Fall shenanigans and deities

Dear Maya and Emi, 

Happy Halloween! Here's a quick rundown of what we've been up to since the school year started, which is when I last made a blog post. 

Emi you had another ukulele concert at the golf course food truck fest like last year. This time you did multiple songs including one you wrote yourself! We were so proud. Grandma came to watch and afterwards we went out with her and Papa Stan for a fun outdoor pizza dinner. 

We did our annual extended family apple picking outing, but 1) Aunt Kelsie's family couldn't come because Grace was injured (she's ok now!) 2) there were very few apples and the ones we found were not in good condition, and 3) we got rained on! It was still a special time with family, though. 

We went to the Naumkeag jack-o-lantern festival with Uncle Matt and it was so fun! There were over 1500 carvings and so many fun themes. We'll have to make this an annual tradition (it was better than the Winterlights festival we went to there because it wasn't as cold, but we may do that one again, too). 

Grandpa came to visit for a week! Mom ended up getting sick so it wasn't all fun and games but it was great that he was here to entertain you two!

We celebrated Uncle Matt's birthday!

For Halloween this year you two were Japanese animal deities. Emi, you were a cat spirit thanks to the mask you bought when we were in Tokyo. And Maya, when we went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, you fell in love with the fox guardian so that was your costume.  

We went to the school Trunk or Treat event on Friday night, then carved pumpkins over the weekend. Emi, you had the school Halloween parade today, and tonight we all went trick or treating so early that we got home before it was even completely dark. It was really cold so that was a very good thing!

And, finally, here are the smoky photos we took at Grandma's house this afternoon that have become a little tradition over the last few years. So fun!

Love you both!

Summer 2023 Wrap Up

Dear Maya and Emi, 

Whoa! Today was the first day of school for you two--Emi, you started 4th grade and Maya, you started 7th grade. A whole MIDDLE SCHOOLER! I'll share more photos from today below but first, I need to sum up what we did with the rest of our summer.

• The summer rec program was a success this year with lots of time spent hiking, swimming, exploring, going on field trips, playing, and climbing trees with your friends.

• Emi and Mommy's special day: we got manicures, went to a café, a bookstore AND the library, then had some ice cream!

• Maya and Mommy's special day: we went to a couple different plant shops, toy stores, and a place that sells crystals, plus we went out for sushi and ice cream!

• North Carolina! We went to visit Grandpa and Lori (and Dozer) for about a week. We spent some time at the beach, walking around downtown, back-to-school shopping, watching movies, playing Uno, hanging out, and keeping an eye on the alligator in the backyard! Then we had dinner with Rebecca and Nora in Maryland on the way home. 

• Other stuff: you both participated in a 3D printing workshop at Aunt Rhi's library, we went to pick veggies and flowers at our CSA every other Friday, Maya you participated in more Mod Squad photo sessions, and Emi you had your first sleepover at your bestie's house!

• And, finally, today was back to school. You both had a great day and seem excited for the school year. Hallelujah! (P.S. Maya, last night when I told you I'd be taking photos this morning because it's tradition, you said you wouldn't smile because that's YOUR tradition! lol)
  

Love you both and can't wait to see how much you learn and grow this year!