October

Where does the time go?  I can't believe October was three months ago.  Time to get caught up AGAIN.

Our month was spent in many of the usual ways.  School, soccer, ballet and scouts meant lots of driving around.  We also began guitar and piano lessons which filled our home with complai--I mean beautiful music.  One Saturday we took a trip to Huntington Beach and enjoyed Ruby's on the pier followed by a little gelato.  We took full advantage of the warmer temperatures here and spent a lot of time playing outside.  It was lovely although deep down I must confess that I missed the fall colors.

After a couple years away, it was a lot of fun to celebrate Halloween here.  I think the kids were a little blown away by it all.  There was a school parade, primary activity, trunk-or-treat, party with friends and lots and lots of candy.  Too much if you ask me.  Some of the treats went to pay mommy and daddy taxes, some went to the Bishop to pass out on Sundays, some ended up in their bellies and the rest...in the garbage.  With so many holidays in America, we are never short on candy and treats.

4 months old

Goofing around outside

Don't you love the fangs?

Pete walked in on this one evening.

These two are alike in so many ways.

As my sister says, #3 is exuberant

Getting awards at a pack meeting

Huntington Beach Pier

4 cuties

Ready for the school parade

With primary friends

Trunk-or-treat!

Edward, is that you?

My lovable dragon

My little pumpkin

A "nice" witch (as she put it)

Getting in the act with cousins

Pumpkin carving

Finished products

Happy Halloween!

September

First of all, I need to issue an apology and an explanation.  When I made the decision to end my last blog and begin a new one, I didn't count on the negative feedback.  I figured all blogs are created equal.  My biggest concern was that I had a lot of personal info on my first blog, including our last name, all of the kids' names and birth dates.  It was information I didn't want out there now that I am no longer living in "Middle of Nowhere", Switzerland.  I thought about making it a private blog, but in the end chose to call it what it was (a travel log) and start over.  After I reread my last post, I can see that it does have a certain sadness to it (sorry).  However, it is always exciting to have a clean slate and start something new.  Here we go...

September was somewhat of a blur.  It was nice to get back into a routine although some mornings when we are rushing to get ready for school I am longing for the days of summer.  The kids all have great teachers and #3 is loving preschool.  He only attends two days a week and is often mad at me that it isn't everyday.  I was thrilled to find out that my first two do not have as much homework as I thought they would.  I'm now a carpooling/soccer mom again and we have also thrown cub scouts and ballet into the mix.

We still have days of down time which are spent hanging out at home, the park and on occasion, Disneyland.  Our cute #4 is growing fast but is not quite the sleeper I had hoped for.  Some days I find myself sleepwalking through life, counting down the minutes until I can go back to bed.  Which leads me to my question of the month: Why do kids fight naps so much? 

3 girls and an elephant

The magic feather

Riding solo

Tall enough for Big Thunder

A Whole New World

Family shot in front of a smaller Matterhorn

First day of school

#1 looking a little tired

#3 and his injury of the month

First day of preschool

#3 was spoiled with a trip to Disneyland while his siblings were at school

2 boys and a baby

Pumpkin head

M-I-C-K-E-Y

#1 playing soccer against his cousins

Looking for a chance to score

Our princess on picture day

Loving these cheeks...

...and the hair!

Cutie pie or troublemaker?

Waiting for the parade to start on a HOT September evening at California Adventure

Look Mom...Mater!

3 amigos

Staying out past bedtime