The last month we were spoiled with lots of cousins. Danny & Kaylee LOVE their cousins. And Matt and I were excited to spend a little time with our newest nephews as well. Sadly, when Mindy, G-Pops, & Grandma Angie came to visit, my camera was MIA. I did get this phone shot of Kaylee & Kaya stick wrestling. Kaylee won. I guess that's what happens when you have a big brother to wrestle around.
I had to steal a few pictures of our baby nephew Lander off Mindy's facebook because he is such a cutie. When he visited he was about 4 months old and so smiley. Love that age! I remembered how exhausting it is too though - nursing and being up at night. Don't miss that! Mindy's doing great.
Things I want to remember from the Hong visitors (since I neglected to take ANY pictures). Dim Sum with the Lou Hong family at the House of Hong, fun day exploring Pike Place Market, beautiful wedding (Jerry's cousin's daughter), driving out to the mountains, slip n' slide at the ward campout, KFC picnic dinner on Lake Washington, huge dinner with the whole Hong crew with smoked ribs, homemade rolls, yummy spinach, strawberry salad, & a plethora of chocolate desserts (including chocolate pasta). The visit was short, but packed and we had a great time with everyone.
The day after the Hong's left, my sister's family arrived. Danny used to live 2 blocks away from these cousins in Houston, so he's REALLY missed having them around all the time. They always pick up right where they left off. We did see a few Seattle sights with Leah & Alex.
Then we all drove across the mountains to my parent's house. Their yard was already paradise, and then they decided to redesign the play structure with a pirate ship theme. Danny would just live out there if I let him. As it was, the kids spent hours outside playing every day. Adding water to the equation, whether in the yard or at the nearby splash park, made it even more fun. By evening there were many tired kids ready for a snuggle & TV time.
Some favorite activities of the week were Settlers of Catan, climbing, hula hoop, hammock swinging, gardening (the kids harvested several things that we ate right away - berries, salad veggies, & potatoes), swat the mosquito, hula hoop races, bocce ball, and playing horses. There was even a talent show where each kid performed a skill they'd been practicing during the summer. There were several musical numbers, but Danny's proudest achievement was how far he'd learned to shoot an arrow.
The main event of this gathering was the blessing of our newest nephew Zachary. He's just 2 months younger than Lander and sweet as can be.
The last night together we feasted on S'mores. It doesn't get much better than that!
And what about the cousins we didn't see yet this summer? We get to see them next week when we head out to Idaho for the fair! Hooray for cousins!
Danny was a wall hugger and couldn't keep his feet under him at the start. After a few laps with Dad he was gaining confidence and stability. Kaylee was daring and unafraid. Her skates were so tiny. She wanted to go around and around and around. It was quite the back workout for me to bend over and help her. Both were all smiles the whole time. 
After all their practice, they went upstairs to the banquet hall for a grand feast. Instead of silverware, I got some of those sword toothpicks at a party store. The boys thought it was so fun to eat with swords! We kept it simple - IKEA meatballs, cheese squares, grapes, lil' smokies, carrot sticks, and chips. The castle cake made a nice centerpiece for the feast. Danny and I looked at castle cake ideas online, but cakes are always harder than I think they will be and I just don't have much practice, so they never turn out nearly as well as I imagine in my head. It was really fun to do nonetheless. 
So this is where the party got really fun. The boys were told before it was time to eat cake, they should go downstairs to receive rewards for all their training and work. When they got downstairs, King Matt was shocked to discover his treasure, and all of Danny's birthday presents, had been stolen. The new Musketeers got on their shoes and jackets and followed King Matt outside to find the bandit. 
Now they make their way to my mantel during October and November. But this year, in our new home, it seems ironic to have these inside when my yard looks like this. 
The leaves just keep falling and falling. Today I filled 9 huge yard waste bags. And the trees are still full of leaves. Hooray for Fall!
It's a classic 1973 Split Level. Head down the stairs to find my 2nd favorite room in the house. 
Downstairs there's also a storage room, guest room, laundry room, and Danny & Kaylee's clubhouse (an under the stairs storage room we made into a playhouse). Head up the stairs from the front door to find the kitchen (pictures after I paint), office/playroom (great for stacking towers), & bedrooms. 
And my favorite room in the house.
Our cowboy favored shooting darts at a Haunted House.
Both were huge fans of the cupcake walk. Though Tinker Bell won several times, we held her to only one, vanilla cupcake. I learned at our playgroup Halloween potluck that chocolate & green tutus just don't mix.
Trunk-or-treating was fun as always. We were spoiled to have Grandma & Grandpa Couch join us for the event, dressed as a Queen & King. Matt & I were Captain 5k & Miss Marathon, superheroes we'd created for a previous work party. (Yes . . . this is me taking a picture of a picture just like last Halloween. Still haven't gotten the scanner fixed. Danny's face is precious in this one. He's got that stern cowboy look down.)
We'd carved the pumpkins earlier at Danny's preschool party. Danny is holding his pirate pumpkin's eyepatch, and Matt carved the skeleton. We also enjoyed our traditional spooky Halloween menus for several meals. This years features were Witch's Brew (black Kool-Aid), Bones & Blood (bone shaped breadsticks with marinara), Goblin Goulash served over Maggots (Alfredo casserole served over rice), Peeling Ogre Skin with Fungi & Lizard Tongues (salad with mushrooms & bacon bits), and Dirt (pudding with cookies & worms). We also had Mummies (sausage wrapped in biscuit dough) for breakfast with Jack-O-Lantern Juice (OJ in clear cups with jack-o-lantern faces), Oozing Eyeballs (fried eggs), and Blind Mice (Strawberry mice with no eyes or tails). I didn't take pictures, but we had fun sharing the Halloween Meals with our good friends the Hendricks & Mom & Dad.
(And, lest you think I'm a neglectful mother that lets her child relish in all her candy goodness without wiping her nose, let it be known that it is merely sparkly fairy dust.)
And what Catan tournament would be complete without a Catan board made of cookies? (Thanks Katie for helping me cut hexagons!)
The champion was rewarded with a crown, and a prize for each resource. 
Well, she had us all fooled and knew exactly what she was doing. Congratulations on being the Queen of Catan Liz! 
I had to steal a few pictures of our baby nephew Lander off Mindy's facebook because he is such a cutie. When he visited he was about 4 months old and so smiley. Love that age! I remembered how exhausting it is too though - nursing and being up at night. Don't miss that! Mindy's doing great. 
Then we all drove across the mountains to my parent's house. Their yard was already paradise, and then they decided to redesign the play structure with a pirate ship theme. Danny would just live out there if I let him. As it was, the kids spent hours outside playing every day. Adding water to the equation, whether in the yard or at the nearby splash park, made it even more fun. By evening there were many tired kids ready for a snuggle & TV time. 
The last night together we feasted on S'mores. It doesn't get much better than that!
Dancing in the rain at outdoor, library sponsored concerts
