FAMILY PUMPKIN PATCH

A few weeks ago we set out to go to an awesome pumpkin patch and ended up at this joke called ABC farms. It was set up in a parking lot with a bunch of bounce houses and random pumpkins on the ground. I'm not sure where the bounce house, pumpkin patch connection happened but I see them everywhere now. Even though I was super disgusted when we first pulled in Brooklyn had a BLAST in the bounce houses and nothing makes me happier than watching her have fun so it all worked out.

^^love little brooklyn's head in the back of this one 

 

^^look at how red her face is! she worked hard in those bounce houses 

^^and of course she got to pick a pumpkin

KIDS VISIT OCTOBER 2014

My step kids have a fall break and come for a week every October. People are very confused by this but apparently Denver schools have a short summer so there can be several weeks off during the year- almost like school year round. You will notice there are not many pictures. My step kids are now "too cool" and won't be in pictures. Fun times, right? I do my best to get a family photo here there but its pretty limited.

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo:

^^brooklyn loves hanging out with drew. she thinks he's the coolest

^^brooklyn still struggling with that smile face 

HALF MOON BAY PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

We finally made it to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival! I have wanted to go for the last several years but usually my step kids land on that Saturday mid day so we were never able to go. This year their school vacation was a week earlier so it worked just perfect.

I love festivals, so much and this one did not disappoint. Lots of fun activities for the kids, tons of food, free sample trunks every where, pop up shops, stores and all things Halloween. The highlight for the older kids was the bounce thing, for Lydia, all the free snacks, Brooklyn's was her balloon and for me and Rob, the roast beef sandwich. Rob is not a festival person but said it was actually worth it to go for that roast beef. We will definitely be making this an October family tradition!

Family photo in our Halloween get-ups. I was so overdressed- it was 80 degrees! 

^^drew decided to be a pirate in this one- looking at the biggest pumpkins

^^i loved their festive outfits for the day

^^then lydia decided to rest her head on brooklyn shoulder. melted my heart 

^^the older kids and brooklyn got to go through the haunted house. lydia stayed outside with mom and dad but got a cute hat.

^^brooklyn got too scared in the haunted house and had to come out! it was actually really cute. 

^^carver mike- apparently world famous. pretty cool to see his work

^^the craft sellers madness in the background  

^^the jump thing highlight

^^brielle dressed as a jasmine, the disney princess

LYDIA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

For Lydia's first birthday (September 27th) we were in Boston this year. I was really excited to be able to celebrate this milestone with my side of the family. Originally we planned a big party with extended family but so many people ended up not being able to make it we cancelled the formal party and decided to do something with just the immediate family. We were really sad not to have Rob there, who flew back to work but the party went on. Lydia is crazy about apples so we thought brining her apple picking would be a great way to celebrate her birthday. We started the morning with a birthday donut and a happy birthday song (this has now become a family tradition) then it was off to the orchard. First we rode a tractor into the orchard, which she loved. Lydia ate about 10 apples while picking. She was just in heaven being wheeled around and handed a new apple once she finished the current one in her hand. We got to look at the farm animals and get cider donuts before heading home for presents and a cake smash. She was a total star with the cake, delicately brushing off the frosting she wanted. She truly could not have more happy with that big cake all to herself. I think she really loved her birthday. We love so much Lydia and are so happy you are part of our family!! 

^brooklyn assisting lydia to blow out the candle :) 

^she literally ate 10 apples while picking. best day ever for Lydia!