I can't believe October has come and gone. I can't believe that it is already November. That is all!

halloween 2013

This day could not get here fast enough. 6  p.m. could not get here fast enough...according to the littles. Carter had a basketball game and Tanner had a football game and John attended both It was just Garrett, Brody and I.

 

We had to get the traditional pictures on the porch.

 Garrett, the blue morph man.

 

 Brody went as Captain America.

  

 

 Garrett went trick or treating with some baseball buddies.

Brody and Sam ran from house to house. Those boys are speedy!

 

Brody was happy with his haul after an  hour. We headed home to light our pumpkins pass out candy.

 

Garrett came home for about 30 seconds to empty his pillowcase and then headed back out.

 

The older boys finally got home and went to a couple of houses for some treats. Brody was so happy to see them.

 We hope you and yours had a happy and safe Halloween!

carving jacks

 

We were on the ball this year. We carved our pumpkins a few days before the big night. There were lots of "eeewww this is so gross" and "eeewww this is so smelly." We had a great time. John and I love the fact that the boys are all old enough to help and that we aren't having to carve 6 pumpkins between us. Here is

trunk or treat

It was a busy day. We attended our annual Roseville 5th ward trunk or treat. It felt weird this year. John was in flight from Oregon so it was just the boys and myself. We missed him but are thankful for his job and definitely thankful for a job that does not require him to travel a lot. We like it when he is around.

 

The boys and their friends. We enjoyed a chili/cornbread dinner. They had a blast running around, playing games and of course, trunk or treating.

 

Flash - aka Tanner. thank you Wal*Mart and black football pants for this last minute costume.

Brody and his buddy, Brayden.

 

Garrett and his crew. Not sure who is under all of these costumes. I do recognize the photo bomber in the back!

Carter and his crew. Tommy, Carter, Lane, Ethan and Joshua.

We love our Fall traditions...even if we have to pull 3 of our 4 children out of school to make it happen! We timed it perfectly and ended up at the patch right around lunch time. All of the field trippers were heading home, leaving us lots of space to roam and play.

 

We have been coming to Bishop's Pumpkin farm for 10 years. We visited the very first fall we lived in Roseville and haven't missed a trip since.

 

Up first, a  hayride out to the field to pick our pumpkins...right off the vine!

 

Up next, a visit to see the farm animals. The boys were kind of bummed that you can no longer go in to feed and pet the goats. You have to stay outside of the pen.

 

 

We have entered a new era in life/parenting. Brody was the only one who wanted to ride the train this year. Say what??? The boys felt like they were too old to ride the train. Brody convinced Tanner to ride it with him. It was so cute to see our oldest and youngest, side by side ready to ride the train. As the train began to chug away, I become teary eyed. We won't have very many more years with our whole family together for family trips to the pumpkin farm.

 

After you ride the train, you have to get a treat. 4 of us had a slice of homemade apple pie with ice cream and two had ice cream cones. I am ready to go back just so I can have another slice of pie!

 

A few more tradition photos before we headed home! It was a beautiful day at the patch and we were super excited to keep the tradition alive for another year.

 



Belated Anniversary date

Such a fun night! John and I hit the Maroon 5 concert...anniversary date/present that was just  a few weeks  late! I love stretching anniversaries, holidays, birthdays out...making them last a tad bit longer.

The weather could not have been better. I think I am in love with outdoor Fall concerts in Northern California! My date was perfect :)... 17 years later and he still makes me smile.  Dinner was easy...our favorite sandwiches from Bel Air...the Santa Cruz sandwich. The opening act Rozzi Crane was great...minus one song. Kelly Clarkson was amazing! I have always  liked her songs but she is not someone I would have been dying to see. She surprised me. She sounded amazing, had lots of energy and was really down to earth and funny.

 

 Maroon 5 did not disappoint. I have loved them since their very first album and even more with their come back a few years ago. Their energy was insane and they too, sounded amazing. I think they are better LIVE! The lighting and graphics were awesome and the ton of confetti that came streaming down towards the end was FUN!

 I was getting worried because they had left the stage, the concert was over and they had not sung/performed my favorite Maroon 5 song. Not gonna lie, there was a little bit of panic! Now we all now that most bands will come out for an encore, which they did! The 1st song they came back and sang was still not my all time fave but the 2nd one was. YAY! Adam Levine and  (on guitar) did an acoustic version of  SHE WILL BE LOVED and they had the audience participate! one word, okay two...Incredible and Happy!

 

* photos from my friend Brenda H. and Kylie R.. Thank you!