October

I don't feel like we have been up to a whole lot lately.  Maybe we're finally settling into a routine here in Oregon, maybe I'm getting too tired to venture out, probably both.  Anyway, I haven't had a lot to post about, but this last week we did some fun things.  Friday we drove to one of the many pumpkin patches in the area and enjoyed some time with friends.  The rainy season has finally hit, but we didn't let the constant drizzle of the day deter us.

Christian playing in the sandbox full of some sort of dried bean or lentil.  He is always up for playing with tractors

Ellie having a ball jumping on the hay bales despite the rain

Christian playing the the water pump rubber duck slide.  He loves anything mechanical

Having fun making faces at the camera with some fun friends.  I love how so many kids wears rubber boots in Oregon.  They are so cute and really the best thing for the weather.     

We tramped through the very muddy pumpkin patch to find some excellent pumpkins.  Thankfully, my kiddos wanted to carry their own pumpkins so they were content with small pumpkins.  I was sure grateful I didn't have to haul a huge pumpkin out of that muddy pumpkin patch.  

Our ward has been planning a ward temple day since we got here back in June and this past Saturday we got to go to the Portland Temple with the kids.  Brad had to work in the morning and wasn't able to meet up with us until right before the session.  The kids and I went to the visitor's center and walked the grounds of the temple beforehand.  The rain hadn't started, but the wind was pretty awful.  The wind almost caused Brad to be late because a tree fell over in the wind on the interstate causing traffic delays.  The ward had arranged for daycare at a nearby stake center.  Unfortunately, about a half hour after we dropped the children off, the wind also caused a power outage,  so the daycare workers we left in the dark for almost the whole time we were in the temple.  They didn't have enough light in the nursery room, so they had to bring the 20+ kids out into the foyer.  Apparently it was chaos, but we truly appreciated it.  We picked up the kids and enjoyed a dinner at McDonald's at the children's request.

Sunday was Ellie's first primary program.  She memorized her part, but got too nervous during the program to say it without the help from her teacher.  Christian also had Ellie's part memorized by the time we finally reached the program as well.  She was great at singing all the songs.  Her favorite song this year by far has been "I Stand All Amazed."  We sing it frequently at night before we put the kids to bed.

Here she is before church.  She had to wear a black dress because it was the week of Halloween.  Sorry for the strange face she is making.  For some reason she has a hard time smiling, holding still, and looking at the camera long enough for a picture.  

  These kids are getting really excited for the new baby to arrive.  I am over 36 weeks now, so we are running on the "any time now" mode despite the fact that I don't think I am really prepared in a lot of ways for him to get here.  I think I have mentioned this before, but this little guy loves to wiggle around and kick.  He is going to be a mover when he gets here.  Both Ellie and Christian love to pat and kiss my belly and they love to talk about what they will do when the baby gets here.  Ellie is excited to give the baby a rattle and Christian is excited to read his baby story to the him.