Our First REAL Fall

I feel funny saying this when we are a couple weeks into November and it is 60 degrees out, none of us are wearing coats as we play at the playground, but we did experience some actual autumn this year. It was a first for my kids, they've never seen leaves really change or had to bundle up on Halloween...well, here's how it went for our first time!

Back in September, we went to a work buy-out night at Lagoon. Paul says Lagoon is better than Disneyland because it has 2 haunted houses.

We also got to visit our annual pass places: This is the Place and the Hogle Zoo several times. The kids love them, I like them when the weather is good. It makes for a good way to spend an afternoon. Kindergarten is stupidly short. 2 hours and 45 minutes? Seriously?

We live real close the Mrs. Cavanaugh Chocolate Factory, they offer tours! We thought that would be the perfect activity for Grandma Karen's birthday. There were fewer Oompa Loompas than I'd hoped, but there were samples, so it evens out.

At the school carnival, both kids wanted their faces painted like Batman. I think that is pretty self explanatory.

And then the leaves started falling! And the kids played in leaves for the first time ever:

I got to do a musical for the first time in what feels like a very long time, and made my improv comeback after over 6 years. It feels pretty good to be on the stage with friends again!

Me and my "Marmee" dress.

 We decided to do a road trip for fall break. When we moved we were about half way through our time on our annual passes at Universal Studios, and the Jurassic World ride was still under construction. Now that it's finished, we thought we ought to go back at least once more.

A new dino-themed playground on the lower lot, plus the ride, and a walking, grunting triceratops. And some adorable baby raptor puppets. They really freaked Laszlo out, he refused to touch one or get close enough for a picture.

We're not tall enough to actually ride things, so we just pretend!

Laszlo was scared of Megatron. He started sobbing, "He killed Optimus Prime!"

I guess it was too cold for Laszlo to be soaking wet. He did not like it.

And then, of course, there is Halloween! Every year I think they kids won't go along with a family group costume, but they keep surprising me by allowing me to manipulate them into it. This year, we went big.

I don't know anyone stacked enough to be Drax the Destroyer, but we got the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy covered pretty easily. Too bad Paul's raccoon tail isn't visible in any of these pictures, because it is kind of the best part.

One of our neighbors was doing cotton candy. Our neighborhood rocks at Halloween.

We did the costume parade at school, and I helped out with Paul's class party. I liked seeing all the kids costumes, and Laszlo was excited to wear his. Obviously, he was the cutest.

And, as if we haven't had enough excitement, we have the one-two punch of Laszlo's birthday swiftly followed by Paul's birthday.

Laszlo got the choose out his own cake.

Paul had a very fun birthday party with lots of friends. I didn't have to clean up afterwards, so really everybody won that day.

Two kids, each one year older! This year has been filled with adventures and new experiences, and it isn't over yet. Thanks for reading, keep your eyes peeled for more updates. The next one will have some very beautiful photos...