Happy Halloween!

We thought we'd get a head start on Halloween this year, and try on our costumes a little early. I decided to be Coraline, and Gary decided to be a punk rocker. Simone decided to be Hosehead from Strange Brew. I don't think Simone was too checked out on our hairdos to start, but determined we smelled like her parents, and decided to just put up with it.

Halloween Spirit

Simone models the Halloween scarf Tammy gave her :)

The Baby Gate Saga Continues...

Once Simone destroyed the big baby gate, we had to use our spare little one to help set up the KT boundary. The first day we used the back-up, we came home to find it on the floor with numerous teeth marks in it, and a certain puppy lying on the couch. So, the next day we tried lodging it in a little more tightly, and moved a little higher up. When we got home that night, the gate was intact, but Simone was still on the couch in the living room...it seems that she jumped over the gate to let herself into the living room. We realized we were fighting a battle we just weren't going to win anymore. Simone has decided there will not be KT any more, and that's that. So, we compromised: we now close all the bedroom doors, and leave her free downstairs to roam as she pleases. Since we know she's headed right for the couches, we went ahead and covered them with sheets. When we arrived home that first night after she won her freedom, we found that she'd had a field day with the couch cushions, pushing them down so they were no longer covered by the sheets, and then lying on top of them! Here she inspects her handiwork...

Play Date

Bailey came over for a little while this afternoon to play with Simone.

He tackled her straight away, and then she got him back....

And then he jumped on her again...

...and again and again until they were both tuckered out!

Fall is in the air...

We went for a late Sunday afternoon walk today past Starker Arts Park down to near Ashbrook School and back to see the changing leaves...

Hard to believe only a few more weeks and these vibrant trees will be bare!

Greeting Party

Simone was SO happy to see us tonight that she picked up more than one toy to greet us. At first we thought it was two, and then we saw a third and were really impressed....

But when she dropped them, we realized she had managed to pick up FOUR of her stuffed animals: giraffe, bunny, pink bunny, and Colin the stuffed dog!

Buh-Bye Baby Gate

Simone apparently decided that she'd had enough of what we call "K-T" (aka "kitchen time). K-T occurs on a daily basis, generally when we go to work, and occasionally when we go out in the evening and can't bring her along. It's not really kitchen time since she spends most of K-T stretched out on the futon. In any case, she decided she was done with that tonight and destroyed the baby gate so she could get out and lie on the couch in the living room. Dennis and Mary and Marney and Ted arrived home after our show ahead of us to find Simone and what remained of the gate. Quite the scene!

Fall Farmer's Market Stroll

We hit the farmer's market early this morning with Dennis and Mary to pick up a bounty of fresh fall produce.

We bought several pounds of German butterball potatoes, delicata squash, red and yellow bell peppers, lettuce, sunflower sprouts, celery, broccoli, apples, and a big warty Halloween pumpkin.

Simone led the way!

Foot Fetish

Simone has a foot fetish.
She loves to lie on people's feet. Here she is delighted to be
lying on four feet at once: Dennis', mom's and dad's.

Dog Day at the Pool

We went to Dog Day at Osborn Aquatic Center here in Corvallis today. They open it to all dogs in town the day before they drain the pools as a fundraiser for the local humane society. We went to the 10am swimming session, and there must have been 300 dogs there. Simone had some fun social time with other puppies, but needed a little encouragement from dad to get into the pool.

She needed a little help getting out...



And then had a good shake...

We couldn't persuade her to go back in, but she seemed pretty happy overall about having taken a dip in the pool.

New Pillow Position

Simone enjoys moving the pillows on the futon into certain positions to make sleeping more comfortable. For awhile, she was moving the pillow to the midpoint of the futon, and creating a sort of body encasement (see "Fort Simone"). Lately, she's started moving the pillow so that it's parallel to the back of the futon, and she now lays on top of it. Funny girl :)

Good Friends

Simone and Bailey are becoming good friends. Here they take a little break from chasing each other around Tammy's yard.

The Great Pumpkin

Simone sits patiently waiting for The Great Pumpkin in the community garden near our house.

Dalles Walk

We went to The Dalles this weekend to visit with Gary's mom and step dad. We went to the farmer's market for some fresh honey and then went out to Marshal's Winery on the other side of the river. Before we headed back this morning, we went for a walk along the Columbia. Simone was itching to climb down the rocks to the river, but we managed to keep her on the path!

Caveman Reunion

Simone and I pose for a photo during the Prince Family Reunion out at Three Rivers.

Camping Cozy

Simone stakes out her place on the air mattress inside our tent at the family reunion.

Stretch Break

On our way to Dennis and Mary's cabin, we stopped for a quick stretch break and took a few minutes to admire the view.

Meet Bailey

Simone hangs out with Bailey, our neighbor Tammy's new yellow lab puppy.

Tuckered Out

Simone was completely tuckered out after her run on the beach. Fortunately, she had two comfy layers of sleeping bags to lie on in the back set on our drive back home.

Beach Run

We took the puppies down to the beach in the morning for a romp in the waves.

It was Chad and Lori's new puppy Addie's first time at the beach and she loved it!

Addie, Molly, and Simone

Simone had a grand time as usual :)