Friends Thanksgiving

Bernie and I hosted our fifth annual friends thanksgiving with my best girlfriends from college and their families. This year was extra fun (and a little chaotic) because we included all of the kids. It is always fun to get together with this group :)

Just another day in paradise....

Husky Days!

We have had another great year of Husky football and great times with great friends. Here are a few pics of the last few games!

Closing out Husky Stadium in Style!

Happy Halloween

The cute caterpillar and the beautiful butterfly. 

This was actually Ella's costume idea since in her preschool class last year they had caterpillars and watched them transform and then let them go once they were butterflies. So when I asked her what she wanted to be for halloween she said, "I will be a beautiful butterfly and Ashley will be just a caterpillar!" We got a good laugh but were impressed with her creativity so I decided I better sew up some matching costumes.

There was a group of about eight neighbor kids that all trick or treated together and they literally ran the whole way...Ashley in typical fashion did her best to keep up but made it to about a third of the houses as the rest of the kiddos.

Our house was the last stop for trick or treating!

Ella's First Field Trip

The search for the perfect pumpkin

Ella and her good friend Natalie

Ella is so lucky to have all of her favorite neighbor friends in her preschool

"Mom I don't want to take any more pictures!"

Still refusing to pose for a picture!

After mom bribed her with M&M's we get a little smile!

Oh the things parents will do to capture memories! 

Pumpkin Carving

Ella requested that her and Ashley have  kitty cat pumpkins...not my best work but at least my three year old was impressed!  

Happy Girl

Don't you just love it when kids wake up this happy after a nap? 

Mommy's little princess...all of a sudden she wants to wear nothing but dresses and tutus! Poor dad he is surrounded by ruffles and bows :)

Biker Chicks

Ella has finally taken an interest in learning how to ride her bike...it has only taken four months to talk her into it :) She used to tell us it was too hard to pedal but this weekend she finally got it down. We still need to work on the steering but we are so proud of her! Of course in usual fashion Ashley is working hard to catch up with her big sister :)

 She made it all the way down the street all by herself!

 "Dad where's my helmet?"

Getting her bike serviced after puttin' on some miles :)

Maris Farms 2011

Fabulous Fall

 We are falling right into fall! We have already visited one pumpkin patch and I have the house decked out for Halloween! I have gone a little pumpkin crazy and have decorated the porch and the mantel with all kinds of different pumpkins. It feels so cozy and makes me want to just curl up and read a book, so much for being productive :)