Halloween 2013 (10-13)

This year we celebrated Day of the Dead with sugar skulls and chocolate skulls (milk and white w/coconut). We also made our first ofrenda, and it was very lovely. Next year will be even better when I am more prepared.

We carved pumpkins that we grew in our garden. Carvers were (from L to R): me, me & Ama, Ama, Cook.

Cook was in charge of making the graveyard, which we decided to put right in front of the lilac this year so it would be easier to see - it turned out amazing, and he added lots of creative flourishes like a skull with a sword sticking out of its mouth. It also had a ring of lights around it so it glowed at night - we got lots of compliments on it. Nice work, Cook!

Cook used this new awesome cloak that we got at the thrift store and accessorized it to be a vampire hunter.

Ama picked out matching blue butterfly costumes for her and Rowan - they looked so great together and we got lots of AWWWW's when we trick-or-treated. Rowan was a champ. She didn't really trick-or-treat, but she did make it all the way around the block with Ama, and she yelled, "Ween!" to everyone we saw.

Ama Reading to Rowan (10-13)

Rowan likes to "visit" Ama while she is reading at night, which basically means that she snuggles next to her and plays with whatever toys or babies are in Ama's bed while Ama reads. Sometimes Ama reads out loud to her. It is very difficult for Rowan to focus on her own bedtime routine when the Ama temptation is right around the corner, and we've learned that it's usually just easier for everyone involved if we let her sit in her bed for awhile.

Cook 13U Sibley Soccer (9-13)

Cook played soccer for Sibley again in the 13U age group this year, and he had an awesome team with great coaches - it was a rough season, with 100-degree weather, 30-degree weather, rain, all kinds of crappy weather, but he really honed his skills this year and is turning into a strong soccer player. Spencer would be proud!

Gma and Gpa came to a few games, and they had so much fun it got everybody fired up! Ama was in soccer, too, and she did a great job powering through a difficult new challenge. In the end, I think she sort of liked it. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of her at games. Maybe next year?!