"The snow is soft, but it's cold."

That's what Tristen told me when he finally stopped crying after he refused to wear mittens home from the coffee shop and then tried to make his first snowball. Poor kid; it was a real loss of innocence. The three of us had been playing in the snow all morning, but we had Tristen really bundled up. He just hadn't realized how cold the snow could be.

We've had a week of daycare closures, sledding, snow shoveling, and hot cocoa. Here's my favorite picture of the kid, all suited up. And yes, those ARE my socks on his hands. He thinks they are mittens and even argued with me the other day that my mittens were gloves, because they have a separate thumb. Don't tell him! The socks actually stay on...

Nature bracelets

Look at all the cool stuff we found on our walk! We stuck it to rings of tape around our wrists.

Evergreen

We were honored to visit cousin Abigail at Evergreen this weekend and to tour Red Square and sustainable housing! What a wonderful community Abby is helping create there. Sounds like classes are going well, too. Roommate Nicole rocks, as does Traditions Cafe in downtown Olympia.

The drive to and fro was nice. Tristen and I took turns with the music. He preferred Raffi's "Little Potato" on repeat. I'm completely enamored by the soundtrack from Once.

First trick or treat

While we waited for Daddy to get home and for Uncle Gep to come over with cousins Elana and Liam, the little monkey and I watched for trick-or-treaters out the window and doled out candy when they came knocking. Tristen was very scared of trick-or-treaters who wore masks -- and he was particularly vexed by a parent who was dressed in a huge snowman outfit. Later, we went door to door with Elana the Pooh. Tristen and Elana were persistent in trying to blow out the candles in jack-o-lanterns -- and overall, they weren't too sure about the whole idea of Halloween. They preferred to come home and run around the house while we adults sipped beers on the couch and ruminated over the upcoming election.

"It's a Cookie Monster face!"

That's what Tristen had to say about Daddy's pumpkin (the one on the left).

South 47 Farm

Pumpkins!

Aunt Amy and Uncle Chance joined us at the pumpkin farm -- and we met Serena and her family, including sweet little Logan there, too. The kids fed chickens, watched Alpacas, and chased each other around straw bales. The adults indulged in lukewarm cider, kettle corn, and conversation.

Pumpkin push!

Tristen and I ran the 13th Annual Pumpkin Push on Saturday morning. Tristen dressed up in his monkey costume and held onto his pumpkin the whole way. I'd like to say that he cheered me on -- but truth be told, he whined the whole way about how he wanted to go to the park. Luckily, there was one at the finish line, and it had a really fast slide! We also enjoyed running into Emeline and Darrick. Pix below of the little monkey and me and of our favorite costume: Bacon and Eggs.