We got the kids' Halloween costume yesterday! Nana Kaplan made them both by hand again this year and she has reset the bar very high. We had a blast watching the kids try them on. Sophia loves her cat costume and can't wait to go trick or treating. Nate makes a great organ-grinder monkey. What fun!! Thanks to Nana Kaplan!

Sophia's 3-year Check-up

Gracie had her 3 year well child check-up this morning. In true form, she managed to talk the doc's ear off. All is well! She is 36 lbs (82nd percentile) and 38.5" (75th percentile). They took her blood pressure and she sat very still ("like a statue") through the process. She was delighted when the nurse gave her a brand new book and was even more excited when the doc said she could have 3 stickers (rather than the usual 1) after the appointment was over. She is getting over a cold right now and the doc felt as though she sounded a bit wheezy so she prescribed an inhaler (just like dad's) for her until her cough and congestion are gone. She goes back in 2 weeks for her flu shot. Yeah!

Holy Cow!!

Well, it was an exciting night in Silverton. We were attempting to watch the 3rd and final (thank god) presidential debate tonight when, all of the sudden, we were set upon by bovine madness. We walked outside onto our front porch and what did we see? That's right.....a cow...walking down the middle of the street...with a policeman following it on foot. The cow was large and must have been attempting a brave escape from an undeniably bleak future as a pallet of O'berto jerky...on sale at Costco. Sophia walked out onto the porch, "Look Mommy! Look Daddy! A cow in the street!"

We watched the cow meander down the street, zig-zagging from one side of the road to the other, all the way down the block and to the right, onto Pioneer Avenue, to Grammy's house.

We called Grammy and gave her the heads-up.

There is something comforting, quaint, surreal, and authentic about living in a place where you can walk outside at dusk, in your subdivision, and see a cow parade. Cheers to you all - Steers for us.

More on love...

Love according to Sophia...

Sunday Morning:
"Love is when someone helps you clean your house."

Monday Evening:
"Love is when you do something you like to do -- like building with blocks, or putting money in your piggy bank, or going pee pee and poo poo on the potty all by yourself."

Oh and, by the way, Nate is REALLY walking now (as in, not really crawling anymore).

Megan

Sophia said it....

Tonight, in the middle of her bedtime story Sophia stopped me and said, "Daddy, do you know what love is?"

I told her I did not and she said, "Love is when someone likes you a lot and you're special, and they dream about you"

I could not have said it better myself.

Uh-oh!

Welp, Nate is saying it. Yes, in addition to 'Mama" and "Dada", Nate is saying "uh-oh". He was playing with a mylar balloon this evening and kept letting go of it and every time it floated up and hit the ceiling he would say "uh-oh". Sophia and I thought it was quite funny, which inspired him to do it even more.

Nate is cutting his top two teeth so, needless to say, we are having some difficult nights these days. Poor little guy. He's so happy despite the discomfort. Sophia loves preschool so far. Her teachers have lots of nice things to say about her (she's a great communicator, she has a long attention span, etc.) So far, so great.

Dan & I are getting away this weekend for the first time in a LONG time. Thank you mom for making that happen for us! We're going up to Portland for a concert on Sunday night and then spending the night downtown at the Governor Hotel. We are excited to say the least!

Here are some very recent shots (some from this evening). Enjoy!

Megan