Another Reason to Love this Season...

Mickey Mouse + Halloween + Family =

We thought since we were annual passholders we should check out the biggest party of the year. My family came down for the occasion and since it's customary to dress up for the Mickey's Trick or Treat Party we went as the wicked queen and the 7 dwarfs... well, 8 dwarfs actually.

We added a "Hungry".

Hundreds of people wearing costumes, young and old collecting candy at all the stops, a dance party and parade, practically no wait for any ride...

and somehow this little man stayed up with the big kids just fine.

Thank You Mom for the costumes and such an Awesome weekend! We miss you guys!

What Are You Going to Be on Halloween Night?

One of my favorite halloween memories from my own kid-hood is when we'd pull out the dusty decorations and home-made costumes from the garage. We'd spend what seemed like hours re-trying them all on while thinking of what we could be that year. I was always so impressed with how creative and crafty my mom was. She came up with so many fun costumes from scratch. Here were a few favorites I recently found on my computer...

My sister Rachel and I a.k.a. Witch and her Cat

Miss America, Jailbird, Pumpkin (Baby Johnny)

Court Jester, Pirate (Caleb), Ghoul

And just for fun, this is the only Halloween Pic I could find of Stephen...

I always heard that holidays become more exciting when you get to live it like a kid again. The last few weeks we've been getting ready for Halloween around here. Jacob helped me put up the pumpkins.

I made him try on several costumes just for fun.

...Though, I don't know how much fun it was for him...

Let's face it. I don't really know how to sew anything more than a pillowcase. So a store bought costume will have to do this year. I think it may just be the cutest thing anyway.... We decided to have Jacob be "Curious George" for Halloween '09.

And fortunately we will be in Utah for the holiday where the fleece will be slightly more appropriate. I am trying to talk stephen into being the "Man in the Yellow Hat" but then I don't really know what I would be..... hmmm. Are you dressing up? What are you going to be?

The Pumpkinest Patch Ever!

I am Loving Fall this year! I don't know if its because I'm not working in a classroom anymore and feel like I can enjoy the outdoors more, or what it is.... but I am just loving it! I guess it has only taken me three years to appreciate Autumn in Southern California.

Stephen's clinic was closed today so he took us to a gorgeous farm in Orange County.

There were more pumpkins there than any of us had ever seen before.

There were tractors driving around on the dirt roads, a corn maze to walk through, and we got to pick our own pumpkins right off the vine! And of course, we also came home with some of the best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted.

It was a good day.

I Miss My Clique

It was so hard to move away from Utah. Leaving behind all my friends and family to start over. But I was so blessed to meet these true friends in my ward. We were all somewhat newly married, no kids yet, in a transitional phase of life, couples that loved to eat. Ok we did more than just eating, but we just clicked.

But then these guys moved to Colorado.

And these guys moved to Provo.

These guys moved to Stanford.

And then these guys left us for Redondo Beach.

How dare they all.

Only once have we been lucky enough to have a few of us all in the same town at the same time again (missed you Becca!) Hopefully someday again soon, girls. I am sure missing you!