Happy Halloween!

It's that time of year again! Halloween brings with it the annual Halloween photo shoot. This tradition has changed a lot since we first started it. The original people are gone and instead we've added on kids! But I hope everyone still has a fun time.

This year I got the idea for our costumes while reading June one of her bed time stories. It seemed to fit our family perfectly right now. So without further adieu I present:

Goldie Locks and the Three Bears

So for tomorrow when I wear this costume again I'm thinking that I need to find a way to make myself more plump.... mama bear needs more meat! My sister said that it kind of looked like my apron was a surf board in this photo so...

This is a traditional photo we take every year because each time Buck has a mask on.

Then we had Sleeping Beauty and her crew.

The blue fairy did NOT want to wear her hat

Then we had The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf

And some money burglars came to join the fun as well.

We used to mix and mingle the characters to tell a story but everyone was done by that point. Except Goldie Locks and Sleeping Beauty

The sunset dressed up too.

Afterwards we all went to eat at Denny's. Then that was about it. We had some pumpkin donuts and cider at home but really it was just bed time.

Check out the other years! Click the link above each photo.

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TWO

THREE

Fall Garden

Last week we met up with some friends for a final outing at the Thanksgiving Point gardens. Not that it was the final outing with my friends (I hope not!) but the gardens are now closed until spring. And the fall is a lovely time to go.

There are a lot of open spaces for kids to run and run around.

I went during Hazel's morning nap and hoped she would sleep. She did not. I guess she didn't want to miss out on the fun.

As always, it was so good to get out of the house. I am truly not made to sit at home all day everyday. (Some days though, I am most definitely made to sit around all day...) And it was such a perfectly warm day. Some times I look back on a day and I feel so content about it. This was one of those days.

And now here is a picture of how June "rolls" down a hill...

And then some fun photos that my friend Adrian took.

SUNday

This autumn weather has been a God send! After feeling like I hadn't been getting out of the house enough, the warm air forced me to exit our doors. This was a good Sunday full of thick honey light.

Some dads are just made to have daughters. Buck is obviously one of these.

Run run run!

Gardens After Dark

Last week we were able to go on a little family date. We went to the Red Butte Gardens Halloween shindig they do every year. Buck and I actually went to this last year and even though we were on a great date we both kept saying to each other, "June would really love this." So there you go! This year it was a family event.

This was about as excited as Hazel got. Once it was dark she was only okay if we held her the whole time.

So June has recently developed a fear of Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas. Everyone but lame us was dressed up this night and of course someone had to walk right up dressed as.... Jack Skeleton! Not only that but the man was wearing a full costume AND walking on STILTS. So he was HUGE. I gave June this flower and told her it had protective powers.... She didn't seem too convinced...

I heard a father tell his kids when he saw these plants that part of the sunset must have fallen right there. And I loved that.

Basically you walk through the gardens and follow a hunt to find clues that are both Halloween and plant related. They do a good job of being fun yet educational at the same time. There's lots of different decorations and lighting along the way and craft booths and such.

This year it was fairy tale themed. And guess who was there? Queen Elsa herself. June's been to both Disney parks this year yet she never got to meet Elsa because the lines were 4 hours long (yeah right! crazy people...) So it's funny that the time she finally meets her is here. But this made the whole thing worth it. She was SO EXCITED. And a little nervous/shy.

They had a good chat, Elsa and June did. June told her, "Stop freezing your sister with your powers!" And Else complied and then told June to remember to use her powers with her love. Then June asked to see Elsa's shoes. Of course.

And then, I'll admit that I let Buck lead the way and he got us lost going the wrong direction. You'd think after four years I would have known better. We ended up back at the beginning so we started again from the end and... there were all these hills and.... I'm pretty sure we missed the whole middle section. You win some, you lose some, right?

At the end we all got some hot chocolate and called it a night. The girls both feel asleep for the night on the way home and in my book that is a big WIN. 

Happy haunts!