Halloween 2018.

We had a lot of fun Halloween events this year.

First off- LOOK AT HOW CUTE THIS SKUNK IS. I want him to wear that sweater every day.

 We went to the pumpkin patch as a family, which was especially fun since we didn't do it last year.

 I honestly couldn't tell you if Cora is laughing or crying in this picture.

 Getting toddlers to pose for pictures is so easy!

 Cora and Dad posing on a hay bale!

 Eww.

 Cora was all set to be a mermaid until she heard what a fuss James got over his skunk costume, then she decided she needed to be a kitty for Halloween. Oh well.

 For the ward Halloween party Brandon and I were Bob Ross and one of his paintings. Definitely one of our easiest costumes!

Cora got to go to the pumpkin patch with her preschool class (and one of her good friends Annie!).

 She has a cute little class that she LOVES.

 James was so happy to be with the big kids on their field trip. But his favorite part was playing in the corn kernel pit. I tried not to think of how many thousands of hands have touched those since James kept putting them in his mouth!

 Cute friends.

 We also did "Zoo Boo", which is something the Fresno Zoo puts on. You buy tickets in advance (they sell out quickly apparently!) and the kids can "trick or treat" around different stations through the zoo.

 Definitely the highlight (not that you can really see it) was the owl! We were the last people to get a picture with the great horned owl that was part of the Harry Potter exhibit. Right before we got up there it started flapping its wings trying to get away and those are POWERFUL. It was a huge gust of wind. James was shocked, and kept trying to watch it. I kept him on the other side so he didn't touch the owl.

 Cora picked out some unicorn boots, and I was about to put them back when I thought "well, maybe she can get them for Christmas!" And snuck them into the bottom of the cart.

 We also carved pumpkins this year, which we haven't done too many times. James wasn't too sure what to think of the insides. 

 Cora was all ready for her Halloween party at school! (I mean really, how cute is that?!)

 We went to see Matt and Amanda after trick or treating. James looks like Matt (well, they both have red hair) so we drew a goatee on James so they could be twins tonight. 

 And Cora just loves Amanda!

 Nice family picture haha.

Cute Halloween season!

Halloween Activities 2017.

This was the first year that we actually got to enjoy Halloween with a kid. Cora finally got into the idea of Halloween and trick or treating, which was so cute!

Cora didn't quite get the concept of dressing up, so we just went with what she was obsessed with. First it was Tangled so we got a Rapunzel dress, then as soon as I bought it she became OBSESSED with Beauty and the Beast. I mean obsessed. We have had the soundtrack on repeat in our car for over a month and she wants to watch the movie every day (not that I let her... but she does watch it at least weekly). So when I found this dress at Target:

 She was SO excited!

So I found a red collared onesie online to make into a Gaston costume. But it didn't come through, so I had to whip something up really quickly. I found this pattern and I can't stop laughing at it.

 Cutest lumberjack ever! We said he was Paul Bunyan, and found his Babe to go with it.

 Our first Halloween party was the week before with Music makers. That bearded hat doesn't stay on for long, so I snapped a few quick pictures.

 That night we had the ward trunk or treat. I didn't have time to make myself a good costume so I bought a hat and green face paint and went as a witch. But BRANDON wins for best sport.

I begged him to dress up as Zoolander for Halloween. 

He did it because I said he would make Bethany so happy.

I still can't stop laughing at it. It was totally worth all the times he's going to hold it over my head.

 On Halloween we went to the park instead of story time at the library. Our cute children's librarian wasn't going to be there so we didn't go. SO many princesses everywhere!

 These are 3 boys who were all born within a month of each other. Clive is June 21, James is June 30, and Ruben is July 18.

 Not only that, but they all have sisters that are the same age! Well, they'll be in the same grade at least. It's so perfect.

The friends in our ward invited us to go trick or treating with them. Cora loved it and walked for 45 minutes straight before deciding she needed to be pushed in the stroller. Since we went with friends we didn't mind pushing her around! 

Our group:

 

 

James was a festive pumpkin, and he stayed in the Moby wrap all night.

 Cora was only scared of a few houses. But we were able to convince her that they weren't scary... I think. At least she didn't have any nightmares that kept her up!

When she would go to each house she would say "Twit oh tweet" and then after she got the candy she would say "Thank you very much!" in the cutest voice. We got a lot of comments on that.

I think it makes us a real parent that we hate Halloween candy now. Brandon and I are both on low sugar diets now so this was not a good idea. Luckily, I already traded Cora her candy for a Cinderella doll (she doesn't know it's a trade). She picked Cinderella and not Belle? She's crazy.

Overall, a fun first experience!

Grant's Visit, October 2016

The last week of October, Grant came out to visit for a med school interview. We are always more than happy to help a visitor, as long as they don't mind sleeping on an air mattress.

 Grant had 2 goals- nail his interview and become friends with Cora. The day his interview, we went to Key Biscayne for a walk around the lighthouse.

  We got to go up to the top of the lighthouse, but when the guard wouldn't let Cora in Grant and I just went up by ourselves. I was a little miffed, but once we got to the top I saw why. It was WINDY and not very safe for little people to walk around.

 Brandon and Cora just loved having a beach to run around on. Since we didn't have that right by our apartment!

 We got to go to our Halloween party that night. Unfortunately for Cora, Brandon and I started painting our faces when she was napping. So she was kind of shocked when she woke up and had 2 sugar skulls as parents when she woke up. 

 Cora was a good sport about getting her face painted!

 Grant was a Wiggle. It worked well with our costumes.

We were happy to have Grantie come stay with us!