Happy Halloween!

Ready for more?

This is how Her Majesty likes to be tucked in:

 One of her favorite new words is "turtle!"

And Charlotte is her favorite sister.

 There was some serious dress-up play as Halloween approached.

On Friday, we went on a fall nature hike at Hawthorn Glen.

There were so many leaves, we rarely saw the ground.

This was the prettiest tree in the whole forest:

 Since we were still in the city, we did see this (very exciting) train pass by where the trail jutted out near the road:

We learned about erosion, and how these erosion terraces keep everything from washing down the slopes when it rains, ensuring that plants will have the topsoil they need to grow.

We found this cute garden area at one end of the trail:

 And we found another landscaped area with a stone table and a fountain, perfect for our picnic!

By the time we had had our fill of hiking (and playing on a nearby playground) we were frozen solid and decided to make a stop for cocoa on the way home.

Later on, we went trick-or-treating at Andy's work!  We brought Mulan, Buddy the Dinosaur, Spiderman and a really cute jack-o'-lantern.

Have a great Halloween!  Everyone at the six-headed house will be eating candy and doing extra toothbrushing.  See you in November!

October is our favorite.

Hi everyone!  We've been busily homeschooling, baking and playing dress-up.  The following photo explosion was created to update you and get you into the spirit of autumn:

 

 Anne reveled in the world of color about her.  "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?"

-L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

 

“There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir: We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame she calls, and calls each vagabond by name.”
  - William Bliss

 October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.”
- George Cooper

“October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!”   

-Rainbow Rowell, Attachments

 

 “After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yellow and bronze. The fields stretched like a carpet of jewels, emerald and topaz and garnet. Everywhere she walked the color shouted and sang around her...In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.”
- Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond

We hope you're having a magnificent fall!