A Very Cold Halloween

It was a bitter cold Halloween here in Seattle. For Clara's first Halloween I sewed some felt "peas" on a green fleece bunting that her Grandparents Bamford brought back from Paris, so she could be a warm, cozy pea pod. We went to one neighbor's house, but it was so dark and cold, Clara cried when they opened the door. She had more fun at our college class, especially since Mema Bamford got to come with us. The kids looked so cute. There was a pumpkin, twin ladybugs, a spider, a fairy, and a chicken.

On another note, our trip to Portland last weekend was a huge success. Greg enjoyed his visit to the Catlin Gable School, and Clara and I explored the Pearl District. Little did we know, our hotel was located a few short blocks from a new cafe: Sip and Kranz , or as we came to call it: The Baby Cafe. At first glance it looks like a sleek, Ikea-fied coffee shop. But look closer and you will see the adjoining sunken "baby rec room", complete with shag carpet, flat screen tv playing kids' dvds and toys galore. In short, it was Clara's favorite hangout, which means it was our favorite, too. It didn't hurt that the Stumptown Coffee was good and strong and the almond croissants oh-so buttery. Other highlights of our trip included a visit to the classical Chinese Garden, eating a mammoth breakfast at the nouveau-lumberjack-themed Doug Fir Lounge, and visiting the playground in the Pearl's park blocks where Clara was especially smitten with the Chinese baby elephant statue (Xian Bao Bao).

It's the beginning of the birthday season, so happy belated birthday to Clara's Grandpa Armitage and to her Uncle Russell on Sunday. Sorry we couldn't be with you to celebrate.