I like to get the sad news out of the way. Ms. Southern Ruby, our family friend and yearly HIPOW date, passed away the first of November. Ruby lived 86 years and her death was extremely quick and likely not too painful. She had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person on the room when you ran into her at local functions and I always brightened up around her. We will miss her a lot but we'll have many pictures to remind us of the good times. Goodbye Ruby - we'll miss you!
Below is a picture taken just a few weeks before her death...she was dressed to the nines as usual.
Sid & Karen Visit the Heartland
Sid and Karen (Yuri's folks) visited from Juneau just as Fairbanks was getting really cold. We had a wonderful visit with them; they have a way with the girls who just light up around them. They are easy house guests and we hope they return soon. Yuri's brother, Dylan, also visited for several days however I didn't manage to get a picture of him with the girls. Next time Dylan!
Below is a picture of Karen, Sid and Rory during a walk we took at Alaskaland during a Halloween event. My kids were the only ones not dressed up...bad mom.
Here is Massie being pulled in her sled throughout the park.
Birthday Party
Rory got to celebrate her friend, Angelina's, birthday at a gymnastics studio. Here are the kids lined up to listen to the rules - yeah, right.
Here is my balanced little girl...she did a great job on the beam.
And, she garnered the courage to do the zipline...turns out it was fun.
Halloween
We were invited to the Bast Halloween bash again this year and had a blast! Below is officer Yuri cuffing Ladybug Rory.
Crazy eye picture of me as Rosie the Riveter.
Just prior to the Bast party we attended Rory's Montessori Halloween Carnival. For someone who really doesn't get into Halloween (me) it's a little odd that I had two costumes this year. On my lap is Fozzie Bear. Rory and I spent weeks trying to teach her to say "Wacka Wacka" but in the end it simply came out as Nacka Nacka. She was a cute little Fozzie. As for Rory, I ordered an adorable handmade ladybug costume from Etsy but apparently the US Postal Service treats Alaska as a third world country as the package took a month to get here (not in time for Halloween). So, we ran to Fred Meyer and got this cute little outfit instead.
My little ladybug fishing for a prize.
The Burks' annual Halloween pumpkin carving party was a ton of fun again this year. We got to catch up with friends we hadn't seen for a while, enjoy some grub and get really slimy with all those pumpkin guts. Here are the kids with their masterpieces.
The children of the original Riverview Gang - it's amazing to see my girls with the children of the friends I grew up with. The Burks (minus Bentley), the Sadlers and the Morgans (Warwicks). I hope these kids are all friends as they grow.
After all the Halloween festivities the kids were a little worn out and Rory frankly wasn't super excited about dressing up to go trick-or-treating. I told her if she wanted candy that she had to put something on (yes, I bribed her) so she chose to put on the butterfly wings that the Tangemans bought her last year. We then put Rory's ladybug costume over Massie's snowsuit.
Off my winged creatures go to hunt for candy.
And, a final Halloween picture. We caught Fozzie raiding the fridge...bad bear.
The Girls
Rory and Massie were getting a kick out of pushing each other around in a baby stroller meant for baby dolls. They exceeded the weight restriction by about 30 pounds but it worked out okay in the end (i.e. no one seriously injured).
Rory grabbed my camera and started taking shots...I'd say she has potential. Look at this beautiful picture she took of Massie.
Hope you all enjoyed the Halloween season and are keeping warm this winter.
