Halloween festivities

This year we had a busy 4 days jam packed full of Halloween festivities. Would have been 5 days, but Cal missed his Halloween party on Wednesday the 28th since we were playing in Anaheim. 

Thursday was Elle's school parade and class Halloween party.

It was an emotional morning getting Elle ready for school. She was not happy with the costume she'd decided on which made me feel like a terrible mom for not putting more time into making sure she was satisfied and ready to go. After some tears shed, I finally convinced her to put on her "beret" and go to school, and I'm so glad I did. Elle ended up having a fabulous day and all of her friends LOVED her costume which I know made Elle feel so much better. 

Taylor told her mom that Elle's costume was her favorite in their class.  I couldn't have agreed more. I love my adorable artist who had insisted on being "someone real" for Halloween.

Gram flew in Thursday afternoon which added to the excitement of the day. The kids were thrilled and couldn't wait to show Gram all the new things they've been up to. Of course they all wanted individual time with Gram which she was happy to give to each of them. Elle insisted on making a new headband with Gram. Turned out super cute! 

Gram always brings all sorts of tricks in her bag. This trip she had a fun Halloween puzzle which kept us entertained for hours!

Thursday night was Elle's end of year soccer party (not a Halloween festivity, but just one more thing that added to the craziness of the weekend). Madi stayed home to have special time with Gram.

Friday morning we all loaded up and took Madi to school for her Halloween parade. 

She made the perfect scientist. I love how Madi always wants to be something she's passionate about. 

After the parade, I took Gram, Elle, and Cal home  and then came back to Cape to help with Madi's class Halloween party. 

They had more than enough parents, so I wasn't really needed, but it was fun to be there anyway and get to know some of the kids in Madi's class (I hate that I don't get to help more in her classroom like I did in younger grades). 

I stayed for the craft part of Madi's party and then came home to pick up Gram, Elle and Cal before Madi got out at 11:30. After school Lindsay and Alexis threw a little birthday celebration for Tyler and Erika (who are in the same 1st grade class at Cape and share an Oct 30th birthday). I dropped mom off at the outlets and then took to the kids to the celebration for an hour. 

Friday evening was our ward trunk-or-treat which Papa arrived for just in time (bummed I didn't get a  picture of the kids with Gram and Papa - these events always end up being so crazy, especially with a 3 year old who refused to get into costume). 

Glad we were able to document mom and I in our witch costumes though (and my almost 23 week belly :)!

Madi's buddy Alexandra came to our trunk-or-trick with her parents which was fun for Madi. 

Saturday morning I thought it would be fun to head to the pumpkin patch - the same one we went to last year because it was free on Halloween if you dressed up in costume. So we all got in our costumes, drove out to the pumpkin patch, and sadly learned that it wasn't free this year. I was SO disappointed. We took a picture out front and called it good (there was no way we were gonna pay $70 to go hang out at the pumpkin patch for an hour)! Elle was crushed about leaving if you can't tell from the picture. 

We went home and changed and then divided up to conquer some errands - the boys to Home Depot, and the girls to TJ Max and Bath& Body works. Then we met back up at Chic-fil-a for lunch!

At 3pm Elle had her last soccer game of the season which she was super excited to have Gram and Papa in town for. 

Love these cute Orange Poppies!!

We picked up pizza on our way home for dinner, let the kids play for awhile, and then about 6:30pm headed out for Trick-or-treating! By this time on Saturday night I was exhausted from all the parties and totally sugared out. So while I'm usually a go-getter on Halloween and want to run from door to door, I was perfectly content on staying home to pass out candy with mom. 

I did go with the kids to 3 neighbors houses though and was very happy to finally get a picture of my adorable pirate!

Check out their loot after only an hour of trick or treating - and this was after we'd all eaten our share on Halloween night!!

It was a fun Halloween, but I was ok with it being over!

Weekday getaway

Two weeks ago the Gertsch's came into town for a business conference in San Diego. Spencer and I were racking our brains trying to figure out how we were going to be able to see them and get some quality hang out time. It just so happened that Spencer had meetings in Anaheim on Tuesday the 27th - the same day Matt and Doreen were planning on going to Disneyland. So Spencer booked a room for us at the new Marriott right by Disneyland so that we could meet up for dinner and have some time to hang out. This Marriott had it's own mini waterpark which my girls thought was the coolest thing ever! It was fun to be able to turn a night out with old friends into a mini vacation for the kids and I.

As always, it was such a great reunion with Matt and Doreen!!

We had a great dinner at Cheesecake Factory.

The kids were angels and loved ordering their own meals.

We ended the night eating cheesecake poolside while watching the fireworks from Disneyland and getting caught up on life. Sure love these dear friends of ours! 

The kids were thrilled about our awesome hotel and having their own room with bunkbeds. . . 

 .  . . and getting to watch morning cartoons.

Madi led a small yoga session while I tried to squeeze in a pre-pool work out.

The girls could hardly wait to get out to the pool. 

I was able to get a 1pm check-out so we were able to play for a good 2 1/2 hours before heading up to shower.

The water slides were SO much fun!! Just wish Spence didn't have to work and could have stayed to  play hooky with us.

Calvin wasn't a huge fan of much of the water park until he found the side where he didn't have to get anything but his hands wet . . . 

 . . . and got to play with the water squirters. 

Definitely worth skipping a day of school!

Weekend in Brentwood

Back in December Spencer got into biking and has been loving it! In the spring he decided to sign up for his first race- a 65 miler. The kids and I all wanted to go support him but he was only able to book a one bedroom Marriott there in Santa Rosa, and with Adam Eshenroder rooming with him, I thought it best we stay and cheer him on from Brentwood. We headed up to Brentwood on Thursday, October 1st, right after the girls got out of school. Then Spencer left for Santa Rosa Friday afternoon. The kids were super excited to be at Gram and Papa's house and had a huge list of things they wanted to do. Gram was actually out of town visiting the Rudd's in Michigan, so Papa was left to entertain us by himself! We had a grand time! Saturday morning we were up early for a bike ride in honor of Spencer.

All set and ready to go!

Elle and Cal had a blast back there in the bike trailer: 

We managed to fit all our favorite things into the 2 days we were in Brentwood - we visited all our favorite parks . . .

Played in the blow up pool and hot tub . . .

Made a trip to the library and had lots of reading time . . .

Played dress up - in one of my old dresses! My mom made this dress for me back in the day and Madi fell in love! She didn't want to take it off. I'm thinking it will be perfect for 4th of July in a couple years.

Papa and Cal were able to sneak away for some guy bonding time! Cal had the time of his life running errands with Papa! Of course they ended their errands with getting Slim Jims at Home Depot.

Being able to listen to 4 sessions of General Conference helped top off the weekend. Papa made the kids conference packets and I got some treats for the BINGO boards. They listened really well Saturday morning session, but then ended up playing quietly in the other room for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sessions which I actually was ok with since it gave me time to really listen and be touched by the spirit that I needed to feel this conference. We watched Sunday afternoon session when we got back home that evening. 

It was a quick weekend but fun to get away, spend some time with Papa, and celebrate Spencer's first bike race!