What an amazing time! A high of 45 and it’s currently 37 and heading down…heading to the 20s. I finally live someone where it really feels like autumn.
Looks like we have a few cool nights coming up then plenty of rain. 
Update: We only got down to 31.8 degrees this morning. What a frost we had this morning - everything was solid white - very beautiful.
Sunrise that morning.
Yesterday, the main business area (Alaska Junction) in West Seattle had a trick or treat from 1pm to 3pm. We strolled along with Zach and his new friends getting candy.
Zach, Natalie, and Matthew posing. There are 3 other kids but I didn’t have my wide angle lens so they are not in the picture (the other 3 are Dominic, Drew, and Jacob).
Last week Zach was practicing getting on and off our lawn chair and then posed for this shot
Do ya think he could fit any more food in that mouth?
Today we are going to the auto show so Zach can check out all the new models. Then we are going to John and Kims for a late lunch.
The City of Seattle gave away 2000 trees yesterday as part of a program to green up Seattle with more trees. I picked up a Vine Maple. I’m very excited for our new tree…although right now it looks like a 4 foot twig.
Today I cruised out to North Bend, WA and hiked up Mount Si. This is basically the initiation hike you must do in the Seattle area. It’s 8 miles round trip with a 3500 ft elevation gain. Yep, 3500 ft in 4 miles. That’s pretty steep. The trail is a steady climb with no section proving unbearable. The half mile from 2.0 to 2.5 was by far the steepest, although other sections were more challenging (rocks and steps).
The trail has lots of steps (several hundred) and a fair amount of rocks. The last 100 yards are over boulders and sharp rocks - not a good place to fall. The view from the top was nothing less than spectacular. You have an unobstructed view from the southeast to the south, southwest, west, and northwest. It was very clear and Mt Rainier looked spectacular. You could see the Puget Sound, Seattle, and the Olympics.
Looking out toward Seattle
Mt Rainier. I didn’t have a filter so the shot is a little bright.
Some fall colors.
Speaking of Fall colors - the leaves are changing and it’s beautiful.
Yesterday we went to a pumpkin farm in Fall City with Sasha, Heidi and Dominic. Zach played in mud and ate the mud. He and Dominic also ran through the corn field looking for crop circles. They got to ride in a big trailer pulled by a big tractor - Zach thought that was fun.
Zach hanging out with the pumpkins.
Yummy…Mud!
Zach’s friend Dominic having a good ole time.
After the pumpkin patch we had lunch at the Fall City Grill.
Check out all the pictures on this page.
Zach would rather sit on his toy garage then play with it.
Zach is now throwing tantrums…a lot. I guess at this age this is how they express themselves. On Friday afternoon, his tantrum started when Steph picked him up at daycare and continued for another 30 minutes at home. I made sure that Steph didn’t break down and give him his pacifier.
I found the magic solution for the tantrum - Candy Corn. Two pieces and the crying was done. He was a happy toddler.
On Saturday I planted a Serbian Spruce in the middle of our yard. It’s only about 3 feet tall and should only grow to 25 feet tall over many, many years. Next up, I need to pick a deciduous tree for the front yard - maybe the Rocky Mountain Maple.
Like anyone doubted she was going to pass…For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, she passed the Washington State Bar. Now she has to take some goofy online class (a few hours long), get sworn in, and pay fees…then she can work. Of course, she needs to find a job for that to happen.
Anyway, a big congratulations out to Steph for studying, taking, and passing the bar.
In other news, Paul finally has the local weather getting piped up to the Internet. There is a link to it on the right side of the page or just click here. FYI, the the weather console is in the garage, so the inside temp is not really the tempurature inside the house but rather inside the garage.
Today we went to Ikea to get Zach his own little dining table and chairs. For $25 you get a little table and two chairs. We picked up some toys for him, a step stool, and some lamps for the bedroom.
Well, just about everyone who reads this blog was someone we visited in the Bay Area. So, I’ll spare the details. I only took a few pictures and accidentally deleted some during the download. Here they are.
Cole, Makenna, and Zach
Makenna and Zach.
Great Grandpa and Zach.
And a movie - Zach and Grandma playing the piano.
