My Dad -- or "Papa," as he is known around these parts -- came to visit for Thanksgiving. We made a nice, simple dinner (roast chicken instead of turkey and auntie Tara's delicious pumpkin pie). The kids adored having him all to themselves. Such a treat that he spent the night. The next day we played at Thornhill school where Halina showed off her monkey bar prowess. A lot to be thankful for.

Well, you are not really laughy, Halina was explaining the other day.

Hm. I had to let that one sink in. I'm not?

No, she said, a little amused by my bemusement. She wasn't being critical; it was just one of those clearly observable facts, which I myself might have taken note of by now.

We went on to have a laughy exchange about it, and I was deemed slightly more laughy than Daddy, which helped (sorry to throw you under the bus, Daddy, but anything to make me feel better at that moment). I vowed to laugh more with her, but my commitment to that has been spotty. Maybe I'll put a reminder note up. Someone wise advised me two years ago to put up a note that said "My job is to be kind" and I never got around to it, or I wasn't willing to have that entirely sum up my job, or something.... And that's when it really WAS my job, too. Meaning, I was unemployed.

I went to a career coach recently who had a hand-out on transition and I can see that I'm in one. Sleep disruptions being a big sign. I have a new job that I start a week from Monday. PART TIME, I'm reminding myself. But still. I CAN QUIT, I'm reminding myself. Though I worry that is easier said than done.

It's a scary change and I'm feeling a lot of stress. I try to remember what is most important to me and hold that close. And be kind to myself, too.

 Halina turned six and lost her first tooth all in the same week.

Here's her classroom celebration.

Luke was there...

... as was Madame Gigi. (She flies in from Paris for all the kids' birthdays.)

Halina makes a lot of these lovely dolls at school, which she calls her girls.

Luke's finally tall enough for admission to this much anticipated zoo ride.

Luke and Wyeth at the zoo.

Halina doing her self-assigned "work" with Daddy (pages & pages of a-b-c's).

Love this Hallowe'en pic with Angelo and Annabella.

Dorothy and Pingu.

Candy is definitely in Luke's vocabulary now.

The director of Halina's school also went as Dorothy.

Love these expressions. Thanks to Lynn for sharing this pic.

And thanks to Jen for sharing this one (kickin' it with Maya and Lucia).

We spent the morning at the car repair shop that's right next to the train tracks and offers free lollipops. Needless to say, Luke enjoyed it.

In October, Halina suddenly mastered the monkey bars after months of trying. She loves going across them now.

I am fond of this picture from July. If she had a record album, this could be on the back cover.

For my birthday in September, we went to Gilroy Gardens. Loved it. Here is Luke realizing he's in over his head trying to drive the vintage track car.

These cars have some play, with only a center track keeping you on course. So it's a bit of an actual driving challenge.

 Still generally having fun, but burning on fumes.

These pictures are out of order. Here's what got us to the fumes stage. Fun though!

Halina escorted me on the rollercoaster after an earlier ride with Daddy. She liked the thrill.

The night before was my birthday.

Halina and Daddy surprised me (and Luke) with decorations and a cake when we got home.

We went out to Mexican food for dinner.

And Auntie Tara visited. We went to a stunning festival called Art in Nature in the nearby redwoods. 

And Halina helped Luke feed his first animal at Little Farm (see the hand-holding?)

That's about it for my Fall round up so far. Although I vowed to avoid round ups, sometimes they are called for. There are still many amazing adventures, visits, and moments left undocumented from this summer. Maybe I will get to that.