October 2015 Recap

October feels like a lifetime ago, but I'm finally getting a chance to share some highlights with you. Fair warning: it was a very photo-heavy month.

To start the month, I spent a night away in beautiful Bellingham and treated myself to dinner and a pint at Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro. I just love Bellingham.

The next morning, I ran my third half marathon, Run Like a Girl Bellingham. I don't really know how to explain it besides an anti-race. There's no mandatory distance (anything up to a half marathon) and no official starting time or time keeper while the finish line includes hunky firefighters and a necklace as a finishing medal. The course, partially hiking trails and partially old logging road perched above the bay, is gorgeous, especially on a sunny crisp fall day like we enjoyed this year. I'd really like to make this an annual event. 

George brought the kids up to cheer me on, and I convinced Madeleine to run the last 10 yards or so with me. Afterwards, she told George, "Daddy, Mummy and I have to go potty because we just ran 8 miles!"

Meanwhile, Miss M has learned how to plug in our fun electric car.

She continues to do lots of role play with her stuffed friends. This particular day, Elliott's room was converted into the nap room at school.

"Mummy, it's an e!" It sure is. It used to be the tube of a Nosefrida.

One of Madeleine's practical life works at school is coffee grinding. When she brings home the ground beans, we let her help with making the rest of the coffee, starting with pouring her beans into the French press. 

Madeleine went to her first school friend birthday party, which felt like a bit of a milestone for her and her parents!

Of course, we couldn't let October slip by without running down to our neighborhood pumpkin patch to pick out some decorations. 

The little peanuts from last year have grown up!

Speaking of growing, Elliott still isn't walking (much), but he sure can climb....

...to the sink to wash hands

...to the top of the special park

...on the kid table

...on chairs

Elliott completed his first session of toddler yoga. It's hard to tell yet if he likes it as much as Madeleine, but he sure does love flirting with all the other moms.

He is very charming indeed.

 One afternoon, I managed to keep Elliott busy for quite a while with this simple Pinterest game. Empty tube + Painter's tape + Pompoms

While Elliott was occupied, I got started on the quilt I'm making for Madeleine's "big girl bed" out of fabric from her 52-week photo project. You can follow along here.

Toward the end of the month, we took a trip to San Jose. George went down for work, and I braved my first solo flight with two littles to join him for the weekend. I don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon.

The first morning we were there, Madeleine woke up at 5am, vomiting neon yellow, so we got to spend most of our first day in town at the ER.

Fortunately, it only took about 24 hours for her to rebound and be able to hang out with her buddies.

The scenery has changed quite a bit from our days hanging out 80-100 feet below the ocean surface, but I wouldn't say that it's any less fun. Look at all those smiles!

Before we left, we managed to snap a kiddo group photo. Elliott is catching up!

We made it home in time to celebrate Halloween. This year, the kids were Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kitty Cat of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood fame. I loved every moment of making their costumes and hope they get lots of love throughout the year as dress up costumes. 

Phew. It was a very full month. No wonder I went into November utterly exhausted.