Xander and Clare

Last fall ball game of the year was played under the lights.

Doing his best to avoid the tag at home. (And he did!)

At the Squalicum High School Homecoming game.

Heading to Anya's birthday party.

X and I went to see his buddies play football. Go Yard Dawgs!

Dog-sitting for Rosco next door.

Only for Xander will I happily pose for a selfie while wearing no makeup and having my hair pulled back.

Cubbies win! Cubbies win!

Sharp dresser.

Clare and Anya with their Fiddleheads group on a Wild Whatcom outing.

All dressed up to go to a piano concert at Western.

Brother/sister selfie. (Photo by Xander.)

Xander had a poem on display at Bellingham High School, before we listened to author Kwame Alexander speak.

Clare's essay on display outside her school's library.

Playing on the school computers while I help with X's Math Club session.

At the Silver Beach Harvest Festival.

Clare won a gorgeous cake at the cake walk! 

Family photo.

Posing with pirate Corwin.

Goofin' outside Trader Joe's.

At Sara and CK's pumpkin-carving party.

Reunited with her Seattle buddies Jack and Ewan!

Fireside with the adults... 

...while the younger kids play inside.

Remind me next year that absolutely no one else in the family is interested in carving pumpkins. One will be enough, I think. :)

Xander went to the Nike Outlet in Burlington and made good use of his birthday gift certificate from Aunt Rachele: new slides, two t-shirts, and fabulous red basketball shoes to match his D-Block uniforms.

Our second annual trip to the downtown Bellingham trick-or-treating.

X ran into his buddy Bryan.

This kid was anxious for his laundry to get done so he could re-organize his closet.  Shoes lined up perfectly, every shirt nicely hung. How did we get so lucky?

Clare says this is how ninjas show "peace."

Waiting for friends to arrive for a fun night of neighborhood trick-or-treating.

Xander, Eli, Clare & Rhys!

The Lone Ranger handcuffs Robinson Cano.

Round one complete. (And yes: We did go trick-or-treating with Bret Michaels from Poison.) Xander then went with our friends to another nearby neighborhood, where rumor had it full candy bars might be given out.

Best costume to come to our door all night.

The Rosellis stopped by, too!

Xander, Eli and Rhy indeed did return with a few full-sized candy bars, and more.

The next day: counting and sorting.

Carefully cleaning his beloved Jordan Jumpman shoes, with a baby wipe. I kid you not.

New D-BLOCK gear. Xander literally jumped out of bed the morning after he got his new sweatshirt at practice; he couldn't wait to wear it to school along with his teammates.