Fall Festival

Returned from a fun Fall Festival with dress up and games this evening.  I brought home some early settlers with me.

Check out the badge.  Outlaws watch out!

Laura Ingalls

Howdy!

Donned a gingham shirt and bow in my hair for the festivities.

Disguised!

Can they look any goofier?!

Playing all night with their game prizes.

Last of organic and grain free cupcakes made all afternoon and won back in the cake walk with hot cocoa.  Goodnight!

Last Level 2 Swim Lesson

Local Community Parks and Rec has a great swim lesson program.  We took a two year break from lessons due to the chlorinated pool and simply forgetting about it.  I finally thought about lessons again and signed them up four weeks ago!  They took lessons twice a week this month and both gained a level.  Gabe proves to be a natural swimmer with long arms, and body that slices and glides beautifully through the water.  Last Tuesday, the chlorine tried to get the best of him though.  Maybe the pool had just been treated.  He looked poisoned, felt horrid, and didn't want to come today.  Today was super fun though with play time, and he came home not worse for wear.  He says he is good til next year, meaning a year from now.  I'm giving him a break, but planning to start right up next year, January.  Wish I'd had these lessons.

Birthday Girl!

Birthday Girl starting the morning with a little tummy ache for old time's sake!

Rebecca dressed for the party!

Lydia had already FaceTimed Dad and opened her first present.  A big surprise!

Lydia requested French toast, and I ordered a loaf of Blue Skies for this morning.

She perked up for breakfast, and tummy was happy even with some good old-fashioned gluten and maple syrup!

Ooh... presents!

10 Today!

Nice Fleece has thumb holes to keep wrists and palms cozy!

Gabe's envying those pjs.  Age 10 is the limit for Costco jammies.

Brother-Sister silent exchange.

Wrap and Ribbons

Mr Sketch - 40 years old.

Mmmm... smelly pens.

Have to smell all the colors!

Exchanging scents.

Thought it was so cute, them sharing the scents.

Oops.  Think I caught some on the nose!

What a pair.

Fun Graphic Shirt

Lydia got a jumper and shirt and had the knee socks.  She went and changed to look like a classic school girl.  She is with her birthday dinner, crustless French quiche in the works and birthday pie.

We made lemon meringue pie with almond crust, Internal Bliss GAPS lemon curd, and Against All Grain meringue.

This was the BIG surprise from Dad.  He said she could pierce her ears to show off these pearls.  She thought she was waiting until she was 14!

We had fun adding to a pretty table throughout the day, anticipating friends for dinner.

Ready to sit down with our friends for a meal of favorites, quiche, steamed peas, and a festive salad of local young fresh greens, pomegranate, and persimmon fruit.

Time for Birthday Pie!

Light the Candles!

We are all lit!

Lydia and Lillian

Happy Birthday!

10 Candles!

Almost out!

Not quite!

2nd breath....

End of the day.  Lydia is 10 at 10:02.

Lydia's goal at age 10 is to learn to embroider.  Gabe sent her on a treasure hunt for the gift of a first embroidery kit.  She learned some continental stitches this night.

Embroidery threads mixed with Lydia's longtime favorite game, Apples to Apples.