Aren't we fun? (and perhaps loony?)

In October we began Foster Parenting Classes.  There are 8 classes, 3 hours each as part of the certification.

 Kyle coached Dillan's YMCA indoor soccer team (that was a fun way of being a part of the community).  Goalie is the most popular position among 5 year olds, and Dillan was best at that!

In the same Friday evening we went to the Children's Museum and a Temple Family Night that the primary children in our ward had earned.  The Lord was supporting us, because normally Lincoln would not have lasted that late.  I'm glad we made the effort, it was peaceful and calm outside the temple with my family.  We got to watch a short film and do a scavenger hunt around the temple.

 This is General Conference!  The Piano Bench has some special art materials on it.

We enjoyed a crepe breakfast for Kyle's birthday before the Sunday Morning session of general Conference.

 Dillan, I'Janae(neighbor's boyfriend's daughter), and Hazel

 Gisselle, our neighbor.  I taught her the first song in the beginner piano book.

 They came up with a new game where they would push each other around in the strollers.  It was lots of fun (several days) until the fabric of the double stroller started ripping.  Now only the littlest ones can ride it in.

 Art time! (This happens a LOT!)

Dillan tried his hand at cinematography and directing with this.  He did about 5 takes, from a few different angles, different zooming, and different words.  It made me inexplicably happy to find these videos that I didn't know he had taken.

She got the camera out and tried recording herself singing.  This is the second take, with Mom's help holding the camera.

 I think our family portraits get better each year!

 Family day at the Pumpkin Patch in Sauvie Island!

 In the corn maze.

 An energetically interesting marching dance

 Our little family of pumpkins

We went straight from the Pumpkin Patch to dropping Dillan off at a play date with his friend Ammon.  Which meant playing in a Taekwondo studio (that his parents' own) and later participating in the beginner class with Ammon (because Mom was late picking him up). 

 Ninja Daddy!

Sometimes I get to participate in art time, that's the best.

This was a great activity on a dark fall evening.  It got their energy out and kept them going for at least 30 minutes.  We changed the "race" each time (backwards, crawling, spinning, crab walk...)

Our little Ballerina, ready for class.

 The after math of a now forgotten art project on our kitchen table.

 I love it when they love each other!

 Lincoln has the littlest pumpkin on the left, he put a hand print on it, much easier than carving on his behalf.

 Kyle's (a bat), mine, Dillan's (a skeleton), Hazel's (has plastic eyes on top you can't see in the dark)

We do exist! (Pictures of us on the blog are rare)

 He designed and made that himself.

 He lost his first tooth on the evening of Halloween.  That was more exciting than dressing up, trick or treating, and candy combined!

It was an interesting experience for me.  Obviously it meant he was growing up, but the ensuing lisp made him sound a lot younger.  How could he be so much older AND so much younger simultaneously?

Other Happenings in October:

We participated in a food drive in our neighborhood.

We went to a performance by the Oregon Ballet Theatre with the kids (designed for children)

We were fingerprinted for our background checks as foster parents.

Isaac (cousin) was baptized.  All the kids gathered around the glass to watch and Lincoln crawled right up to the front through everyone to see it.

Primary Program: Dillan had his part memorized, sang a little bit (which was more that last time) and has the best smile.

Carmenza Gonzalez, our Foster Care Certifier, came to our home to meet us, go over the basics, and make sure we were really serious about being foster parents.

Trunk or Treat

Car Repairs (now we're friends with the people who run Rob's Auto Repair): the starter, a water drainage system in the air conditioning box, and a new blower motor (for the A/C).