time to put the finishing touches on our halloween costumes. maybe you think riley is going as a pregnant soccer player and you're just going to have to wait until next week to see if you're right.

top chef viewing cuddle-puddle.

jamming. for a full video (imho, it's totally worth watching) click here.

catching some sick air.

upping my action-shot game.

just because their older siblings are on opposing teams doesn't mean kale and caroline can't enjoy a little cat's cradle themed qt.

post-brunch soccer spectating.

brunch at cafe flora with nat and erin is a real treat. no tricks!

riley is channeling the bangles and 'walking like an egyptian.'

snuggle-wrestling is totally a thing.

standing for the star spangled banner at last night's womens national team game against brazil (it ended in a 1-1 tie, in case you were wondering).

best spot to watch the sun set behind the space needle.

3/4 of the stephensons came for a visit and it was so nice to see them.

reunited and it feels so good.

why walk when you can scoot.

much easier to get a good shot while they're "taking a knee" as an injured player is escorted off the field.

it's a four hour train ride from portland. good thing he had some books.

while kale and katrina ventured to portland, rye and i held it down in seattle. because soccer games, that's why. also i have a whole new level of respect for sports photographers - it's really hard to get a good action shot.

this photo is about the cousinhood of the traveling pants. those sweet fuchsia leggings belonged to calliope then kale and now eli!

this kid! and his crystal wand and his balloon belt and his fairy dust necklace. pure magic.

'best-of' soccer goal videos on youtube. does it get better than this?

oh you know, just checking out an x-ray of his entire skull (!) at the orthodontic consult. first they will remove some teeth, then he will still need braces.

after the library.

now that's katrina.

artsy shot of the kids in the bowl.

benny knows, sometimes you just have to have a lie-down on the living room rug about it.

there is a giant spider who has spun her web in that hedge and every day we watch her do her thing. oh nature. ps: that is not katrina. weird right?

winsome bike polo spectator.

serious talk with savi.

and because we live in seattle, the tattoo parlor has an arcade for the offspring to hang out in.

i also got a tattoo about it.

this weekend marked the one year anniversary of uncle (cousin, brother) hubie's death. we marked the occasion with dutch pancakes for breakfast. i hope there are plenty of eggs and butter and sweet, sweet maple syrup wherever you are, sweet brother.

riley skipped the ice cream and headed down to be part of this photo shoot for an east coast liberal arts college brochure.

at the 'back to school ice cream social' kale was more interested in watching people ride the mechanical bull than trying it himself. sound thinking, my friend.

savi and billy and a few members of the stop shopping gospel choir enjoy an early morning riley recital.

someday kale will eat what the other kids are eating at a birthday party (fingers crossed) but for now we've got the quesadilla carrier.

...kale spent a significant portion of the afternoon in this position. but, man, was he good natured about it, and he just kept trying again.

despite the assistance of his friend, ella, who's an ice hockey player...

shakin' it on the sidelines.

thanks for brightening our days, s & c. we love you guys.

sarah and calliope sent us some awesome new headlamps that came with the tiniest screwdrivers ever.

bidding mommy a fond farewell before she heads down to the bay area.

pizza, pizza party.

ready to sub in at a moment's notice.

so this happened. kids first pre-release magic tournament.

full moon feast at annie and rae's before we went and watched the lunar eclipse.

speaking of reading.... kale's finally joined the rest of the family and developed a love of the written word (as long as it's accompanied by the drawn cartoon, but hey, we'll take it.)

riley will read whatever's to hand while he's eating breakfast. turns out we've got some pretty weird magazines just lying around.

enjoying calvin's very comfy therapy couch at his office warming.

pretty sure you're not supposed to scooter in the hallways but you know how the rules relax when it's after-hours.