Piper is SIX (bday treasure hunt video)

Oh Piper, I can't believe you are SIX!!!

I feel so lucky to be spending my days with you.  Watching you grow and become this joyful, caring, mischievous, thoughtful, and confident being has been such a blessing.  You definitely can give us a run for our money and keep our household spicy, but the overwhelming sweetness that you shower the world in, is all part of your package. You are our candy monster, treat lover and "special date" queen.  A constant reminder to stop and smell the roses in life is never a bad thing.  Thank you for all your ideas, projects and snuggles.  Watching you discover this world never gets old.  I am so happy we are just getting started and feel thankful for the big and the small moments of everyday life.  I am so proud of you and love your intuitive, sensitive, yet rock solid spirit inside.  Thank you for choosing me to be your mama.  I love you inside and out, top to bottom, back to front, forever and always, infinity plus one!

Now We Are Six

When I was one I had just begun
When I was two I was nearly new

When I was three I was hardly me
When I was four I was not much more

When I was five I was just alive
But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever;

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

-AA Milne

Click the link for the youtube video:  Piper's 6th Birthday Treasure Hunt

Hop the rocks and go under the bridge...

Feeling good!

Mid treasure hunt Photo Op.

A rowdy bunch of pirates.

Way to go TEAM.  What a fun group of friends.  Piper is lucky!

Fall Leaf tree hideout...found on their treasure map as one of the landmarks.

Our triumphant treasure hunters! Gold coins, jewels, tattoos and candy...loot worthy of their expedition.

This cake made by my friend Katie the Cake Lady tasted amazing, as well as looked amazing.  Piper was so intrigued with how she grew the little trees out of the cake!  =-)  Eating this cake was a perfect end to our day in the woods!

WE LOVE YOU PIPER!!!

A smattering of the end of summer...and rolling right into Fall (Halloween)

I am sure I mentioned this before, but the boys basically haven't taken their swimming suits off since Gma Linda bought them this past spring.  In fact, just this past weekend, Jett wore his batman suit all day (a remarkably warm 60 degree day in November).  Anyway, here are some catch up pictures that I haven't had the chance to post since school started.

I have really been feeling the passage of time recently.  I feel lucky for this life I live.  I love my family and Im doing my best to be present and just live in all these moments that are happening right now.  This day at Shevlin was so fun.  I love these pictures capturing Calvin and Jett loving life as they were that day.        

 Doesn't get much better than throwing rocks in the river.

Boys being goofy while sister is at school!  Shhhh, don't tell Piper that they loved running around in her swimming suits.

Man, this Fall was nice, we got in so many fun outings out in the woods.  This trail by Sawyer Park has become a favorite for exploring and climbing rocks by the river.

The woman behind the camera!

Jett was so proud of these overalls...and he should be, so cute!

I have gotten so many outings with just me and the boys since Piper is now in school 5 days a week.  But to make up for it, she does get out early on Wednesdays, so that has been OUR special Piper time that we usually go grab a treat of some sort before picking up the boys.  This day I picked up Piper and Sanjay for another afternoon of exploring at Sawyer park.  These two had so much fun climbing rocks, eating snacks and catching lizards!  Piper spotted them and SJ snatched them up. They were speedy blue belly lizards.

We took full advantage of after school leaf romping. In and around Drake park had the best piles of leaves, we probably went back 5 or 6 times to get our fill of Fall leaves before the cold-wet weather set in. This year I spent more time playing in the leaves and only captured a few pictures.

Oh, this series of pictures at Sparks lake is out of order, but such a great memory from the end of summer.  Dave had been working just about every day since The Lot opened, so this was a cherished outing for the whole family.  The water was warm, there were frogs to catch and best of all...we were there together.  We got muddy, we got wet, we had a picnic and we were happy.

Here are some experiments with Instagram...super cute!

Ahhhh, the pumpkin patch!  A favorite Fall tradition that I LOVE!  The colors, smells and the wide open space for kids to run and play...it is just FUN!  This year we met our friends the Grahams and spent the whole day soaking up the pumpkin patch.  Fun friends, Food Cart lunches and squishy pumpkins...a day well spent.

HALLOWEEN!!!  A busy day of parties, trick or treating and more trick or treating.  First off I started the morning at RiverSong for the boys class party.  Great costumes and fun games.  Calvin was proud of his brown monster costume, especially the spiral clay horns that David made.  Jett was in normal everyday attire for himself, but enjoyed being spiderman none the less.

Then later in the afternoon I got to volunteer in Piper's class.  Also, tons of games and fun costumes.  Piper's unicorn costume was too hot for class, but she did end up rocking it the rest of the evening outdoors.  Thanks goodness because Dave put many hours in, to get the pink hair stitched just so and the clay spiral horn and headpiece was a work of art in itself...

 The Lot was all decked out in spooky Halloween decorations, so we started our evening after school there and the kids and their friends trick or treated at all the carts about 5 times each while the parents enjoyed frothy beverages to kick the night off in style.

Bartender Jason serving up a Double Mountain Vaporizer.  

The Brown Owl loaded up the trick or treaters bags

And even more trick or treating in NWX!  These kids were wiped and full to the brim with sugar!!!!

Even Napoleon made an appearance.  Only this is Napoleon when he is 37 years old, still rocking the moon boots and fro, but now manly enough to grow a beard.

We are all happy to see that he even landed the girl of his dreams.