Rugrats VIII
Fall 2004
No, don't worry, it's not another climbing page.  But Lauren has discovered she likes bouldering, so let's start out with this one.  Here she is, taking direction from a coach on her second visit to the gym.
Warm September weather lets the girls outside wearing their outfits from the Disney movie Mulan (found by Kaori at the Seisen flea market for about 50 cents each).

Check out Lauren's missing tooth.  She could buy ten Mulan outfits at that price, with what the tooth fairy brought her!
Mulan and the Beast.  'Nuff said.
Hmmm.... Mulan looks beat.

This sleeping on the couch thing will be a continuing theme, as you'll see.  (They must get it from their dad.)
Better fuel up with some - ummm, mmm - natto.
Katie likes it, too - god knows why.

If you look carefully, you can even see the little strands of slime depending from spoon to bowl in this shot.

Feh.
Early October means Seisen Festival, and Seisen Festival means face painting!!
Early October also means school outings to the park.  Here, Katie and her friend Kiyomi model their uniforms on a beautiful day.
It's also a last chance to go camping in Nagano, before the weather gets too cold.

Pretty nice campsite, huh?
Cold nights aren't so bad with warm clothes and a nice campfire.  (Did you notice the doggie eyes shining in the dark?)
Girls in tent.
Me outside.

What a beautiful morning.
The following weekend, Kaori and the girls took another run up to Nagano and happened upon a cafe that featured drawing utensils for customers.  Vast stacks of pastels.  Perfect.

Below, the artists at work.
And suddenly it's time to carve pumpkins.
Katie prefers hers inscribed, rather than carved....
...But has no objection to a little hand work on Lauren's.
Time next for trick-or-treating. 

Look, it's two Little Red Ridinghoods and the Big Bad Wolf (who apparently has already eaten grandma...)
Pretty cute, huh?  (I'm speaking on a purely objective basis, of course.)

And here's what I guess you could call a trick-or-treating action shot (despite the absence of action).
Yes, it's true:  He's the world's best dog.
Halloween and school, too.  Hard work.

Katie reserves her lollipop for later.
It's important to get those batteries recharged, because now it's potato picking day.

Lauren is an old hand at this.  She's landed a wopper.
Katie got into the washing part.  Check out that concentration.  (Needless to say, poor Kaori had to practically sluice out the bathroom, afterward.)
Yay!!
Meanwhile, meet Ray.  As you can see, Lauren likes Ray...

(...and Justin and...)
Ray himself appears less certain.
Whew.  That was hard work, too!
That's okay.  If the boys disappoint you, the warm fall weather means you can always go turf sledding...




... or to swimming class with your gal pals.
Katie's getting into the swimming thing, too
And then it's time to bring homemade cupcakes to school for an early birthday party....
....Play outside....
....Bake and ice a big batch of cookies....
....Have a real birthday party and go wild on the gorgeous birthday cakes that Mommy made.  (That's Justin on the right, by the way.)
...Whew again!  Being a kid is hard work.  Goodnight!
BIG Bad wolf.