Fall Picks

Grainy photo, but I like how her face is framed.

Celebrated Curts bday! 48!

Matthew got this robot for his birthday, but Kyra has claimed it. She loves the thing!

XC - All City Star

So, as you saw in earlier posts, Matthew participated in a city-wide XC program. All public and private schools were involved. There were two regional meets, then the all city meet for those who qualified.

Matt and his good buddy Sam made it! Way to go boys!

Kyra was getting tired of waiting for Matt's race to start.

Start line with about 50+ first grade boys. All ready to run!

Matt is on the right, in the white shirt with green stripes and black shorts.

There's Matt, racing to the finish line.

Matt in the center, waiting to get his certificate.

Matt did amazing. As he likes to say, he's the fifth fastest first grader in the entire city! He cut about 20 seconds off of his time at this meet - 3:34 for a half mile. Not bad!

EWU Football

Another fall family tradition is to go to a Eagles football game with some friends of ours that have a son that is Matt's age. We were lucky - it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon. This is the first time we sat in the end-zone. Best place ever to watch games. You get to catch field goal kicks, it's not crowded, and we had the whole back row to ourselves. Go eags!

Winter Squash

Every fall we get a ton of winter squash from our CSA. We don't want to carve it and waste the food - so we cut out felt shapes and glue onto the squash. They make great Halloween decorations. When we want to eat the squash, simply peel off felt, wash, and bake.

Two pumpkin heads.

XC - Meet #2

Three peas in a pod - Sam #3, Matt #1 and Alex #2, getting ready for cross country meet #2.

Way to go Matthew - First Place!

Who's happier - the runner or his dad?

Greenbluff

Every fall, we take a drive up to Greenbluff (a farming community north of us) and go to or favorite orchard to stock up on apples, go buy pumpkin donuts and play around.

In the hay maze.

Future farmer here!

Cross Country

Matthew was able to participate in SD81 XC program this fall. All 28 elementary schools get to participate, divide into 4 regions of 7 schools. There were two regional meets, and then a final all city meet.

These photos are from the first meet. I need to download photos from the second meet and the all city meet that happened this week.

Matt got first place at the two regional meets, and 5th place in the all-city meet. Way to go Matthew!

Buddies - Sam, Alex and Matt

Waiting at the start line for their turn.

Look at him go!

Running to the finish shoot - First place!

Fall Fair

We usually go to the fair every September. The kids have a great time looking at all of the animals, and even getting to pet some of them.

This is a totally mellow rooster - he love to be pet.

As the kids were petting him, the rooster fell asleep. I guess he had a long weekend at the fair.

Fall 2011 Soccer

Mathhew played soccer this fall. He's really enjoying the sport. Here are some photos from a game early in September.

First Day of First Grade

Matthew with his good buddy Sam - waiting to go into the school.

RUSH and 4th of July

We went camping over 4th of July - it was OK. Didn't have respectful neighbors. Oh well. Live and learn - don't go camping on a holiday weekend.

Kyra liked doing dishes and playing in the dish tub with clean water.

The main reason we went camping was for Curt to take Matthew to RUSH - he loved it. A couple a years ago, Matthew heard "Working Man" (a RUSH song) on the radio. He came running into the house saying, "Mom, there's this totally awesome rock and roll band, Working Man. We heard them on the radio. They're awesome!" And from then out, he's been a huge RUSH fan.

Summer Vacation - Seattle & Anchorage

We had an early summer trip this year - we left as soon as Matthew was out of school for the summer. We drove to Seattle to go to Margee's 20th HS reunion (no pictures), then flew to Alaska to attend Curt's 30th HS reunion (no pics).

We had a great time visiting Curt's parents, his brothers Scotty and Aaron and their families. The kids loved being with their cousins. We went hiking, we visit relatives, museums, it was non-stop fun. Matthew wants to move to Alaska. Unfortunately, I lost a bunch of photos somehow - so no pics of epic hikes, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Darn. I'm guessing the kids played with the camera and deleted files.

Kyra and Matthew at their favorite part of the Seattle Aquarium.

First day in Alaska, took the Scotty Chambers cousins to the zoo. They had a great time running around!

Kyra, Curt, Saylah

Aunt Kathy and the kiddos.

Curt, and cousins Kahleena, Kyra and Torin - hanging out at a park, listening to music with a picnic lunch.

Big cousin Kiel with the young clan - Matthew, Torin, Kyra and Kahleena.

Kyra fell in love with Moriaha and Keils dog, Galacian.

Mmmmmmm....watermellon.