harvest party with the tribe

The unschooling tribe had our annual Halloween/harvest party this week. We had a fabulous day -- perfect weather, way too many snacks, and some games, too. Lotsa photos, of course! Lucky for us, Ginger and her sons were visiting Beth & Emma, so we had extra folks for more fun!


Kids eating donuts hanging by string. Andy was the pro at this -- donuts are the perfect motivation for him -- done so fast I didn't even get his picture!

Ginger & Beth

Andy (hands to his forehead) and Kai (Ginger's older son)

Emma, ready to bob for appples

Dan got the apple!

Dan actually stood still for this shot!

Toilet paper mummy-wrapping was a hit. Andy & Kade won easily!

Andy's all done with Kade (Ginger's younger son)

Dan finished Emma's wrapping!

Dan, Spencer, Parker, Emma, Kade, Andy (sitting, obscured), Kai & Beth just before the apple bobbing started.

Fall comes to New Mexico

This past Saturday, we went for a hike along the river, in the bosque, with friends. It was a perfect day -- one of those early fall days, still warm but not hot, trees turning amazing colors everywhere you look, so quiet walking along the river.

My view for most of the walk.

We saw a this little guy early in our walk -- he was crossing the path when all our attention sent him scurrying for the rocks.

Seems kinda late for him to still be out, but it's been unusually warm the past week. That all ends today, tho -- today will be 10 degrees cooler than yesterday, rain tomorrow and then the 60's for the next several days. Looks like fall really is here.

Some red sumac climbing a cottonwood.

Two pairs of ducks in the irrigation channel.

Andy & Judson released a fallen branch to the river.

Lia -- absolutely the world's MOST devoted dog. Ever.

I love the look of this tree -- and the guy standing under it!

Austin turns 11

Our friends, Bonnie, Mike, Austin and Miles came into town for Austin's 11th birthday! That's big news not only because we love them all, but because they're now living in suburban Phoenix! Yes, they drove 15 hrs round-trip so that Austin could spend his birthday with his friends. How Cool Is That?!?!

And now we have a lovely way-station in Phoenix for visits with friends. I hear it's a lovely house. Austin is so excited he's tired (his words, not mine). Woo-hoo!

So, I took some pictures and promised Bonnie I'd blog them, so she could steal 'em. (don't worry, I'm sending her copies of her very own - no law-breaking required). Okay, let's see what we got....

The birthday boy -- don't you just love those baby blues?

Gift opening (see that cutie in the lower lefthand corner!)

Austin & Andy (Emma, Miles & Beth in the background)

Billiards -- Susan set the boys up with a game, then gave pointers.

Dads -- Thomas, Mike & Gary (and Beth)

and very important Nerf gun consults

We all had a fabulous day! Thank you, Bonnie & Mike for bringing the party to us!

We'll be down to Phoenix to have fun with you soon -- prolly in February when we're tired of winter here.

Outdoor Expo

We were at an outdoor expo this past Saturday. All the usual shooting ranges, fishing demos, etc, and... tomahawks! Both boys gave it a try. Andy even tried the throwing knife. It's much harder than it looks.

Dan's attempt missed the log altogether

Andy hit the target high to the right -- you can just see the shadow at far right.

rock climbing

Last Friday, we attended the zoo's annual Feast With The Beasts and a had a great time hanging out with friends, listening to Strange Brew, and enjoying some beautiful weather. In addition to the magician and fun slides, the city rec dept brought out the rock wall.

I had walked over to that area, spotted the rock wall set-up and called Gary to send the boys over, when I saw a boy in a red shirt with a helmet on. Wait a minute -- that's my boy in a helmet lined up for the rock wall!

Dan & Forest

Sky on the way down

Sky & Forest

Sky & Dan

What goes up must come down

Last week, after Dan's first good dental check up (meaning no follow-up work needed) EVER, we hit a local park, and I got a few pictures.

Dan up a tree...


and back down...
Not his best landing, but Dan really lives by the credo that any landing you can walk away from is a good one.

Andy posed for a pic

Note the short(er) hair -- he got a haircut while in Hawaii. Not sure when he'll agree to that again.

Dan refused to pose, or even sit still, for a pic.

Gail & Brock visit the tribe

Okay this is old news, in that the Higgins' were here before our trip to Hawaii, back in early July, I think. I have two photos from that day to share -- came across them while going thru my vacation photos.

Kelly Lovejoy (flat) and Danielle Conger (flat, also) were there too!

And Scotty in a classic photo for which he posed.

Hawaii

We had a fabulous time in Hawaii! The boys swam, fished, snorkeled, swam with dolphins; we saw a few waterfalls, explored a lava tube and ate shave ice, all with lots of relatives added for good fun. We ate an amazing amount of food -- fresh papaya for breakfast, kalua pig (at least three times!). So much ono (good in Hawaiian) food! Now we're back to tacos and cheerios.... not together of course.

There were a few maddening moments, but that's gonna happen with family. These days, it's a very quick trip from indignant to compassionate (travel I do in my head anyway, so it's all good). It was a good trip, but it's always good to be home, too. I'm not really much of a traveler. I like to wake up in my own bed, putter around in my own kitchen for a cup of tea, drive my own car -- that kinda thing. Just a homebody, I guess.

In all, I took 147 pictures on my digital camera (plus a few with my phone). I won't post them all here, just some of my favorites. In no particular order, with captions, here we go...

I think this is my favorite shot of the bunch. Setting off to fish for crawdads in the ditches that run along the front yards in the grandparent's street in Hilo. Just so Hilo, RFD, isn't it?

Late in our trip, the third fishing outing started with net fishing for bait at the Japanese gardens across the road. Dan ran across what he thought was solid ground -- hey, all the dirt is solid in Albuquerque! -- but was actually black muck (to be expected in a tidal Japanese garden). When we saw him, he was knee-deep and running fast to get out of what must have felt like quicksand. No photos allowed, but it was an experience!

Here's Dan fishing at Hilo Bay (post muck).

Andy & Grandpa choosing the right bait.

Andy on his way to float and look at fish in the cove at an uncle's beach house.

Dan's first catch of this trip, our first fishing day. Locally that fish is called manini.

Andy with his first catch, a hinalea.

Dan & Andy on the inflatables at the beach house cove.

Yes, that's Gary baiting a hook! Something I never expected to see.

Namaste, the white tiger and main attraction at the Panaeva Zoo near Hilo.

Andy, hamming it up for the camera, in Kona.

Will, snorkeling -- not a great shot, but the only one of Will I have.

This could well be my favorite picture of Dan, ever. When did he get so big?!

Me, Grandma and the boys at Laupahoehoe memorial, which commemorates a tidal wave that struck a school in the 40's, killing 47 people.

For Crystal, some chickens living up the street from the grandparents' house.

Andy caught a catfish -- using cut up hot dogs as bait. Taken late in our trip.

Dan with Grandpa.

Dan caught a catfish, too.

That day, the boys fished at a friend's private lily ponds, stocked with tilapia, catfish, and koi. The fish were practically jumping onto the hooks. Dan lost count somewhere around 12 fish, and caught about 16. Andy even caught one without bait -- he put an empty hook right back in after catching a fish, and caught a tilapia.