Gawbie and Grandpa

Gawbie and Grandpa came to visit us last week!  While they were here, we celebrated Brian's birthday a little early.

We played games, worked on crafts, read books, and visited.  They helped us get our last few projects around the house done too. It was so fun to have them here.

One night we sat around the firepit and told scary or funny stories. 

Thanks for coming to visit us!

Lately

 We have our first cutie orange harvest.  Our tree is loaded and some are still ripening.

We got our quilts hung up in our family room!  Brian and his Dad helped get them up.  Thanks!

 

Robbie was spotlighted for being the start student in his AP Biology class.  This notice was sent out in the weekly high school newsletter.

Lydia wants to start running more, so we signed up for the Pumpkin Run.  It was a 5k on the trails that run through our neighborhood.  It was so fun to work out together and get to know our trails better.

Kids are doing great in swim.  Tom and Cat both leveled up for their November session.

Brian and I went on a date night with the Reyes from our last ward.  Celina and I have kept in touch and it was fun to hang out with them again.

Celina and I also went out to breakfast with our little girls one morning.  There is a diner at the Fullerton Airport.  The girls loved watching the airplanes take off and land while we ate.

Catherine and I still go to Knott's on Wednesdays.  We met a few more characters lately.

Snoopy

Boysen Bear

And Whittles

Halloween

For Halloween Lydia was Hermione, Thomas was a Jedi, and Catherine was a lion.  We went to the ward trunk or treat the weekend before.

Never buy or eat cupcakes with black frosting! lol

Lydia and her friend, who came as Coraline

Our car for the trunk or treat

On Halloween, Brian took the younger kids to our neighbors.  No one comes down our street to trick or treat so most either didn't answer or didn't have candy.  Next year we know where the good streets are and we don't have to save any candy to pass out at our home!  It was good to meet some of our neighbors though.

 

 While they were out, Robbie played basketball while I waited for trick or treaters.

Weekend

 Lydia and I went to a Stake Women's activity on Saturday evening.  We visited the 7 continents and

 learned/tried/made something new from each.  Here we are making a nativity.

 

Lydia had helped make some of the decorations during Activity Days.  Here's her airplane window.

Thomas and Catherine continue their swim lessons.  Catherine jumped off the side of the pool and went all the way under which was huge for her!  Thomas is diving in the 5 ft area where he can't touch, which is huge for him!  It's fun to see their confidence grow.

Brian also went to an EQ activity at our old ward.  They asked if he would help set up the projector for a game.  He enjoyed seeing old friends

Knotts

 Catherine and I definitely enjoy our weekly Knott's tradition.  This time we tried to find and take pics of more Halloween decor.

They've added more pumpkins than usual this year.  So many fun pumpkin faces to see.

 

We got there right as it opened.  We were the only ones on a few of the rides.

Knott's, a Date, and Swim

Catherine and I went to Knott's Spooky Farm one day while the other kids were in school.  We decided it needs to be a weekly date for the two of us.  She had so much fun picking the rides and seeing the holiday decorations.

 

front row seat on her favorite roller coaster

 

For my birthday, Brian got me tickets to see My Fair Lady at the Dolby theater.  We went on Saturday night.  We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and then enjoyed the show.  It was so good!  The two main leads had both played leads on Broadway before.

I got some pictures of Thomas at swim lessons this week.  He's really good at his kicks and he's learning to get a good rhythm with his arms.

 

Catherine is still brave with her teacher.  She will get her face in the water now, so she's working on going all the way under.