Happy Halloween!

Trick or treating got rescheduled because of the bad weather so we're going to have to come up with some other activities for tonight. We still haven't carved our pumpkin and we'll need to get our traditional cider and doughnuts! It might actually be nice to celebrate without having to rush out the door. Here are a couple yummy things we've made recently. They have nothing to do with Halloween but you've already seen the kids in their costumes so you'll have to wait until next week for the Trick or treating pictures! 

Baked Rice with Butternut Squash - I thought this was so good, pretty healthy and very comfort food-like. The kids didn't go for it and Pat tried to avoid it but was pleasantly surprised when I finally got him to try it :)

Pumpkin Apple Muffins - I've made these before but they're always so good. I'm going to substitute apple cider for the milk next time I make them!

Friends!

Owen made a few close friends in preschool that aren't going to his school this year so we made some plans for the boys to play together at a local apple farm. They've only seen each other a couple times since school let out but there's never any hesitation in their play. When they see each other it's like they play together every day!

The boys

Aww, I love this picture!



Also, we met some awesome superheroes. No big deal.



Running in the Park

The kids joined me for a run last week (Owen on his bike and Paige in her stroller) but it was so beautiful we made some stops on the way back. Paige wanted to do some running of her own too. 

Whooloween

Whooloween was extra eventful this year with Owen getting sick (in the middle of the hall...). We left early and poor Owen was so sad on the way home! He asked if everyone gets sick at Halloween and we said no but then also recounted some of our own vomiting experiences to make him feel better :) The time we did spend at the event was fun though, I was a little worried during the train ride when Paige kept asking if it was over yet but I finally figured out that she was asking because she did not want it to be over.

(Whooloween 2009, 2010, 2011)

Grandma hard at work!

Enjoying doughnuts and hot chocolate.

Pat dressed up like an elf...accidentally...

Proof that Paige was properly bundled up for the cold weather.

Waiting with Grandpa for our turn on the train.

At the Park

It's hard to pick a favorite season but every time a warm Fall day rolls around, I get a little more convinced that Fall could be my favorite. Winter can be absolutely beautiful but I'm too whiny about the cold temperatures and Summer is awesome (yay birthday!) but it also gets very very hot...I'm sure I'll change my mind when Spring rolls around but for now, if the trees are this beautiful and we're walking around in shorts...Fall wins!

These pictures are from a day at the park last week. It's even warmer this week so you'll be seeing more pictures of us enjoying the weather in subsequent blog posts!

Harvestfest!

The kids went to a Halloween celebration in our city's downtown area and we were joined by a bunch of our friends! The kids were all adorable and had a great time going in and out of stores getting candy, making crafts and playing on/in inflatable slides/bounce houses. (Past Harvestfests 2009, 2010, and we did go in 2011 but I didn't do a blog post about it! What?! Serious oversight.)



The lineup. It's important to get the group pictures before the event. 




Owen is not trying to hide, he is shielding himself from the sun.



Owen and Oliver on the giant inflatable slide.

Paige checking out the nature.

Costumes!

It's a bit early to be revealing Halloween costumes but we've already participated in one Halloween event so they've already had their public debut. Here are some pictures from an impromptu photo shoot we had last week. I made Paige a Minnie Mouse costume and Owen's costume probably looks familiar...(click on that link, it's an adorable picture of them from last year). 

Good Luck!

Back in 2009 we said good luck to Pat's brother Jeff who was headed off to the Navy! Now Pat's sister is headed to basic training for the Army! Good luck Lauren! We're very proud of you!

The Aspens

We asked around for opinions on what to do with our free time in Santa Fe and most people recommended going to see the Aspens. That meant driving to the mountains and doing some hiking! We had missed out on a group hike the previous day so I was glad we got the opportunity to go Saturday morning. I was pretty skeptical because the foliage we have at home is pretty amazing but the Aspens were beautiful in their own way. Being in the mountains reminded me of hiking in Colorado (see "Young Pat" at the bottom of the page) before another friends wedding!



The Aspens





Me and Pat





Everyone




Everyone in the middle of some Aspens



"Young Pat" hiking in Colorado, September 2005

A Wedding!

 A very good friend got married last weekend and Pat and I were able to make the trip to New Mexico to see it happen! Making the decision to go to the wedding wasn't hard but deciding to leave the kids home was! It was a pretty emotional decision for me but they were amazing while we were gone (or so I'm told...) and Pat and I had a fantastic time too! We weren't there long but we did get to spend time with people who are very important to us and see some of Santa Fe with them as well. For now, here are some wedding/reception pictures! And as for the lovely couple...I'm so happy for Brian and Zandra and was moved to tears (a few times...) during the ceremony. They also know how to put on a great party because we had a great time at the reception!

Brian and Zandra

Pat did a great job as a groomsman!

Dani, me and Diana

Brian, Pat and Alex

Me and Pat

Fall!

Pat and I went to New Mexico over the weekend and I do have some pictures but first here are a couple pictures of our first leaf pile of the season (a week ago now)! We're at the point where I'm still excited to get out there and rake but I'm sure that won't last too much longer...the morning walks to school are getting colder too but I'm focusing on the color of the trees and all things pumpkiny!

Part 2!

Here are the rest of the pictures from our day at the apple orchard! We got some pictures of the kids in the play area and of our tradition to buy an apple fritter from the bakery and eat it as soon as we're buckled in the car! The kids chose their own path this year though...they'll be back for the fritters next year...



Owen looks so grown up in this picture! When did this happen?!




Paige found some rocks and she was willing to share!




The kids chose doughnuts instead of an apple fritter! They were obviously confused about the amazingness of fritters...




 ...I had also forgotten about the allure of sprinkles!




One of the pies we baked. So. Good.