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!

A new place to shoot!

While Ava and i were playing on the green belt at the townhouse we ran into a nice new neighbor who mentioned that there was a beautiful spot to shoot right here in Los Gatos (as if anywhere in this town isn't), but stone walls, great overlook, etc. It sounded great, so Brad and Ava and I went to check it out. It's up College, all the way up at Tessa Rosa winery. There are 2 fire roads up there one side where deer live, the other where donkeys live. We chose to look for deer (who Ava mistook for kangaroos) on this particular day. I just think that is SO cute. And the more I think about it, the more I see that they really DO look alike. Anyway, she wanted to wear her cowgirl boots, so I threw on a country dress from Jill and she was the cutest little girl out there (the only one, but the cutest!) And you can get surprisingly close to the deer, by the way. 

 there are no "owies" on her knees. We're just fascinated with band-aids these days.... I think they add to the sweetness of her little look ;)

 It was beautiful up there. Blue against green, fresh air and quietness. 

 The little trail leads you up to the Novitiate. Ava and daddy had some play time up there and practiced mindfulness :)

 ...and loving kindness

These afternoons are the best kind. 

Our new house!! (it's being demolished!) Oh no? Oh, Yes!!

So, so here it is. Villa De Los Gatos, Unit 3. Our new house. Come, let's go inside.....

ding dong. Ava has to ring the doorbell multiple times anytime we stop by. Are we driving the workmen crazy yet?!

no, she's too cute, so it all cancels out :) 

 Here's the kitchen. Where are the cabinets, you may ask?

 on the patio, of course!! 

 and the other half of the kitchen, where our table will go, right under that gorgeous light :)

 And we like our appliances in the living room instead.

 our master bath, well, actually it's not really there anymore. There is a wall there now!

 and the master shower. I mean, can it get any prettier? Brad and I picked out that green tile in seconds. We knew it would just look perfect. Ava's not so sure, but she'll get used to it. She likes the gold trim, I think.

 living room into kitchen, onto patio....

but, more seriously, we swim there any hot day there is. It's awesome! The girls are loving it there! And the house is on it's way to truly looking fabulous. I can't wait to show you as it progresses!!! You are gonna love it and now you have a place to stay!!! 

Here are some of my favorite shots of the girls swimming. Hailey has become such a great swimmer and her latest request is that I teach her to dive! For now, Ava just pushes her in and leans over to see where she went :) I laugh every time!

 Pencil dive!!

 Ava swims in the deep end in her floatie and mommy does laps. Great, great exercise. I'm so excited. All around SO excited!! 

thank you Mom and Dad koch and thank you Alvaro for this gift!

xo

Mina & Sasha came to see us!

Thank you, Mina and Sash for coming out here to sleep on our $40 single blow up bed together. You mean so much to us and we're working on better accommodations, we promise ;) (that's another post though). we had a really nice time hanging with these two for 5 days. Really, we spent the last 2 days of there time here all five of us, together, and those were the best days for me. It was over 100 degrees here in LG, so we hit the beach! It was beautiful and so are these two!! I love photographing them. It's so easy.

 These are shots from late afternoon on Sea Cliff beach in Santa Cruz. Beautiful.

 and tuesday we headed up to Crissy Field in SF. It was 88 degrees there and we ALL went in the water, per peer pressure from Sasha. It was SO worth it. Super exhilarating!!

 Ava was almost unbelievably good while we trekked around the bay area. she was quiet while we all talked in the car and sat quietly in restaurants, played with all of us equally (usually it's all about mama) and was goofy and laughing most of the time. I thought many times "is this my baby girl?" She's growing up... and it helps that mina and sash are super relaxed and easy going too! :)

Here she's just waking up from a car nap and avoiding the bright sun with Mina's sunglasses. 

Movie Star.

Here's proof that Sash dunked in the Pacific!

 Ava was flirting with Sasha within minutes and had Mina reading her the longest bedtime story she could find. That girl didn't go to bed until 9:30 the night they arrived! 

Big Girl

Ava, Brad and I rode our bikes down to the park yesterday in the late afternoon. My favorite time of day. The light is golden, so I brought my camera to practice (as usual). At this particular park, Ava learned how to get on the big girl swings by herself. She did it, we cheered, so she did it again, and again, and again. So proud of herself!

Then she tried going down the slide on her belly. And she did it! She's just changin' it up ;)

And walking up the slide. Again, how can I do it differently than I am supposed to?! daddy has to help with this. 

And standing in the baby swings. Little thrill seeker!

nice way to end the day. Now, home for burritos :)