Last year we hired a chimney sweep to do an annual cleaning. Two guys arrived, scrubbed the chimney for 15 minutes and charged us $90. Hmmm...that doesn't look too difficult, thought my ever frugal husband. So, this year he bought his very own chimney brush for $80 and on one unseasonably warm October morning he climbed up to the rooftop to do the job himself. Sam even got to join him up there - just like Bert from Mary Poppins - a dream come true. All went very well initially. However, while afterwards cleaning out our wood stove pipe in the living room, the shop vac blasted out a huge puff of soot. A fine black powder now covered every inch of our living room! Luckily we were both in good humor that day because what followed was a day and a half of the most thorough cleaning we've ever done...every item in that room was either vacuumed, washed, wiped, and/or shaken out. Depending on how you look at it, we either should have saved ourselves the hassle and hired a professional...or, we got both a clean chimney and a clean living room for only $80 and some elbow grease!
In other exciting news this fall, Sam learned to ride on two wheels! We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly he took to it. I had pictured a long, painful process full of tears and meltdowns, but apparently this boy was born to ride.
And perhaps not too far behind, here comes Jack...
This is how the leaves looked before they turned brown!
Bowdoin's campus provides fantastic place for kids to ride and run. We feel lucky to have it as an extension to our backyard.
Daddy and Jack on campus.
Halloween 2011 was fantastic. Sam continues to love dress-up so prepping for Halloween is full of excitement. This year he decided to be Professor Potts, the inventor, from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Kevin and I collaborated and came up with a costume that very much pleased the professor. After all, what little boy wouldn't be thrilled with rockets on his back?!
Jack wore the hand-me-down Max costume from last year. It is a bit big on him but he was thrilled and seemed to especially love his long bushy tail.
My friend Hiroko came over with her three kids, Coco, Ellie and Auggie, and we marched together in the Halloween parade. Ellie was especially sweet with Jack and held his tail up much of the way down Maine Street. So cute.
Jack, Sam, Coco and Ellie.
Hiroko with Auggie, Jack and Ellie.
My Uncle Tom and Aunt MaryLou came for a visit this fall. They live in Japan so it has been many years since we've had a visit together. After graduating from high school I lived for six months outside of Tokyo with Tom & MaryLou and their five young kids (they later had a sixth, my cousin Grace). After experiencing their young family many years ago, it was a treat to have them experience mine. Having raised six children, they are experts on little ones and made fast friends with Sam & Jack.
Uncle Tom playing trains with the boys.
Mormor, Aunt MaryLou, Uncle Tom, Sam & Jack.
MaryLou showed the boys how to make leaf boats.
And how to be the wind!
MaryLou, my mom, & Tom. Thanks for including us in your east coast tour, Aunt MaryLou & Uncle Tom!
We also had another fun visit from Morfar who was working all month on a project in Massachusetts.
Morfar & Sam bonded over books.
This one on how things work was a favorite for grandfather and grandson alike.
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