Also,

Skipper has grown nearly an inch since July, devastating her clothing budget and making us speculate that maybe SHE's going to be the child who grows to an enormous adult height, since Duchess appears to be done with growing.

(This is Pioneer Square, where the Christmas tree was set up this weekend, and an enormous poop was also set up to advertise something.)

Duchess turned fifteen! She's thriving, and also pretty much mad at me all the time, so I'm not going to invade her privacy by writing any more about her. Suffice it to say that she's come a long way.

In other news, we're all fine. Skipper's also thriving; she has a nice bunch of friends, reasonably decent teachers, and fifth grade is feeling pretty comfortable. I'm still trying to figure out how to be good at my new job, but loving how much I get to learn.

Halloween: Skipper went trick-or-treating with her best friend - they planned and executed a weird coordinated costume concept in which they were bank robbers but somehow opposite? At any rate, they had a great time. Skipper's best ever Halloween.