Daddy turned 40!

It finally happened....Lyle turned 40 today! I think he was too busy to really stop and think about it which is probably a good thing but I did hear him say a time or two, "am I really 40?" I would have loved to have gotten the chance to throw him a big party but as always his schedule prevented any of that. So, the kids and I decided to make him a special dinner and celebrate with just us but as always his schedule interfered with that as well so we settled for a quick present opening and candles when he did finally get home from work. He got a nice bottle of bourbon and a North Face jacket along with some sweet cards from the kids with hills and him going over them:) We love you, Daddy! No matter how old you are getting!!

A visit from Grandma and Papa!

Grandma and Papa came for a whole week! I can't tell you how excited we were to see them! We missed them soooo much! They are always so fun to hang out with and gave me some much needed help with the kids.
While the kids were at school (it just about killed them to have to go to school while they were here) I took them around the city showing them some of the sites we have found. They have been here before a year ago and did lots of the touristy stuff but this was a little different. They also did normal stuff with me too like going grocery shopping which made that so much easier!
Here is a pic of us at the Cliff House, a restaurant site seeing place that is at the tip of San Francisco on the Ocean Beach front. A very pretty view.

We also took them to feed the ducks at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. These ducks were crazy!! So So funny! After feeding the ducks, my dad rented a pedal boat for them and the kids to ride around the lake. They loved loved that! I stayed behind but my phone died and I couldn't get any pictures :(

 They played lots of games with Ella and Luke and got some good snuggle time in with AB. I don't think I held her once while my mom was here!!! Here my mom is teaching her how to count the pictures on a card.

We also took them for a campfire on the beach. We have been wanting to do this for a while and figured it would be the best time to do it when they are here because my dad is really good at that kind of stuff. It was a little tricky getting everything set up though. There are only 10 campfire rings on the beach that you are legally allowed to use. We did not get there in time so all the rings were taken. Soooo, we just followed what others were doing and dug our own pit. It worked out great! We had pizza and s'mores! Papa can tell the best stories around a campfire! The kids literally rolled in the sand. AB had piles of it in her ears!!

It was a great great visit and we can't wait to see them again!

I need CANDY!

If only she was a little taller she would have it made! Her brother felt so bad for her that he got her some candy corns. Now whenever she wants some she goes to him and pulls him over there! HaHa! Big brother will always help you our little sister!

Pumpkin Carving

 I usually paint pumpkins with the kids because it is just easier and they have been too little to carve them but this year we decided to carve them instead. Ella and Luke picked out a design on the computer and I drew them on the pumpkins. Then they cut them out all by themselves. I think they turned out awesome! AB was mesmerized when she woke up from her nap. We light them up with Christmas lights and they set on our counter for about three weeks until they were covered in mold and had to go!:)

A little Halloween Decorating

Halloween is getting close so the kids and I decided it was time to get the house decorated. The kids love love love this part. They basically do it all themselves now. We ended up doing something new this year. We wrapped our front door like a mummy. It was fun and super cute! I think we are all set now! Halloween get here soon!

    

 

Fleet Week and the Blue Angels in San Francisco

The first week of October is always Fleet Week apparently here in SF. We had heard a good place to see them instead of fighting the crowds down at the Marina was on top of Twin Peaks. Since that is right next to our house we headed that way on Saturday. It was awesome!! We had a perfect view! At one point the angels got so close we could read the writing on the bottom of the planes! Really cool! These pics don't do it justice at all.

Halloween PJs!

Can't have Halloween with out Halloween PJs! These three are the best of friends! Please please stay that way!!!

Pumpkin patch in SF

Our sweet graduate school friends Juliet and Lee live here in SF with their 4 year old daughter Mila. Juliet and I are very good friends and I am so so happy to have her out here! A week ago she asked if we wanted to join them at the pumpkin patch and knowing how much my kids love going to a pumpkin patch I immediately said yes! She found one that was about 30 minutes south of SF near Half Moon Bay. It was a really really cute one and the kids loved it! Annabeth could not stop running and trying to pick up every single pumpkin no matter how big! It was a great way to kick off the fall season!
Here are some pics of our day!

 We went on a hay ride into the corn fields where the kids got to pick corn to take home. We cook the corn that night. It was delish! One of Annabeth's favorite foods!

First Day of October Tradition

Every since we moved to Little Rock and had access to Krispy Kreme, we started a tradition of going to get there new Halloween donuts every October 1st  before school to kick off the start of the holiday season. We didn't have a Krispy Kreme close to us here in SF but we did find a donut shop to continue the tradition. Unfortunately they didn't have any Halloween ones:(