Oh, How We Loved October

I think that October flew by in less than one blink of the eye- so, insanely fast! It must have been because we were having so much fun! Here are a few more of our October memories- hope you enjoy!!!

I love that Garrett is (usually) one happy little boy who loves to carry around his blanket!

Garrett disappeared one night while we were cleaning up the playroom. Daddy found him laying on our bed reading a book to himself!

Tori is very much into setting up and hosting tea parties these days! Here is the fabulous party she set up for us one day before lunch- complete with cake and cookies!

Check out our big boy helping Daddy mow the lawn!

I must admit that I felt a little like Andy's mom from Toy Story trying to get this video. Tori has started to talk with and for her toys while she plays- so amazing to see her hit this stage of imaginative play! And I wanted to capture it!!!

I was so surprised that Tori let Garrett hug/tackle her long enough for me to get this picture- so cute!

These two have the best Daddy ever! He helped Tori and Garrett gather pillows, blankets, and friends so they could have a party watching movies together!!!

Still fantastic nap buddies!

Tori is getting really good at putting on the "meatballs!" Perhaps one of these days she will believe me that they are really called pepperoni!

Garrett and his four best friends- Woody, Elmo, Cow, and Alligator!!!

I have no idea why, but these two love being on the table!

This kid cracks us up! We typically find him during nap time like this- his pillow, blankets, and friends somewhere on the floor and surrounded by some of the contents of his clothes drawers. This afternoon, it was some of his ties and shirts!

Thanks for all the many memories October! Now on to November!!!

Trunk-or-Treat

Tonight we enjoyed our Ward's Trunk-or-Treat and Chili Cook-off activity! The best part of the evening was having Doris (our next door neighbor) join us! The chili was so yummy- the Dolan's white chicken chili is always my favorite! Sadly, our chili did not bring home a prize this year.
About a month ago, Tori mentioned that she wanted to be a fairy for Halloween. Not Tinkerbell, just a fairy. But then a few days later she changed her mind, and kept changing her mind. Well, I kept hoping we would get back to her being a fairy, so I started to make Garrett's costume. Garrett looked so cute as Peter Pan!

And Tori decided today that she wanted to be Toadette again! Sad that there was no theme to the costumes this year, but happy that her costume was already done from last year! Tori did look super cute as Toadette! (And I love Jared and Garrett in the background- what a sweet moment!)

A random scarecrow, Peter Pan, and Toadette! (Neither one of them wanted to keep their hats on!)

We did get a few pictures with the entire costume on!

Love this picture of Marina, Sydney, Garrett and Tori! Our kids adore these two awesome young ladies!!!

When it came time for trunk-or-treating, Tori took Sydney and Natalie's hands and headed out the door! They were so sweet and took Tori around for us! Garrett almost made it out the door with Marina, and then realized I wasn't there. So, Doris and I got to go around to all the trunks with Garrett!

Tori and all her candy!!!

We had two very happy kiddos at the end of the night!!!

We all had a grand time this evening- Doris included! I'm so glad that she came!!!

More Birthday Fun

You might think I am crazy, but I love it when birthday gifts get here at all different times- especially for the kids! It gives them time to enjoy each thing one-on-one with no competition. And it makes the birthday celebrations last just that much longer- fantastic!!! So, here are some of Garrett's belated birthday gifts that have allowed us to stretch his birthday out over the entire month of October!

Uncle Jer, Aunt Kim, and London sent Garrett Elmo!

He loved his new friend as soon as he saw him!

Thanks so much for Garrett's awesome new sidekick!!!

What, oh what, could it be?

Hurrah for new shoes from Grandma and Grandpa Allen! Garrett loves that his Lightning shoes light up!

Garrett's fabulous purple tie (from Grandma and Grandpa Allen) was the last piece of his new church outfit to arrive!

Here is the whole ensemble! Garrett looked so handsome for all his buddies in Nursery!!!

And his birthday outfit matches Tori's birthday outfit perfectly!!!

Tonight Garrett got to open his gifts from Grandma Harrison! (Watch Tori in the background on all of the following pictures- totally cracks me up!)

Hurrah, Garrett now has his own "puter!!!"

And on to the next one!

Yeah- a big truck and fun new cars!

Yep, this is one happy birthday boy!!!

Thanks so much for all the gifts Garrett has received- he has been spoiled! And he has loved every single one of them!!!

Jack-O-Lantern Time

This afternoon we decided it was high time to carve our resident pumpkins! Tori and Garrett thought it was so much fun spreading out newspaper on the floor to get all ready!

Garrett loved playing on the pumpkin gut bowl!

Daddy got the lids off of both pumpkins, while Tori made sure nothing got on the floor!

Then Daddy asked Tori if she wanted to clean out her pumpkin. Her response, "No, it will make me all jokey and my fingers will look like eggs." So there you have it! We did finally talk Tori into taking out one small scoop of pumpkin guts!

This is how Garrett responded when we tried to get him to help with his pumpkin:

So, we basically gave up on the kids. Jared and I cleaned out both pumpkins and then Jared carved them!

Super Dog was there to supervise and make sure it all turned out just right!

For not wanting anything to do with the actual cleaning/carving process, both kids loved the end result! 

Garrett said his pumpkin looked like a lion!!!

Tori requested something with stars and the moon. Daddy knocked that one out of the park!!!

 And, the reward for all of our hard work- yummy pumpkin seeds to snack on!

 Pretty spooky!

Hurrah for our annual, the kids don't want to participate, pumpkin carving activity!!!

Birthday Festivities

For Garrett's birthday activity, we went to Anderson Orchard along with Brent, Jenna, Mary, and Alex (a few of Jared's classmates)! Tori and Garrett wasted no time in showing Daddy the ropes of climbing the hay pile!

Garrett loved jumping with Daddy!

Our cute Allen apple tree!!!

For this visit we picked apples again, but we also visited to pumpkin patch! Garrett went right to work finding his pumpkin!

Is it this one?

Tori was so excited to find a flower in the pumpkin patch!

Hurrah, Garrett found his perfect pumpkin!!!

Tori looked far and wide for her pumpkin!

 After looking at  nearly every single pumpkin, she finally found her perfect pumpkin!!!

Garrett looked so tired, but did not want to let his pumpkin go!

So cute how much he loved his pumpkin!

I love this picture of Tori- pumpkin patch pictures are fabulous!!!

Tori decided that she was going to climb a tree! So, she went over to this apple tree, swung her leg over this branch, and ta-dah, mission accomplished!

Picking a few more apples to fill up our bag!

Not only did we pick a bunch of apples, but we tried a bunch out as well! (This time we came home with Jonathan, Granny Smith, and Crispens)

I must admit, I am so proud of how Garrett's cake turned out! And it was just awesome to see his reaction. He repeatedly yelled, "tractors," all the while having a huge grin on his face! (So wish I could have captured that one on video!)

Another go at blowing his candles out!

One happy little boy with some tractor cake!!!

Hurrah for another fun and successful birthday activity!!!