Halloween 2009

We had a fun Halloween this year. We were able to go pumpkin picking with Grandma and Papa and Uncle Jeb and Auntie Jen. It has become a tradition, which we love. Then the kids and I went to Florida and were able to go to Sea World with Auntie Heather, Zack and Ashley. They had a Halloween celebration. The kids wore their costumes (well, Kai refused to wear his), and went around the park getting candy. It was lots of fun. Then on Halloween I took the kids to Walmart to do a little trick-or-treating, then we had our wards trunk-or-treat, then around the neighborhood to a few houses. The kids had a fun holiday! Here are some pictures.

A quick family picture by the tractor. Kai is in the stage that he doesn't like to take pictures.

This was supposed to be just the grandparents with the grandkids, but again Kai didn't want to be in it, so Nathan had to sit in.

That is Nathan's new school in the background.

Gabi found her pumpkin!

Grandma helped Gabi around the find a good pumpkin.

Kai got a fun ride back to the front of the pumpkin patch.


Koa enjoying his first pumpkin patch.

Cute Auntie Jen and our adorable neice, Hannah.

Kai just ran and ran around the pumpkin field. Grandma was nice to follow him around.

Kai slowing down to check out the pumpkins.

Gabi showing off our pumpkin stash once we got home. There is one for each of us.

Next, is our Sea World adventure.

Since Kai would not take any pictures with the characters, I had to do more candid pictures of him.

The three of us with some of the characters.

Gabi with the witches.

Gabi, Ashley and Zack with one of the princesses.

It is hard to see, but the kids were chasing bubbles.

More bubbles. This was a cute maze to help find Abby's wand.

Gabi with Abby

Kai was checking out the candy he got.

Trick-or-treat! The kids got candy, markers, pretzels, peanut butter. They did pretty good!

Kai surfing on Shamu's back.

All four cousins together: Gabi, Zack, Kai and Ashley.

These characters on stilts were fun. Here is Gabi and Ashley.

Another candid shot of Kai. He really liked these pumpkins.

These star fish were cute. They were dancing around.

Now, on to trunk-or-treating with our ward.

Trying to pick out the best candy.

We were happy to have Uncle Michael with us. The kids all love him!

All three kids. We even put a basket with Koa and people were putting candy in it. We later used it at our car when we ran out of candy. :)

Auntie Jen and Hannah were there with us also. So cute!

Can you guess what Hannah was? Casper the Friendly Ghost! :)

Our happy puppy dog, Koa.

Another happy picture with Michael.

While trunk-or-treating, one of the cars gave Koa this package of dried fruit! Score!

Kai was really good to stay in the stroller, but really liked saying Trick-or-Treat and getting his candy.

Koa and Hannah together. Koa is just four months older than Hannah. She is so nice and petite! Koa will always be the bigger and protective cousin!

Daddy and Kai.

After Gabi and Kai went around they had fun handing out candy.

Koa giving Hannah a horse ride. :)

Gabi and Kai out door to door trick-or-treating. At this house they just had a bowl out for the kids to take a candy. I think Kai took 2-3. :)

Gabi's Halloween School Performance.

Gabi's class had a cute 10 minute performance for the parents.

Gabi was not at school for about a week and a half leading up to this performance because of our trip to Florida. She did very good remembering most of the songs. Even the song she had never heard, she did pretty good!

This was the end part of Gabi's favorite song.

Gabi Reading

I have tried for the last month to get these uploaded. I kept getting errors each time. Luckily, it worked tonight. Our little girl is growing up so fast. This summer she learned to read. And not simple books. She is a great reader...and is only 4! She is a bright little girl!

This is the Dr. Seuss' book 'I Don't Want to be a Bunny." We came home from the library and she read the entire book to me. That is when I realized she really was reading.

This is Gabi reading a book that Rachel and Jason gave Kai for his birthday. It is one of the kids' favorite books.

Gabi started her second year of preschool. We switched her to the neighborhood school because it was more days a week and for longer hours. Plus, it is at the end of our court, so I can just pack the boys in the stroller and we are there within 2 minutes. Thanks to Rachel, I am able to go in about once a month to help out in her class. She has had fun meeting new friends. Here are a couple videos and pictures from the last month.

This was actually the day before school started. The teacher had a day where they come to make crafts and things and meet the teacher. The theme of the classroom this year is the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Here Gabi made her snack...a palm tree out of graham crackers, apples and grapes.

This is their place mat. They got to use water color paints and paint it and then the teacher laminated them, and that is what they use each day for snack time. Cute idea!

Gabi asked me to take this picture. They have a kid sized bathroom. Everything is on their level. How fun for them!

In front of the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree.

Everyday the kids get to pick two centers that they want to play at. You can bet every day Gabi is at the play house. She loves it!

This is Gabi and her good friend Joseph from church. We also do play groups with him once a week. It was nice that she got to start a new school with a friend.

This was from the first day of school.

Gabi sporting her new glasses for this year. This year we went with plastic frames...maybe they won't get bent up as fast. We will see! I think these ones are adorable on her! She has two pairs, brown and purple.

Gabi's first day of school interview. Turn your head to see it properly. :)

This was Gabi's first homework assignment. They have been talking about disguises. They were to take a pumpkin and make it into something (really just cover it with a disguise). From the start Gabi had been telling me she wanted to do a flower. We forgot about it all weekend and this morning two hours before school mommy found the paper saying it was due today. So, we quickly came up with this. I did the cutting, Gabi did all the glueing, and did a lot of the green stem. It was a fun project for us to do together.

Here is a video of Gabi explaining her project. I can't figure out how to rotate it, so for now tilt your head to the side. :)

I had to sneak a picture of Kai in there. He has been pretty mellow during the day when Gabi is at school. Maybe now he will start talking since Gabi isn't home to talk for him. :)