Fall (for California)

Playing at this park never gets old. Sometimes on our walk down i'll think to myself "here we go, back to Vasona..." but i'm always grateful once we get there. I always see something different, whether it's a beautifully elegant crane walking through the fields, or the light streaking through the trees, or a new angle to shoot from, it's just a really beautiful place to play, photograph, watch Ava learn and grow....She's been coming to this park weekly since she was 2 weeks old. We had a mother's day picnic with my mom by the reservoir.

So, fall is here in California. At least it feels like it, but I know my east coast family would laugh at me if they were here. The leaves are turning shades of yellow and the air is cooler. The sun is setting earlier and I smell people having fires in fireplaces at night. (I love that smell). It's almost the end of October. The seasons here are mild, but still felt. Maybe you can feel fall a little through these pictures. Just thought I would share a good combo: my favorite season with my favorite girl.

I can't wait to bring her back east someday at this time of year. There is just nothing like it. I miss you, East Coast, but I love you California. 

Pumpkin time!!

It was my fantasy to drive over the hill to santa cruz and take the girls to a simple little pumpkin farm by the ocean, have them pick out their pumpkins while we breathe in the salty air, but Brad had another idea! How about we take the girls to that pumpkin patch on Saratoga Ave, right next to the freeway, so we can get home to watch the Giants?! "wow, that sounds.......um, not like my idea at all", but truth be told, the idea was more about me enjoying the salty sea air and open fields. The girls didn't know the difference, AT ALL. They had a blast at the pumpkin patch on the side of the road! So there, Cass. They were SO excited. Aren't they cute together? 

So we get there, jump in a cart and Ava says "wook! dere's er-su-ya!" (you, know, Ursula, the sea witch, from The Little Mermaid). When we saw what she was talking about Brad and I looked at each other like "why the heck is Ursula at the pumpkin patch?!", but that's why!! For little Miss Ava to get all super excited and have her picture taken with her. That's why! Who knew?

there were also little unhappy animals trapped in cages for children to poke. Poor little animals. Ava and Hailey were so sweet and gentle with them though

We even caught Ava trying to kiss the goat, and the goat trying to kiss her back. Without completely freaking out, we interrupted this and gently told Ava that it's kind of yucky to kiss a goat, but a thoughtful thing to think of doing

here's another idea I would never have thought of in creating a pumpkin farm: pumpkin head horses! Weird. But again, the girls loved them!! Giddy-up pumpkin head horsie!

cuteness when I ask them to smile! 

   

 Hailey asked me to take her photo with every one of these pumpkin head people!!

I caught Ava looking up at one, like, what is this? Is she real? Why is Hailey having her picture taken with these things? :) 

time to go home. thank goodness the girls picked out small pumpkins. I couldn't find a nice large pumpkin on the whole lot! But again, this wasn't for me. 

Thank you daddy for taking us to the pumpkin patch.

we love you. And you love baseball (and us too) :)

are you ready to be spooooooked?!

remember this old video?: Makin' Pies Dearie? (click on the link to watch it again)

Well, this little munchkin is still totally intrigued by the "wiken qeen" and when I asked her what she wanted to be for halloween this year she said, of course, "da wiken qeen, mommy!" I thought, okay, not really thinking much of it, but as October approached I asked a few more times and her answer was the same. When it settled in that this is really what she wants, I realized there is no way I can find this costume, or order it online, and I ain't payin' to have it custom made, that's for sure! So I put on my 'i can do anything. I am supermom hat' and went to the local fabric store. The lady who helped us was awesome! She was like: of course you can do this!. Thank you, lady at the fabric store. We had brought our little figurine to make sure it was just right and she gave us scraps and gave me some "stitch witchery" so that I didn't have to sew a lot. It all worked out and 2 days later I had MADE Ava's halloween costume! I have to say, I'm proud of myself :) And, on a side note, the whole sha-bang was $17. She also found this witches hat for $1.00 at Target so she switches between the hat and the crown. Isn't she spooky?! Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 We found her a poisoned apple too! Don't take a bite if she offers it, or you will FALL ASLEEP FOREVER!

 any candy in there?

 And she can put the crown on herself, thanks anyway, mommy!

 I think I'll just drop mommy's iphone in here. that's a cool treat!

 We played scary halloween songs and made decorations for the door and our windows! I love hanging out with Ava. It's so FUN because her imagination takes over and then she IS the wicken qeen and I AM the ghost (I put a sheet over my head)!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!! We're moving that weekend, but we'll try to take more pictures of the actual trick-or-treating. BOO!