Train

While driving around town we have seen the Max train and Kate has been asking to ride the train for weeks. So last week Kate and I went and rode the train into downtown Portland. It wasn't raining, but it was freezing. Of course, there was some kind of power outage so the trains weren't running as scheduled, but after standing out in the cold we finally got in. While in downtown we looked at the giant tree in Pioneer Square, checked out the Macy's window displays, visited Santa (again), and got some frozen yogurt with gummy bears for lunch. Okay, that was Kate's lunch but not mine. I had planned on sharing, but her pick didn't really interest me. I was worried that we might run into Occupy Portland but we made it out okay and were not involved in any protests.
  Waiting for the train

Writing and mailing a letter to Santa. Kate wrote it herself and would not accept any help. Hopefully Santa can read it since she doesn't know how to write.

Nothing like frozen yogurt with gummy bears on a freezing day.

Holiday Choir

This is Allie's second year in the Holiday Choir at school. She has a concert coming up this week, and in preparation for the concert, the choir always sings at a retirement home. The children fill a balcony and sing to the residents as they have lunch. I think it's even better than the real concert because you can see the joy in the residents' faces. Kate came along with me to listen. As always, she is a big hit with the 5th graders. They always mob her and want to play with her and get her to talk. This group of Allie's friends wanted to have their picture taken with Kate.

Piano Recital

Allie had a piano recital last night. She just started up again this fall after a bit of a break with all of our moves. We really miss her old teacher Maria, but she was a little to far for us with all of the things we have going on. Her new teacher Letty is great and teaches a lot of the kids in the neighborhood. Allie really loves piano and has been super disciplined about getting up each morning to practice. She played Christofori's Dream and Pachelbel Canon.

 


Christofori's Dream

Pachelbel Canon

Santa

Kate has a new friend!

We got our tree yesterday


And someone's very happy about it!

Halloween Festivities

Halloween night we had the missionaries and our friends over for dinner. Then we did some trick or treating around the neighborhood. It was perfectly chilly and dry-which is pretty good for an Oregon Halloween.




Here they are ready to go, Kate was ahead of the game and already starting in on some candy. Luke found a good friend and spent the evening trick or treating with him.



Kate was a pro at trick or treating.  She went right to the door, knocked, rang the doorbell and yelled "trick or treat!"  until someone answered it. One time someone said, "What a cute dinosaur!" and Kate piped up, "I'm a dragon, not a dinosaur!" Another time they commented on her cute costume and she told them, "My Grandma Galyan made it!"




Kate and her favorite little friend. She insisted on holding his hand and he was a good sport about it. Elmo had to come too.

Thanks

We have the best Halloween tradition. Every year the children decide what they want to be and then Grandma Galyan makes their costumes. They are always awesome and well loved by the children. This year we had a Mary Poppins, an Indiana Jones and Kate wanted to be a dragon. Thank you Grandma!