Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch off Golden West on Wednesday night.  The kids loved riding on the ponies, going on the rides, and seeing all the pumpkins. 

They are getting so big.
CJ found this Helicopter all the way over in the corner, and he was so into it.  M loved it too.
Checking out all of the big orange pumpkins.
Happy boy driving the train.
The kids were loving the little rides.
Miss B was not so sure about the pony ride.  She is always very cautious about everything.
CJ had the time of his life.  He felt like a cowboy.

Halloween Story Time

I've had so much fun with my kids this past month getting ready for Halloween. Here they are at story time at the Main Street Library.

Warm October

This October has been so hot.  It is the warmest  October since they started keeping record back in the late 1800's.  We have been swimming and going to the beach all month long.  I love that it feels like summer, but I am also ready for some cooler weather. 

Halloween Party

We went to the San Clemente 2nd ward's Halloween party. The kids had so much fun trick-or-treating and hanging out with their cousins. CJ had so much fun at the end of the night sorting through all of his loot.

The kids with Grandma Jaycie.

Miss B, CJ and cousin Lang.

Camping

We have been wanting to camp all summer and never quite made it.  So this weekend we went to Leo Carillo.  We went camping with Dave and Stephanie Hennings, and Jill and John Facer Friday night. We loved cooking hot dogs and smores and playing songs on the guitar. In the morning John made some yummy pancakes, and Jill made us hot chocolate. We love camping. We slept in my dad's Euro van.  Johnny and I on top in the pop-top, CJ behind the back bench, and Miss B in the Pac-n-play in between the front and back seats.  The kids did great.  M cried a little when we were first going to sleep, but then she snuggled with us for a little bit and went right to sleep.  CJ never made a peep all night, did not even complain when M was crying.

John made the best pancakes.
It was fun camping with my brother.
The best part about this campsite is it is walking distance to an amazing point break.
It was such an amazing beach day.  The weather and the waves were perfect.

Halloween House

I bought this "Halloween House" at Wal-mart, a couple of weeks ago, because CJ had so much fun last year decorating the Christmas Ginger bread house.  He was in Heaven with all that candy.  I tried to monitor the best I could, but it seemed useless because he was licking his fingers in between every candy he put on the house. (Notice the black lips from the black frosting).  One thing that was nice about this house was that it was already put together for us. We only had to mix the frosting and add candy to it.

The after shots.
He went a little crazy with the candy corns.

Ultrasound for Baby B #3

I had another ultrasound today, and it is definitely a little girl. CJ called it, whenever I asked him what I was having, he would always say "a baby girl." I am excited for M to have a little sister. However, we are also a little nervous for the drama of another little girl.

In the Studio

JB just took some pictures for the Baltzers on Friday (go to his blog, see side bar).  His studio was set up for portraits, so I begged him do some of our kids. He never takes pictures of them because he is so busy and is never set up for it.  The kids were not very cooperative, but we managed to get some cute individual shots of them.

Queen B.
I love the expression on his face.

Happy Birthday Dad

My mom made a really yummy meat loaf for my dad's birthday dinner.  After supper we all sang "Happy Birthday" and ate homemade banana cake.  All of the little Grand kids were happy to be there with their papa.  Family Sunday dinners at my parent's house are kind of a tradition now, it is fun when we get to celebrate birthdays at them too. 

Baby Sadie's Baby Blessing

We went up to Lake wood for Sadie Struhs' baby blessing.  It was very nice, all the cousins were there, and there was a yummy waffle bar in their backyard afterwards.

They were so cute, holding hands, walking up to Shane and Alisa's house.

The River in October

We went to the Colorado River the first weekend in October and we had the most wonderful time.  The Moody's came up, along with JB's parents.  We had so much fun that weekend that we decided to extend our vacation a few more days and take advantage of the warm water and weather. 

CJ had so much fun with his cousins, he especially loved eating popsicles out on the patio with them.

Miss B playing on the patio.
CJ checking out the turtle that the Moody's brought with them.  He loved it.
Here is the little surfer dude paddling for waves at the river.  What?  JB drove by a sandy beach with the wave runner and created mini waves.
Here he is surfing on one of the miniature waves.



Daddy and his girl surfing behind the boat.  I think she actually liked it once she got going.  She did not even cry.
Making cookies is always one of the favorite river activities.  This was the highlight of CJ's night.
C-monkey was watching his dad all week stand up paddling, so he decided to try it himself.  He actually did pretty well.  He could paddle down a few houses and back.  He only needed help turning around, his balance was pretty incredible. 
I'm training them young to be surfers.



More paddling action shots.
JB, the lone man on the river.
Sweet smiley girl with her big brother.  

I love family vacations because they bring us close together and create family bonds.