November 2015

We didn't have a free weekend day to visit the pumpkin patch until the day after Halloween.  It didn't take away from the fun though!

Sasha was a part of the children's theater production of the musical Peter Pan.  She went to rehearsals 2 afternoons a week all fall and performance week included 9 performances!  She played the part of a "Native" and we enjoyed watching her dramatics up on stage.

Jack attended Peter Pan 4 times and vows that he wants to be in a production as soon as he's old enough.

El Nino provided us with an early snow day.  We made gingerbread cookies and played in the snow.

Sasha performed Two Grenadiers in the recital this month.  I love the way she plays with such expression.

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year since Phil was on call.

It was a delicious feast prepared by my mom and I.

Apples to apples is one of our favorite games to play when there is a bigger group especially now that Jack can read his own cards pretty well.

The annual countdown to the Christmas Tree lighting in the plaza was fun.

We made the most of having to stay in town for Phil's call by decorating the house and picking out a tree.

And making a few Christmas cookies.

October 2015

I enjoyed being a chaperon for Sasha's class field trip on the Aspen Vista hike.  We enjoyed the gorgeous yellow leaves and a fire with s'mores and hot dogs at the end.

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We drove down to see the morning ascension of Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  This time we met my dad in the Target parking lot.  We brought the coffee and he provided the donuts!

Cookout up at Aspen Vista

We flew to visit Megan and Isaac in NYC for fall break.  We rented the basement floor of a townhouse close to their tiny apartment in Park Slope.

Chelsea Market Halloween displays were riveting.

A highlight was the (very cold!) boat tour around Manhattan

Times Square

Prospect Park Zoo was a hidden gem that we just happened upon.  The seal feeding demonstration was really fun.

Sketching and journaling at the orangutan house

Jack loves to draw these days.  He chronicled our whole trip in his little book with his pictures.

Megan and Isaac on our afternoon walk down by the river.

Megan volunteered to ride the carousel with Phil and the kids and found out she gets as motion sick as I do on those things now as an adult.

On the day Megan had to work our family visited the Museum of Natural History....

And central park

From the castle in Central Park

Back home Jack's little leaf pile that he was so excited to jump in. 

Sadly Burt Yoder Smucker died on October 27th, 2015.  He was almost 15 years old.  Not only was he the most loving cat, affectionate cat I have known, he was a steady companion for all of us.  It was a very difficult time for the kids, but we know he had a very good life full of many adventures.

38 years old!

Jack's cello recital on Halloween afternoon.  He played Song of the Wind and did very well.

Admiring her loot.  Sasha was a witch and Jack was Darth Vader this year.