October

October! We love our tradition of apple picking Saturday of General Conference weekend. Pressing our own cider and spending time with friends makes it extra fun. 

Conference Sunday we baked pumpkin muffins and decorated a spooky candy house. It was a beautiful day!

Kate and Gwen are taking an art class that they LOVE. It's every other Wednesday. On a Wednesday afternoon when they didn't have art class they asked to do art at home. We spread out the art supplies on the kitchen table and turned on the relaxing music just like at their art class with Sister Shea.

We spent a weekend at Lake Arrowhead with the Bowdens. We had fun spending time with them and catching up. Maddie is so fun to be around and Clara keeps asking about her cousin.

I got to accompany Kate on her field trip to the Audubon Society to watch birds. I still can't believe she is in 4th grade! These kids are growing too quickly! Kate is so fun to be around. She's positive, smart, helpful and I'm lucky to be her mom.

Disneyland Halloween party! Always a highlight. These kids get to trick or treat 3 times in October! Disneyland, church trunk or treat and then Halloween. It's sugar overload at our house all month. 

The Disney party was a lot of fun. They do such an amazing job with the music, lights and decorations. We went with a tootsie roll, Queen of Hearts and Minnie Mouse.

It's always a treat to spend a morning at the beautiful Newport Beach Temple. We are blessed to live 15 minutes away.

Saturday morning at the Long Beach Aquarium touching sea starts and anemones. We also touched sharks and sting rays!

Picking out our pumpkins. Gwen chose one that looked like a cake, just like her Halloween costume. She loved helping Clara and is such a good big sister to her. They have been really into playing "school" lately. Gwen is the teacher and has a whole schedule for Clara. Clara happily follows along and listens to her "teacher" Gwen. These girls are lucky to have each other.

Kate and Anna at the Richardsons annual Caramel Apple Party. One of our favorite Autumn traditions. We are lucky to have such nice friends.

More parties! Mimi's Halloween party! We had fun doing crafts with cousins and playing games. 

Gwen accompanied me to the Veg Fest. She wasn't so sure about all of the samples of "vegan" food. But did like the shave ice and cupcake competition. And her little stuffed elephant key chain.

Painting and carving pumpkins! Protective eye wear is always a good idea. 

Halloween Day was jam packed with fun. It started with a costume parade and Kate and Gwen's school. Then I drove to Clara's preschool to walk to the old folks home to hear her sing her Halloween songs to them.

Then that afternoon we hosted book club for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We had a discussion, ate cauldron cakes and pumpkin juice, made wands and magic potions. 

And then it was time to potluck with neighbors before trick or treat time! It was a fun (and exhausting) day!

And Clara's preschool photo. Love her!