304/365

 Gavin brought this home from school today. I thought his spelling of Obi Kenobi was preeeety good!
Also pictured: another kids photo attempt that Ellie just isn't into (plus, due to some bad planning, her Halloween shirt was in the wash), jack-o-lantern grilled cheese for dinner, Princess Leia with her "saber," & a tuckered out Yoda. Not pictured: Obi Wan Kenobi, who at the last minute, joined some friends & their dad for trick or treating around the neighborhood until 8:45pm, leaving Leia, Yoda & me to pass out candy by ourselves. We were busy!

303/365

 Trying to get a photo of the kids after church, & Ellie would not join the boys for anything...
Got her on the ground though!

302/365

 Gavin went to Jaxon's Halloween party from 1-3pm today, then we had our ward Trunk or Treat party tonight. Poor little Yoda did great, but was ready to go by the time this photo was taken!

Back home, Gavin couldn't wait to examine the spoils, which he willingly shared with me & Ellie.

301/365

 Ellie had a little lunch party today with some friends & their moms. We had some of her favorite foods (grapes, cheese, crackers, popcorn, marshmallows, veggies & a pasta salad). She had a princess cake (& got to eat it too)! We sang "Happy Birthday," & she got to blow out her candles twice! She's TWO!

300/365

Happy Birthday Ellie! (again) She got to open some presents (mostly clothes) the day before Darin left for China since he would be missing her birthday. Today she opened 2 more presents: her very own pillow pet & her first Barbie (making an appearance in her princess cake tomorrow). We went to our Stake Humanitarian Service day from 10-1 while Gavin played at a friend's house before school, & we topped off the night with dinner at McDonalds, a long play in the PlayPlace, followed by baths!

299/365

Afternoon kindergarten drop off. When school first started, we would park & all walk in (Greyson in his carseat) with Gavin to wait for his class to start. After a month or so, we tried the drop-off-at-the-curb method, and we never looked back. So much easier not to get Greyson & Ellie out of the car... and we can watch Gavin run down the long sidewalk, many times with a friend from his class who got dropped off at the same time. (Those are the bigger kids on the playground--Kindergartners have to line up outside their classroom doors until their teachers let them in.)

298/365

 The last few days have been a turning point in the leaves. I noticed so many vibrant trees when I was driving around yesterday, & today we took a morning walk & noticed that this tree in our front yard had just begun to drop its leaves, while the one right next to it hasn't yet. Beautiful!

In other news... this guy's rolling over both ways now!

297/365

 Mom & Dad's new car was packed to the hilt! We would have loved for them to stay longer, but knowing we'll be seeing them again in just a few short weeks made it easier to let them go.

296/365

 Gavin did great in the Primary program in Sacrament meeting today... in fact, he was first!

We had a nice afternoon with Mom & Dad... Mom quizzed Gavin on his sight words, Mom & Dad both did two different United States puzzles multiple times, & they each became more acquainted with Greyson, who offered a plenitude of smiles. Again, all these photos were taken with my iPhone... not sure why I didn't break out the other camera!

295/365

I was folding some laundry & heard Ellie talking in the other room... I went to investigate, & she was lying here on Gavin's bed, reading to herself from the Little House on the Prairie series. Also today, MOM & DAD ARRIVED ON THEIR WAY BACK FROM THEIR MISSION! I was apparently too "in the moment" to take even one picture of them today! We visited, they played with the kids, we had shredded beef tacos for dinner & took a late (dusk until dark) walk to the park.

294/365

Yet another unflattering iPhone photo of me, but it shows the aftermath of my visit to the dermatologist yesterday. I had a mole on my shoulder removed, plus these two biopsies taken where I had tiny sores that would never heal. Could be an ad for sunscreen! I got to show off my bandaids at a Stake RS meeting last night while Gavin & Ellie played at the Johnson's.

293/365

This should be a photo of Darin blowing out 41 candles, but he's currently on the other side of the planet! We did get to talk to him on the phone & wish him a happy birthday tonight. The only picture I took today was of us, watching an early morning episode of Phineas & Ferb from our DVR list. We've also been spending time outside riding bikes, but I haven't taken any pictures of that... too busy keeping Ellie out of the street!

292/365

Gavin & Ellie play so well together... & I credit Gavin for making it happen. This was the entertainment he orchestrated while I whipped us up some nachos for dinner (we eat well when Darin's gone).

Side note: I love these little overalls on Ellie (on loan from the Williams, originally Brenna's, I think Becky said). This is her first time wearing them. The best thing is not worrying about her pants falling down!

291/365

We went to Walmart tonight to get some last minute things for Darin's trip. As we were waiting in the checkout line, Ellie wandered over to the next lane & returned with her hands full, explaining,
"These are my favorites."

290/365

 In Gavin's Kindergarten class, the system of keeping behavior in check is the earning of either green (good), yellow (trouble), or red (you don't want red) on the daily report that comes home in the purple folder. Oh... there's also the elusive RAINBOW, which is even better than green. The backstory: last week were parent-teacher conferences. Before I went, Gavin told me to ask Mrs. Shannon what he'd have to do to get a rainbow! (He reminded me several times). I shared that with her, & lo and behold, today, Gavin got a rainbow! He was so excited, he showed me as soon as he stepped foot off the bus. When I asked him what he'd done to earn it, he said, "Just being super good & waiting for the next thing..." I found out later it was because he was the door holder for the week. :)

289/365

Greyson was looking like a little man today at church. As Darin & I tag-teamed during Sacrament meeting to maintain a peaceful row, I realized I'd be doing it alone for the next three Sundays while he's in China. May have to call in reinforcements.

288/365

After breakfast at Kneaders, we caravanned up to Cascade for some fishing with Ron, Leon & Kylie. While fishing's not really "my thing," & the fish were not really biting for those whose "thing" it is,
1) it was very peaceful there, 2) we did get some pretty good family photos taken by Ron (my only requirement for the day), & 3) the kids had a great time playing in the dirt!

287/365

One year when we lived in California, Chrissie gave me some Halloween decor for my birthday. This little ghost candy dish is still one of my favorites. Another favorite: our Fright Night Scentsy warmer!

286/365

Turning 41 today doesn't even seem real. Darin & I both agree that having these young kids helps us feel younger than we really are... although they're growing up at an alarming rate! Tonight we met Ron & his business partners, Leon & Kylie from Australia for dinner at Tucanos Brazillian Grill--so good. We had originally planned on bringing the kids, but our neighbor offered to keep Gavin & Ellie at the last minute when she found out it was my birthday--probably better for everyone!

285/365

 Greyson's way into this play mat these days... he can spend quite a while hitting & grabbing at it without getting the least bit bored. He hangs out here or in the swing when I'm getting other things done, & he's been known to fall asleep in both places. Such a content, sweet little guy.

284/365

David & Launa & Dale & Susan brought us 2 pumpkins each from their gardens when they came on Sunday. We now  have our (carving) work "cut out" for us! We also broke out our Halloween decorations tonight & started putting them up.

283/365

This box has been in our living room for a few weeks & gets almost daily use. Gavin originally asked me for a big box to make a fort, and after days of me putting him off, Darin obliged & even cut out windows & a door. Notice how it says, "This Box is Designed for Multiple Uses?" I'm sure U-Haul didn't realize just how true that statement would be!

282/365

Greyson's blessing day! We were honored to have Grandma & Grandpa Bishop there, along with Darin's uncle David & his wife, Launa from Delta, & also Jerold's (2nd cousin?) Dale & his wife, Susan from Nampa, ID (not pictured). We'd met them when we first moved here last year. Darin gave a beautiful blessing, & Gavin, Jerold & I bore testimonies... Gavin did great! Greyson was a little angel all day & wore an outfit that Ron & Lesley gave him when he was born.

281/365

Grandma showed Gavin & Ellie all the jewelry she had brought in her jewelry bag, including a ring that used to be Gavin's Great Grandpa (Clark) Bishop's... (his middle namesake). Later we piled into the car & gave a quick tour of downtown Boise, including a break at the Boise river & playground. We also stopped at the Westside Drive-In (featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives) for some shakes (a Lemon Fizz for Wally, Marshmallow shake for Jerold, a Blackberry shake for Darin & a Pumpkin shake for me... no one wanted to share with me!), & we brought home one of their famous Idaho Ice Cream Potatoes to share (hard to tell from the photo below, but it was softserve ice cream shaped like a potato & coated with cocoa powder). Definitely a novelty item at $4.29!