Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We had such a great time coming up with the kids costumes this year. They each picked out what they wanted to be and we actually got it finished in time for truck-or-treat last night. I guess those day of having a theme for our family are over. Christian dressed up as a werewolf. I told him he looked like Jacob from the twilight stories/movies and that he should wear a "team jacob" shirt, but he did not like that idea. Meliah dressed up as Medusa! I did her hair a total of 3 times and I am worn out from it. It kind of evolved from the first to the last. She liked the last one the best. Elizabeth dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake and she was the cutest little one I have ever seen. Her cousin, Marin, let her borrow her strawberry bag to get her candy with, and it added the cutest final touch. I tried to talk Aaron into dressing up so I could do a bunch of fun make-up but he wasn't up for it. We did go to an adult party on Friday night which was a total blast. It was done in a barn with the most amazing decorations and hay on the ground. Aaron was a nerd and I was a mystery woman (Aaron's escort, I guess). I forgot to take my camera to that one... but it's probably better that way!

Fall and all it's wonders

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm






Lizzy's first field trip and her first bus ride







I love when the fall comes around every year! Cooking soups and crock pot meals are just so warm and appealing (and easy). I usually drink my first cup of hot chocolate way before the cold weather comes. Getting ready for the holidays, decorating, the smell of the outdoors makes me feel like a little kid again (I know, I am a kid)... but there's nothing like being so excited that I jump around and take it all in like it was the first time. Seeing life through my kids eyes gives me so much joy!

First day of School!

I realize I posted Meliah's first day of school but not Lizzy and Christian's. Lizzy just started Kindergarten and her teacher is Mrs. Dempsey. Christian is in the 6th grade in Middle School at Manzanita. I was at a family reunion for the 1st day of school, so I avoiding crying when I left Lizzy for her first day. So, here are the pictures from the 2nd day of school, close enough, right?

My Lizzy Lou has been ready for school for a long time!

Here she is with her friends, Megan, Cate and Kennison

Christian - 6th grade

He's nervous about going to AP Algebra this year! Argh!

Meliah's 1st day of school

My sweet Meliah loves her teacher, Mr Stewart, and is so excited to be in a class with two of her best friends ever, Calissa and Samie.

Our Camping Trip

My handsome husband, making sure we get our scriptures read.

The boat races! It was so fun we did it again!

Roasting Marshmellows

Lizzy hands me her stick and says, "Mom, will you get the black part off?"

Aaron posing for me.

Meliah trying to get her boat unstuck.

I love the background in this picture!

Daddy with his girls!

Lizzy painting!

Lizzy and I (Oh how I will miss her when she goes off to school this year)

Christian being cute! He loved sitting out on the end of this log.

Timer set, Aaron runs... whew! We got the family picture.

This year we didn't get to go camping with Aaron's family because of Aaron's work schedule, so we decided to go just our little family for a one nighter. We had such a great time together, playing games, eating (of course), having boat races and exploring at the Sly Creek Reservoir.

All-Stars!

Grandma and Grandpa came to all three of the games. They are so supportive of everything the kids do... I don't know how they do it!

Christian with his friend Chase. They are such great buddies and I love it because Chase is an awesome kid.

Aaron helped coach the team with the Conroys. Those were such busy days, I never saw him except from a distance.

Christian before the game.

When Christian pitched he was very calm and did an amazing job.

Christian played on the All-Stars teams this year. I wanted to post some of the pictures we got. He played 3 games. They won the first one, barely! The score ended up being 10-9 after we had been behind the entire game. He was put in as pitcher in the 3 inning and the score was 3-9 and the team never scored on Christian's pitches again. It was a very exciting game! The other two games were complete blowouts but they were still fun to watch. Christian play pitcher, shortstop and third base.