I bet you need to wash the fingerprints off of your computer screen...

because I know you couldn't resist squishing those chubba cheeks!

Oh, how I love this sweet little face!

making things spooky

I would have been content to let October happen without Halloween decorations or a big fuss this year, but not the kids. They wanted to make our house "spooky", so of course, we did. A few days before Halloween, Chloe walked out the front door to find real spider webs on our pumpkins (because there are a zillion spiders in Portland and they spin these crazy intricate webs all over the place) and exclaimed, "Look! The spiders were so nice to make our pumpkins more spooky for Halloween!"

I did simplify, though. I bought Morgan's costume at Target...along with all of the pieces for the girls' costumes. It has been a long time since I last did easy store bought costumes, and I felt a little bad for slacking, so I did decorate some cute little bags for the kids to take trick or treating.

Our ward did a trunk or treat which the kids loved.

They got tons of candy and we probably should have just called that good, but we also went out trick or treating with Chloe, Morgan's favorite friend from school, and got loads more candy. Apparently not many people go around our neighborhood (I am guessing all the stairs have a lot to do with it) so many of the houses were giving out full size candy bars. We got a total of zero trick or treaters at our house (at least when we were home to pass out candy).

I also slacked on taking pictures of the kids in their costumes. Morgan was a knight and the girls were cute little witches.

I got a few shots before the trunk or treat,

 Morgan couldn't get Ellie's hat to stay on while he was holding her, so he found a solution...

Pretty good thinking Morgan!

Gotta have that witches brew!

a few at the trunk or treat (in the horrible church gym lighting)

Seth was a trucker...but I think it just threw people off since many of them don't know us well enough to realize that he doesn't really dress like that or have billy bob teeth for real. He scared some little kids. 

These chubby little witch legs are so stinkin cute!

and a few from trick or treating (in the pitch black because it was dark outside before we started). 

Hope you had a happy Halloween!!!

life illustrated

Thanks to all who have endured all of my rambling posts of working through the changes and emotions of adjusting and moving and change...this post will not require focus or concentration, just lots of pictures for your enjoyment! I have a bunch of pictures from Halloween too, but I will save those for a separate post.

P.S. I am loving all of the comments, emails and calls with advice from this post. I have lots to explore thanks to your suggestions, but still have some unanswered questions if you want to weigh in! :)

Yogurtland:
our favorite family outing for treats

Apple Picking at a family owned orchard nearby

I have been canning applesauce all week!

Pumpkin Patch: 
Brynn, Ellie and I got to go with some friends from our ward while the big kids were at school.

How about this one, Mom?

I can carry this one...kind of!

Look at me, I'm so cute!

Yep...you are adorable little Bean girl!

Playing in the Cul De Sac

Our house is on a circle that all the neighbors refer to as "the cul de sac" because it is completely flat so it is where everyone comes to ride bikes, play basketball, and play fetch with the dog. The kids, of course, love it too!

yes...that mischievous smile is because she was trying to run the photographer over!

fill 'er up...in Oregon, that is a paid profession!

Ballerinas

The girls love taking ballet and I love seeing them in their little leotards and tutus!
Don't mind Brynn's bed-head...we have to wake her up from her nap to go to dance.