Halloween!

Normally, I am not a fan of this holiday. Anyone who knows me knows I do not enjoy being scared or scary stuff in general. The costumes I have worn in the past have been uninspired and last-minute and I would gladly skip the whole holiday altogether.
But this year was so different! I had SO MUCH FUN sharing the tradition of dressing up and trick-or-treating with Avery, who loved every minute of it. This year, she was a kitty cat (true to form, a last-minute costume) which consisted of printed pajamas I already had, some kitty ears I made out of construction paper and hot-glued to a headband I already had, and a bushy tail made out of my robe tie. Add some eyeliner whiskers and VOILA! Instant, adorable kitty cat (or cheetah...whatever).

We started the festivities with a party with one of my meet-up groups at Chuck E Cheese on Monday, then we had a double-fun Saturday where we went to a street party in downtown Carlsbad and then off to Legoland's Brick Or Treat festivities. On Sunday we went to a block party in our old neighborhood on Maple Leaf and it was so great to see all the kids from last year grown-up and running around! On Monday night we took Avery out trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. I wasn't sure how she would do with the dark and the scary decorations but she LOVED IT! She took her little candy bucket up to each door and said "Meow" b/c she couldn't really say "trick-or-treat" and each person commented on her adorable-ness and allowed her to choose candy and put it in her bucket! Back at home, she made it her personal job to run to the door when the bell rang and hand out candy to each person. Needless to say she slept well last night!

It was a long and exhausting weekend but I loved every minute of sharing it with my little family. Now I can't wait until next year! Maybe I should start planning our costumes now....
Enjoy the pics!

Our family of pumpkins

Nikki and me with the kiddos at Halloween on Elm

Gimme candy, Meow!

In the bounce house! Spent 90% of the time

getting up from falling down, but she loved it!

My cute kitty cat

At Legoland, building something with Dada

I think Legos will be on her Christmas list!

Avery in front of our old condo

Bates Nut Farm

Apparently, going to Bates Nut Farm in the fall if you live in north San Diego county is THE thing to do! So, of course we had to join in the rest of the families in the county and check out the pumpkins, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables and fair food!

We had a great time and got a few good shots of our little pumpkin.
Enjoy!

Avery, 15 months

Our barrel of pumpkins!

Me and my girl on a BIG one

The only way to get her to sit still was to let her play with this little pumpkin

She much prefers to run everywhere!

Especially when there is a cute doggie who needs a kiss

Or a bunny that needs a pet!

Avery, mama and "Chocolate Chip"

Saying "thank you" to her horsie

Happy Fall!

I haven't been on here since August! I apologize to my (5) avid readers for such a long absence. I have gone back to school and it has been kicking my butt! I am taking 7 units of prerequisite classes at a local junior college in preparation to apply for a Lactation Consultant program. I am taking Anatomy and Medical Terminology online, though the Anatomy class requires me to attend a lab portion twice a week. Antatomy is SO hard and SO time consuming, I am literally counting the days until I am done with it (assuming I pass!)

Anyway, as per usual we have been busy busy busy these last 2 months! Avery is 15 months old now and weighs 30 lbs and is almost 33 inches tall. She is wearing 18 months clothes but not for much longer. She is saying a LOT of words and we get a kick out of hearing the new ones she seems to learn every day. Her first word was Baby and now she can clearly say most B words (bubble, ball, bath) and she says I Love You, Hello, Bye, milk, more, up, please, down, Roo and she can repeat A-E of the alphabet.

This past week she dropped a nap and now she only naps once a day (boo hoo!) around 12 until 2:30ish, and goes to bed around 7:15. She is still in her crib though since she is so tall I am anxiously awaiting the day she realizes all she has to do is hoist herself up a bit and she could be over the rail! Yikes!

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to these past few weeks.
Enjoy!

She is getting very good at using a fork and spoon (despite the picture!)

Swimming at Yaya's house with Dada

Cute little bikini!

Visiting Abbie and her baby sister Reese in Valencia!

Kitchen pretend fun

 

Hanging with Logan at Brayden's first birthday party

Playing with Grampa's motorcycle boots

Ready to go!

Grampa and Avery

At the Del Mar Pumpking Station

Loved the carousel :)

Sea Life Aquarium

On Friday, August 12 we took Avery to the Aquarium at Legoland for all our first times! All 3 of us are very interested in marine life and we really enjoyed all the sea life at the aquarium. I was particularly interested in the sharks and Avery liked to touch the aquarium windows as the fish swam right to her face! The pictures are a bit blurry from the lack of flash, but we got some great pictures.
Enjoy!

Posing with the Lego Mom

Ready for the aquarium!

We had a hard time tearing her away from the very first exhibit!

Oh! Fish!

Touching the starfish

In the shark tunnel

Moray eels

Sharks!!

Giant sting ray (my foot is for size comparison, and I have really big feet!)

Me in a fish tank!

I'm not touching it! Nah nah nah nah nah ;)

Wild Animal Park

On Sunday, July 31, we took Avery to the Wild Animal Park for the first time (my first visit to the park too!) It was insanely hot and the park is big and sprawling so we were sweaty and sticky by the end of the day. Because the park was packed, the tram line was too long for us to ride so we walked everywhere. We saw sleeping tigers, grazing gazelles and giraffes, a huge male lion laying right against the viewing glass, lots of birds and Avery got to pet some friendly goats. It was a fun trip and I learned a few things for next time (bring LOTS of water and snacks, they don't check your bags; pack an extra outfit, towel and swim diaper for Avery because they have a little water park area; wear a hat and bring LOTS of sunscreen!)
Enjoy the pictures!

We are here! (outside temp 92 degrees, ugh)

ready to see some animals!

First stop: Fisher Price exhibit

playing with toys

tiger lying  in the shade of the tree (look closely!)

Checking out the giraffes with Dada

Walking to go see the lions

Grazing gazelles

"Oh!" birds :)

BIG lion

Cooling off at the splash pad

Yup, we were that "white trash" family with a naked baby at an amusement park!

HAHA! It was SO hot and poor baby needed to cool off, I didn't even care!

Petting the goats

Avery is fearless! Went right up to them

Loving the misters :)