More cell phone memories...

Time to clean out the cell phone pics! I love that even without being prepared with my camera, I can get shots of some of the fun things we've done/experienced in the last few months. 

Some turned out a little blurry but I'm glad to have them anyway...

Park play date with Eli...good, dirty fun with buddies!

Birthday party at the train in El Do park

Birthday party #2 of the day at a skating rink!

Disneyland before school started up

Autopia

Hawaiian Dress Up day at school with Ari and Breanna

In-n-Out Day at school...delish!

After school yogurt date with Reags!

Dylan's 1st birthday

Pa's Pumpkin Patch train ride with cousins

Pa's Pumpkin Patch ginormous slide...despite the look of utter terror on his face, Luke really did love it! ;)

Merry-go-round

Merry-go-round

A blurry attempt at getting our party of 22 at dinner at Ruby's

A couple of weeks ago, the kids had to get blood draws. The screams and cries were in full force but nothing a little treat can't fix. ;)

Crazy clash day at school

We've Been Boo'd!

This week we were "boo'd"! This is a fun Halloween tradition in which you make up a little treat package for 2 neighbors that includes a Boo tag to display on the front door or window and make a secret delivery. The point is to try to get everyone to keep up the game and see how many Boo tags are displayed by Halloween. The boo treat that was delivered to us was this fun mask kit that the kids had a great time making. While the kids made their masks, I made some cookies and we went out to make our secret deliveries...donning masks so not to be made, of course. ;)

(source)

Pa's Pumpkin Patch 2011...

Six years ago, we started a tradition with Rob and Marikka. We thought it would be fun to get the 2nd cousins together for a costume photo shoot at Pa's Pumpkin Patch and then go to dinner after.   

Kate- 5 months; Javan and Jonah- almost 7 months

Kate had had enough but the boys were perfectly happy snacking on some hay. ;)

Of course, at the time, we did not think ahead to what this tradition would look like 6 years down the road. Every time one of the cousins had a baby, we'd invite them to join us so, as of this year, our little tradition has grown to 6 first cousins and their spouses and 11 second cousins! It was so fun to get all of the kids in one big picture...special thanks to Brenna and her photoshopping skills for merging several pictures into one to get a good one of everyone! After some rides and our photo session, all 22 of us had a great dinner at Ruby's! Such a fun evening!

Columbus day cookies...

On Monday the kids had the day off of school for Columbus Day. Typically, I would have tried to plan a fun day of activities but after a busy weekend of soccer and baby celebrating, we just enjoyed our day at home. ☺Of course, being my children, Kate and Luke quickly got bored just sitting around so we invited Nana over and made some cookies...

Allison's baby shower...

Today, we celebrated the upcoming arrival of the newest member of our family of friends...Baby Ward! Matt and Allison are due with their first little one at the end of November. We're all so excited to meet him or her and vicariously relive the newborn stage...sans the extreme fatigue, of course. ;) I had a great time planning the shower with Sarah, Brenda, Jenelle, and Wendy and LOVE the way everything turned out...it's so nice to plan with such visionaries! There are a TON of pics so stand by...

(So bummed this came out blurry but still a cute pose.)

Rocking chair for nursery...from Chartreuse, of course

Desserts from Sweet & Saucy Shop. The Chocolate Mousse Shots, Mini vanilla cupcakes, and Pumpkin Cake Pops were my favorite! SO yummy!

Nana-to-be, Wendy, Wendy's mom "Nana Nancy", Momma-to-be

Jenelle, Wendy, Me, Allison, Sarah, Brenda

Kate & Paige

Bailey, Paige, Kate

Happy shower, Al!