Happy Halloween!!

The kiddos and I carved pumpkins yesterday. We made a HUGE mess, the best kind. Just like last year, they insisted on naming their precious creations...

Allison

with

Mini Mouse Violet Incredible

(yep, that's really what she named her pumpkin)

Libby

with

Princess Jasmine Cinderella Super Girl

(say THAT one 5x's fast!)

Molly

With

Queen Cellessa Sparkle Bat Girl

(They came up with these gems on their own.)

Russell

With

Super Man Scooby Doo Captain America

(Can you GUESS what this years costumes are yet? Ha!)

"Who has the biggest feet?"

(L to R)

Libby, Ally, Molly, & Russ

(not sure what Russ did to the nose on his pumpkin...)

I LOVE how they LOVE each other!

Our pumpkin family & Casper the FRIENDLY ghost!

(The kids made sure he had a smile on his face- so he wouldn't scare anyone.)

I realize more and more ever day, I'm still just a kid at heart. It's so fun to have this time with them. Before you know it, they will NOT WANT to carve pumpkins and spend the afternoon laughing with their mama! ;)

Alrighty, I NEVER get pictures up on Halloween night. So, here's a preview of the fun to come.....

A dress rehersal

with

Our 4 SUPER Heroes!

"Let's hear it for the Good Guys!"

Clockwise from top left

(in birth order)

Russ- Captain America

Ally- Violet Incredible

Molly- Bat Girl

Libby- Super Girl

Precious Penny will, OF COURSE, be trick-or-treating as a PRINCESS!

Happy Halloween EVERYONE!

Have a blast and be safe.

It doesn't REALLY feel like Fall until....

We hit the pumpkin patch with our little pumpkins!

Hands down, Halloween in MY FAVORITE holiday. I know, silly, but so am I so... it makes sense.

(L to R)

Libby, Ally, Russ, Molly

It's become tradition for my friend, Tanya, and me to take the kids to the Pumpkin patch together. It's something we both look forward to all year long. The first year we went, they were still babies. It was a great adventure and so fun to look back on the pictures. They have grown up so much. TEAR. Last year, we hit up an even bigger pumpkin patch and had a BLAST! The best part about last years trip? The kids STILL remember it THIS YEAR!

When we started to see signs of Fall all around town, the little peeps got CRAZY excited for our yearly adventure. So did I! This time, our friend, Torrey, joined us and we headed out to Bishops Farm. I CANNOT BUUULEEEEEEEEEEVE we have NEVER been there! Bishops Pumpkin Farm is the MOTHER OF ALL pumpkin patches. MAN do they do it right! If your live in Nor Cal, it's so worth the drive!


We had a fantastic time and took TONS of pictures! I smiled ear to ear putting this video together and hope you enjoy it too...

Happy ALMOST Halloween!!

Baseball Fever!

If you know me, you know I couldn't give a rats booty about sports. But, I love my husband and he LOVES this video.

Sooooo..................

This post is for you babe, AND the AWESOME city we fell in love in!

Goooooooooooooooo Giants!

Hey, at least the video uses our FAVORITE song! ;) I may not be a sports fan but I sure LOVE Journey....

Fun Stuff..

I have some super fun links to share ...

First, check out my review blog and enter to WIN $100 Visa Gift Card from BlogHer and Kellogg's. It's so easy all ya gotta do is leave a comment. This week I shared an awesome recipe for Pumpkin Spice Pancakes! Click HERE.

Next, Cali peeps- The AWESOME and TALENTED Torrey James has only 4 more spots open for her Holiday Mini Sessions.

If your looking for an fantastic photographer, she's your gal. We love her! If you "like" her facebook page you get $50 off your session!

And last but not least...

Despite have super sick kids, Suz spent DAYS working on this DARLING video of our Arizona trip. It's so fun to see the crazy 18 in action. Click HERE!

Suz and Me

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Back it Up.. Back it Up...

A few weeks ago Auntie Erin (Conor's sister) and Uncle Joey (her long time boyfriend) came down to visit from Portland. They were getting ready to head off on the adventure of a lifetime, backpacking through Costa Rica! We all enjoyed the time we got to spend together before they left. We don't know when they will be back, so we made every moment count. Good for them right?! I mean, when else in your life can you do something like THAT!?! It's just SOOOO awesome and EXCITING!! We are so happy for you guys!

Anywho, while they were here we did all kinds of fun things, including Apple Hill. This time of year, you just can't beat Apple Hill...

(Clockwise from top left)

Joey & Libby- Joey, Libby & Molly-Russ and Me-Auntie Erin & Molly-Auntie Lou Lou & Ally

A good group photo sequences always make me laugh.....

Leave it to the Oregonians to bring the rain.. it sure beats the heat!

Face Painting!

(Clockwise from top left)

Ally, Libby, Molly, Russ

Goats!

(L to R)

Ally, Russ, Molly, Libby

Goof Balls!

(L to R)

Joey, Molly, Libby, Russ, Ally

Soggy Russ Man!

Tractor driving Ally

"Look Mommy I can drive this thing..

how many more years 'til I get my drivers permit?"

-Libs

Our kids have endless energy LOVE to chase Joey! ;)

Miss Mo Mo

Washed away the rain and dirt but hung on tight to those pumpkins!

We miss you guys already! Costa Rica isn't gonna know what hit 'um. If you wanna keep up with Erin and Joey they started a blog! Check it out HERE! We are all living vicariously through them!

Happy Tuesday EVERYONE! Hope this week brings you some adventure.

AZ part 2!

My dad, Mario,and his wife, Connie, have lived in many different places over the last 20 years. Currently they reside right outside Phoenix, AZ. On our way to Tucson, we stopped in for some quality time.

This is my favorite picture of my dad and me!

I was SO excited when I found it recently.

~I was about 3 years old~

My step brother, Eric, and his wife Adrian, came over with their kiddos, Levi, Luke & girlfriend Skye, Julia, and Kennedy. Despite being up since 4:30am and not sleeping the entire drive from Sacramento to Phoenix, our kiddos were pumped FULL of energy. Ahhhh.... who needs sleep anyway? ;) They were THRILLED to see the whole gang and play with their cousins for the first time. It was very cool!

Admiring Poppy Mario's motorcycle

- I was SCARED TO DEATH of this thing when I was kid!

The girls

(L to R)

Julia, Kennedy, Molly, Ally, & Libby

All the grandchildren

Levi, Luke, Julia, Kennedy, Russ, Ally, Molly, & Libby

Hide and seek with Luke....

The next morning we stayed for breakfast and saw Grandma Connie off to work. We kissed Poppy Mario goodbye and hopped in the car for the last 2 hours of the trip. The kids are still talking about our visit and can't wait to return.

Thanks Dad and Connie for having us! It was too short a visit but very special. Thanks Eric, Adrian, Levi, Luke, Skye, Julia, and Kennedy for coming to play. See you soon.

One BIG Happy Family!

What's half way between us and our best friends?

Tucson, AZ!

Having lost our minds, from too much time apart, the Steece's, Goerlich's, and McNulty's decided to pile our respective broods in the cars and drive, drive, drive, drive. After a few dozen potty stops, some creative parenting, and lots of tunes, we arrived, and the fun began.

We stopped in Phoenix the first leg of the drive and and spent the night with Poppy Mario (my Dad) and Grandma Connie. I'll post those fun pictures in my next post, AZ part 2!

Our first few minutes all together & 1st attempt at a group photo!

Doing a little site seeing at

Trail Dust Town

&

2nd attempt at a group shot!

After our little pit stop, we made our way to our rental home, and NEVER left the neighborhood. It was the perfect set up. We had a great big open living space, plenty of bed rooms/bathrooms, a clean backyard with a pool (w/built in safety cover), and tons of fun places to take the kids for nature hikes, walks, and even a park. We were in HEAVEN! Thanks Mari for finding the perfect place, as always!

Love these little shadows!

(L to R)

Russ, Andrew, Sophia, Molly, Cohen, Finn, Noah, Ethan, Sav, Ally, Libby

Me- giving lessons on why we don't touch cacti. I learned the hard way when I went for a run a a wee bit off the trail. Those are mean little suckers!

What's amazing is the ease of it all. I mean, you think of 12 kiddos (ours are 4 years old & the Steece's & G's are 3 years old) all together and immediately you think, "chaos." It was anything but. We were like a well oiled machine. Our kiddos got along like they've always been together. Best friends for life, plain and simple- it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Yes, I know, I'm a HUGE DORK! But, it's true. The way they all are together, the way we ALL are together, is just beautiful.

Feeding the masses, easy as mac and cheese! :)

After dinner walk

Silly Mama's

Mari, Suz, Me

Rock Star Dads!!!!

Conor (with Drew), Joe (with Ethan), Chris (with Molly)

All 12 kiddos are so HAPPY, such good/goofy kids!

Following the leader!

Getting better at the group shots!

Always sharing the love

-Molly and Sav

We miss these guys so much when we aren't together. Maybe some day we won't live so far apart. I can see it now, Friday night cookouts, pool parties, tail gates, all just a short drive away... ahhhh, a girl can dream. In the meantime we will just keep finding creative ways to be together as often as possible, and being thankful for all the great people in our lives.

We love you guys with all our hearts. In the words of Miss Molly, "We are one BIG happy family." She is soooo right!

For TONS MORE pictures check out this DARLING video Mari put together. I think I've watched it a least 10x's. We made such awesome memories. Click here.

Happy Thursday EVERYONE!

XOXO

Gen, Conor, Russ, Ally, Molly, & Libby