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) :)