Halloween

Piper's school had a school-wide costume parade on Halloween. The kindergarten teachers and an assistant dressed as Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  

This photo was at our ward's Trunk or Treat. 

Such a funny kid.

This is the only Halloween picture I got of Piper since she refused photos before actual Trick or Treating.

Our trunk decorated for Trunk or Treating, lots of cobwebs and spiders.

Simon was DJ Lance for Yo Gabba Gabba!

Autumn activities

Some friends and I took our little ones to a pumpkin patch for picking.  Piper didn't know we went since we went to a corner pumpkin patch in the afternoon.  It was a lovely day. 

Later that week Piper's school had its Halloween carnival.  Grandma was able to come up for that.  We did the bouncy house, ate doughnuts and hamburgers, got faces painted, and painted a tile for the school entrance with Piper's name on it. 

I love this sweet little guy so, so much.

First day of kindergarten

Piper had to miss her first day of school because she got sick over the weekend.  She wasn't too disappointed though; she told me, "Then tomorrow will just be my first day."  It turns out that her friend Jaxon from preschool sat next to her, for the first two weeks anyway.  She made friends right away.  One girl Abby was so nice to her on the first day.  She's loved it ever since.

I made this "schultuete" for Piper for her first day of school.  It's a German tradition to give the kids a "school cone" on her first ever day of school.  It had some new pencils, erasers, and candy in it.

So cute

Angels game

One night Rick got some free Angels tickets at work so we invited my parents along for a fun night.  They'd never been to Angels stadium and we all had a blast.  This is Simon trying to whistle too.

Simon's 2nd birthday

Simon's 2nd birthday was spread over two days since it was on a Friday.  On Friday, his actual birthday, Simon opened presents of a Dodgers hat and a SpongeBob coloring book.  Then we went to Toys R Us for a balloon and a crown.  

The day was spent at Travel Town.  We took the train around the grounds and Simon and Piper both got to say "all aboard" over the microphone of the train.  We looked at all the  trains and we got Simon his own wooden train whistle.

Then for dinner we ate at La Serenata as a family.  They gave Simon a cake of tres leches with a lit tortilla chip for a candle.  

On Saturday we had pizza with my parents, followed by a chocolate soccer ball cake and opening presents.  He got two golf sets, a tee ball set, a soccer ball, a tool kit, and a set of three Yo Gabba Gabba stuffed animals.

Island Park and Idaho visit

We traveled to Idaho to visit Rick's family only two days after Simon's eye surgery.  Great timing, right? Thankfully we were driving so it was a little easier than having to go to the airport.  

We picked raspberries and visited in Idaho Falls before we all headed to Island Park.  Grandpa took Piper fishing and she caught a 13-inch trout.  Grandpa Rich also made a beautiful leather coin purse for Piper.  Grandma Ann was always ready to go on a bear hunt with the kids.

We went canoeing, just Rick, me and Piper.  Piper was a pill the whole time since she couldn't get out of the boat and I hadn't brought any snacks.  We did, however, see a moose.  At Big Springs, there was one lone fish.  It seems that the water quality is such that it isn't good for helping fish to grow.  Oh well.

We also went to Yellowstone with Uncle Ryan.  We saw a two bald eagles, a family of elk, and the hot pots and Old Faithful.

Simon loved wearing everyone's hats (sometimes multiple ones at the same time) and stealing golfer's golf balls off the 6th hole green.  He also kept getting the golf balls and football stuck under the deck.

There are some elk in there, if you look closely.