Anyway! We kicked off the season by decorating for Halloween. The kids were thrilled with all the fun new "toys" that got pulled out.
One thing we love about October is that we start doing nightly walks as a family to check out everyone's Halloween decorations. The kids absolutely love it. Even Joshua!
I thought this picture of Matthew and Kate holding hands on one of our walks was cute-
We love checking out the Halloween decor and costumes in all the stores. Shopping trips become a lot more fun in October!
I took my traditional baby-in-a-pumpkin picture with Joshua. :-)
I even took the kids to the pool one last time! (It is still pretty darn warm for most of October.)
Park days become the norm again. It's the best! This was actually Joshua's first time in a swing. (He became old enough for one as soon as it became too hot for the park, so I didn't get him on a swing until he was almost 7 months old!) I loved watching how much he loved it!
Michael turned the big 3-0! I would've loved to throw him a party, but he really didn't want to have one. He just wanted to keep it low key. On his actual birthday he took a half day at work and we went bowling and ate lots of yummy food. That weekend, we got a babysitter and went on a date. We love this guy and everything he does for our family!
Kate started another session of her dance class and this session is extra fun because they use lots of seasonal props. During this little performance she dressed up as a monster and a pumpkin. So cute!
Michael got promoted to a blue belt in jiu jitsu! He got promoted and then immediately (as in, like, an hour later) competed in a tournament as a blue belt... against a guy who had been a blue belt for quite a while. He was definitely expecting to lose, and he did, but he actually was a great competitor and only lost to ref's decision. Pretty awesome!
Michael and his coach-
And of course, the Arizona State Fair! So fun! We ate way too much totally unhealthy and delicious fair food, rode some rides, took the kids to the petting zoo, and enjoyed the OVERCAST day! (It is rarely overcast here, so it felt like heaven.)
Matthew had a field trip with his preschool class to a pumpkin patch and me, Kate, and Joshua got to tag along too. It was super crowded that day but so much fun!
At the very end of the month my parents came for a visit and stayed through Halloween. We loved having them here!
My dad was put right to work and he (and Michael when he wasn't working) built us a patio shade for our backyard. I love it! And the kids loved "helping."
On Friday morning while my dad was slaving away and Michael was at work, me and my mom took the kids to a super fun park I'd never been to before. They have the cutest little rides and my kids are still asking to go back.
I made my parents take our family Christmas card picture for the fourth year in a row. ;-) They are great sports - especially since it is only getting harder with so many littles! During our photo shoot my dad caught this little gem:
More "gems" - ha!
And then Halloween! Joshua was a biker, Kate was Cinderella, and Matthew was a pirate. Matthew and Kate were hilarious trick-or-treaters. Not shy at all - they'd practically yell, "Trick-or-Treat!" and were so excited at every.single.house. Love these funny kids!
(Joshua got to stay home and help pass out candy).
Checking out their loot:
And that's it for October! Whew!
