Happy Halloween!

Rye wanted to be a meerkat this year. Which you can't buy. So this is a slightly modified version of Simplicity pattern #2855. The mask was tricky, but it seems to work. He also insisted on a trick-or-treat bag with a picture of a meerkat on it, "so people would know I'm a meerkat."

There are black gloves to go with the costume, but we just got them so they aren't in any of the pictures.

Guess who's four?

Cake for breakfast on his special day.

Swimmy

Rye loves his second swim teacher (Grandma's always No. 1 in his book), but he's not so sure about getting his face wet.

Shaving Cream Paint

 Cheap-smelling shaving cream! Yuck! But Rye loved it!

Goofball

The "jumble gym"

Guess who's excited about hanging around on the "jumble gym?"

Portrait

We're getting ready to do a tryout at his pal MJ's preschool. 

Livia's Mommy, the dog, came along for support.

Summer celebration

We spent the Fourth with Ben and Robin, on their ranch in central California—people camped out, relaxed, and enjoyed the day. The kids put together their own parade. It was fantastic.

 After things quieted down, they made a fort out of the play structure, 

 and read and painted inside.

They have lots of land, with avocados, lemon trees, finger limes, and lots and lots and LOTS of poison oak. We were sent home with lemons (for confit) and avos (for guac). Yum!

Snapshots from Yosemite

Painting with marbles

Tilt the box to decide where the marbles should drag the paint.

On: Proper Hygiene

Guest post from Grandpa:


When I returned from the bathroom, Rye said,

"I didn't hear you wash your hands."

He was correct, I hadn't.

"You have to wash your hands right now."

So I went back to the bathroom. When I returned, Rye asked,

"Did you use soap?"

YES, I had.

(no photos)

Grocery run

If only he could drive himself to the store, too.

Happy Fourth!

Arborist

Rye had to get into the spirit when the arborist came to do some major tree trimming on our property.

Gnomey

Rye sewed the hat himself, and is working on a flower garden.

Getting Dressed

Mr. Big Boy is proud of his accomplishments.

Fingerpainting

Trash truck ride

At the annual Department of Sanitation Open House, or, as we call it: The Trash Truck Festival.

Flower mart

Fun at the park

Making biscuits

Lunch at LAX

 Rye had a ball at Father's Day lunch with Daddy and Grandpa.

Long distance call

Experimenting with sound at the science center.

Story corner

Nature trail

Nature trail at a local park. The card he's holding is a bingo game—we didn't get five in a row, but we got three nature sightings plus two not on the card.

Hiking

 Checking out some local hills, flora and fauna.