Happy Halloween! Last chance for UNICEF!

I'm having technical difficulties posting the rest of the pictures from the family photo shoot, so please be patient! But I didn't want our issues to mean you miss your last opportunity to donate to our Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Donations will be accepted here for the rest of the day. We are 94% of the way to our goal of $350!

We'll be back soon with the rest of the family photos, and with lots of pictures of the kids' Halloween costumes. Until then, here's a preview of Luke in his Calvin & Hobbes time machine, with his Hobbes doll.

For you non-Calvin aficionados out there, here's a reference:

Finally, a Family Photo Session

A few weeks ago we did something that was long overdue: we had a photographer come and take some family pictures. And not just any photographer--our volleyball teammate and friend Dave Johnson. I wanted someone to capture our kids in action, rather than take lots of posed photos. Dave was perfect for the job and got way more than I thought he was going to! In fact, the star of the shoot turned out to be Luke, which was a total shock given how uncooperative he was. But it turns out that he just wanted to play, and when we let him do that Dave got some amazing pictures.

I'll post a few of my favorites over the next few days, starting with those great shots of Luke. If you're in the Bend area and are looking for someone to take some family photos (and at a very reasonable rate), check out Johnson Creative Photography here and tell him we sent you!

And don't forget that if you want to contribute to our Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, you should do so here be Monday. Thanks!

Pumpkin Patch Time Again

Nana and Pop also took Myla and Luke to our favorite pumpkin patch, Thistleberry Farms. This place just gets better every year, and both kids had a great time.

Thanks to a generous gift, we are now about 80% of the way to our goal of $350! Click here to help us get there by Halloween!

Play Doh

A couple of weeks ago Nana and Pop came to visit, and we took advantage of some great fall weather to be outside. Myla took advantage of Nana's ever-willingness to play Play Doh, and this time Luke and Pop joined in.

Thanks to some generous donations yesterday, we're halfway to our UNICEF goal of $350! Click here to make a donation!

Jonathan and Maria's Wedding

And here are pics from the wedding itself. Luke looked dapper in his sweater (the tie might have been even cuter but wasn't very practical). Here are the handsome Blazejewski men!

The kids with their grandparents:

Myla having fun before the ceremony:

I wish I had more pictures with the rest of the family, but I had my hands full with Luke so didn't get to take many! But it was beautiful.

We're getting closer to our goal--28% of the way there! Click here to donate to our trick-or-treat for UNICEF campaign by Monday!

Jonathan & Maria's Rehearsal

On Oct. 1, Uncle Jonathan and now-Aunt Maria got married, and Matthew and Myla were honored to be in the wedding. Here are some pictures of the flower girls at the rehearsal. These girls love cousin time!



We're entering the last week of our efforts to raise funds for UNICEF. Click here to make a donation--we are trying to raise $350 by Oct. 31!

Andrew's Buddy

This weekend, Baw Baw and Grandma came to visit, along with Uncle Andrew. We could tell Myla was thrilled Andrew was here when they had this exchange soon after he arrived:

(Andrew is resting on the floor)
Myla: Do you want me to rub your belly or pat it?
Andrew: Neither, thanks, I'm fine.
Myla: Okay. Let me know if I can get you anything.

Then we went to a pumpkin patch, where Myla wanted Andrew to ride the cow train and hayride with her instead of anyone else. On the way home, Myla asked where Andrew, Grandma, and Baw Baw were. Matthew told her they were in the car behind, but would be meeting us at the house. Matthew asked, "Is that okay?" Myla responded, "definitely!"

Click here to support our continued efforts to raise funds for UNICEF!

Luke: 13 months

Yesterday's walking pictures were from our 13 month photo shoot, but here are the only ones we got with the sign. We had to use trickeration, but I think the result is pretty cute.



Postapalooza, day 5--click here to make a donation!

Walking Man

Luke took his first steps a couple of weeks after his first birthday and was moving really well by 13 months. Here are some pictures of those early tentative steps. Love that move in the first one--everybody say heyyyy!



Postapalooza continues, as do our fundraising efforts for trick-or-treat for UNICEF. Click here to make a donation!

Luke's 1st Day of School

About a month ago Luke had his first day of school! He's doing great there--playing and making new friends, and taking better naps on the cot than he does in his crib at home! Here are some pics of his first day.

Before leaving the house and in the car--he seems apprehensive.


Going in:


Making himself at home in the large motor room:


I barely got this post in before the end of the day, but the Postapalooza continues! We're 14% of the way to our goal of $350--click here to make a donation!

Train Table

Myla and Luke are really starting to play together now. Luke is now interested in the train/Lego table, and that has renewed Myla's interest in it as well. Here she is, showing him the ropes.

Today's UNICEF update: 7% of the way to our goal of $350! Click here to make a donation!

Post-apalooza for UNICEF

This is the fourth year that Myla (now joined by Luke) will be trick-or-treating for UNICEF! Last year we kicked our efforts up a notch, and our generous friends and family donated just over $350 to this wonderful cause. We'd like to do as well this year, and Matthew and I will again be matching all donations, up to $500!

UNICEF's efforts to help vulnerable kids around the world are even more critical this year, in the midst of a devastating famine in Africa. Just $1 can buy protein biscuits to help a starving child.

Please click here to donate by Oct. 31! As a thank you, we will be posting new pictures every day from now until Halloween! First, Myla poses in her flower girl dress for Jonathan and Maria's wedding. She felt so fancy.

Overdue Slide Show

Sorry the blog fell into darkness for a couple of weeks. While we haven't necessarily been more busy lately, it seems we've been more exhausted, leaving little energy for posting at the end of the day. We have had lots of fun things like weddings, first days of school, etc. lately, so I'll try to get posts up soon.

But first, here's the slide show of Luke's birthday I promised a while back. There are lots of fun pictures--especially the ones of Luke eating his cake. Click on it to expand.