children of the corn . . . er, pumpkin patch

I love this kids! They had the best time and so did we! Marfie did a great job finding a good old-fashioned farm for our pumpkin picking.

fall knitting projects

So, so happy to have wrapped up Em's swing coat and E's matching hat. I fell in love with this jacket from the Mason-Dixon knitting book - the same one I found the Emma Peel dress in.




I used KnitPicks yarn, repurposed three buttons from an old shirt of mine, and embroidered the sweet little ferns freehand. I made E a sort-of matching hat and I am also making one for Tall House Double Cup.
Em loves it - yea!

Action shot.

first haircut

Em had her first haircut today. She has tons of fine hair, a million different lengths, with a big chunk that kept falling in her eyes. So we asked for a little fringe bang and some length off the back. It turned out not quite what we were after but still so, so sweet. Em was a little worried but got through the cut like a trooper.

em's new smock

I finished this new smock for Em this weekend. The fabric is by Jay McCarroll (Project Runway Season 1 winner). I made the binding myself so it's a little home-ec looking but it will work fine for a school outfit. The pretty fabric is carrying the outfit rather than the skills of the seamstress.

brixton brothers

labor day weekend

Labor Day weekend in Manzanita.

first grade

Today was E's first day of first grade. We were all terribly excited and four adults accompanied him right into class (it was a bit much). We've heard great things about the teacher and E's favorite friend from last year is in his class. My stomach was in knots getting ready for the day - and once he was off to class, the Mama Mafia hit up Petite Provence for coffee and yummies.

mariner's game

The boys hit a Mariner's game up in Seattle - all decked out in their gear.

great wolf lodge end of summer blowout

We headed up to Washington for an overnight at Great Wolf Lodge - a huge waterpark/playland/kids' haven.

The kidlets loved the waterpark. Em was a little young for the whole thing but busied herself wading around while Ev went INSANE on the waterslides.

The kids did an interactive fantasy game where you run around the resort, pointing your wand at thing that come to life. There was some kind of elaborate point system that Tall House, Double Cup and Ev understood. Em and I were just happy with the frilly wand.

The whole trip was fueled by the Starbucks in the lobby. Score a big one for the resort.

We'll definitely go back again. It's exhausting but the kids loved it!

Enchanted Forrest

Tall House, Double Cup took the kidlets to Enchanted Forest last weekend while I did some painting projects around the house. I've never been to this sweet and shabby little park. They LOVED it. Videos below.

farm camp

There were so many things to love about farm camp - but here is what makes me swoon. Evan knit this hat himself! Sweet love! Here he is posing at Blackberry Hammocks (every area of the farm has a sweet little name) and yes, that's a family of ducks swimming behind him.






E and his best friend Will, wearing the caps they knit.

The old barn is where the teen counselors hung out and where the smaller vegetable garden is. E was SO comfortable on the property - he gave us a tour of all the nooks and crannies where the kids really made their own world. Such a treat.

the avengers dress

This is definitely the cutest thing I've ever knit for Em. It's the Emma Peel dress from the Mason-Dixon knitting book. I used KnitPicks CotLin which is a cotton/linen blend.













Side view. I love it so much, I may need to start another one in the next size up.





The back has a sweet keyhole that buttons up. A first for me to make.

guest blogger - 6 year-old gentleman farmer

E is going to guest blog this entry. He's spending the week at farm camp and brought home this bounty tonight.
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I am spending the week at farm camp and I brought home vegetables. I feel great about all the vegetables I picked. I am holding a bottle of vinegar in my hand. We made the vinegar with herbs. My favorite thing at farm camp is Villages - that's where we build stuff with sticks. And I like boating on the pond. My friend Will is at my camp. That's pretty much it.

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Em and Mara didn't want to be left out of the vegetables. I love the little potatoes and beets - and two perfect French radish. Handfuls of herbs were thrown in the bag too. Tomorrow night's dinner will be tres creative.

beach vacation

Pictures from our beach vacation . . .
















The boys loved horseback riding. Emme couldn't stop requesting her own pony all week long. Evan is on Cowboy and Jeff is on Trigger.

The Davis family joined us for a couple of days.

goodnight from the beach

I'll admit I am advance blogging this by a couple of days because I'll be mostly offline for vacation - but just admit it - you wish you were here right now too, no? Hello from the beach!