The Best Halloween Ever!!

This was the best Halloween ever.  We started our Halloween weekend off with carving pumpkins.  After Jim brought the pumpkins in, Cole tried to open the top.  I told him that we need to cut the top open first.  He immediately got up and started searching the drawers for a knife.  I thought it was really cute that he pulled out a butter knife.

 

 

The kids got out of school early on Halloween.  So we took them to Pierce College for their Harvest Festival and our annual pumpkin picture.

Mackenzie wanted to be a Mack-O-Lantern

 

Our scary skeleton and Catwoman

 

 

 

Mackenzie really enjoys trick-or-treating with her cousins.  All she wanted to do was run from house to house with the Vampire (Curren) and the Werewolf (Max).

She really reminded me of me on Halloween.

 

AND this year, Cole got it!  After Jim shadowed him at a couple of houses, he was able to do it all on his own.

 

We could not be happier with how far Cole has come.

Below is a link to all the photos from Halloween, which include pictures from Mackenzie's Halloween party.

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/106360590149459491574/Halloween2012Part2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOaj7MLd68zH8QE&feat=directlink

 

Carpinteria State Beach

This weekend we lucked into a camping spot at Carpinteria, with full hookups!  We had a great time.  The campground is a little close, but I loved the beach.  And when the kids get a little older I can see us riding into the town of Carpinteria for an ice cream at Foster Freeze!  I hope it's still in bussiness by then.

 

Mackenzie is such a ham!  Caught her making faces at herself.

 

As usual Cole jumps right into the water, regardless of how cold it is.  For mid September the water was pretty refreshing.

Cole helps bury Mackenzie in the sand.

It looked so comfortable he decided to take a rest himself. 

He did something to warrant the finger wag. 

 

 

Doesn't the pantry have a lock?

This looks like the perfect combination, sprinkles and frosting.

Cole's First Day of school

Cole's first day of first  grade.  He was so happy to be back at school.  Maybe next year I will find some shorter shorts.

Mackenzie's first day of School

Mackenzie's first day of school was a big success!  Her new teacher, Ms. Barbara just loves her.  She even asked if she could Mackenzie home.

 

Our First Family Houseboat Trip

We have talked about a houseboat trip for a long time.  This year we finally pulled the trigger and it was so fun.

Rhoni, Brent and the kids were able to join us too.

The weather was HOT!!  It was 115 degrees but the water was so refreshing.

The boys loved the waterslide.  We tried really hard to convince Mackenzie to give a try, but she was not having it.

Once the slide got boring the boys found a cliff to jump off of.  I could not believe that Cole did it.  Not once, but TWICE.

We also rented a couple wave runners, or water motorcycles according to Max.  We managed to Mackenzie on one, but she was not a big fan.

Below is a link to the rest of our family fun.

https://picasaweb.google.com/106360590149459491574/Houseboat2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCMzJkYOa8LWvFg#

Our 2nd Family Road Trip

This year our family road trip took us up north.  Last year Caitlin, Jim's sister, told us she wanted to plan a surprise party for her parents.  Something to celebrate 30 years of marriage and she thought it would be really cool if we there.  With young kids she wasn't sure that we would want to commit to such a trek.  But the Murphys are always down for an adventure.

Our first overnight stop was in Twain Harte.  A town that got it's name from two very famous authors, Mark Twai and Bret Harte.  Jim found a really cool resort called the Lazy Z.

I made Jim take an 18 mile detour so I could a picture in front of the town of Murphys sign.

We got to see Crater Lake.  That was a first for me and the kids.  The lake was absolutely beautiful.  The water was so blue.

The kids got to visit with two grandpas in one trip.

The Murphys!!

On our way back home we made many roadside stops.  In fact we stopped to visit Paul Bunyon and his ox Babe with Cole when he was just born.

We got to drive through a tree.  Although fun, and a great picture, that was a little tight getting my car through it.  Good thing I didn't have the Hummer.

We stopped by the Jelly Belly Factory.  We didn't get a chance to take the tour, the line was just too long.  We did get have yummy ice cream, and I got my photo op.  The kids are learning it's all about the pictures for me.

We stopped by the Dennis the Menace park in Monterey.  This was a really cool park, different slides, lots of swings, a pirate ship and a train to climb on.

We ended our trip at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  The kids were on sensory overload.

The end of another wonderful trip.

Below is a link to the rest of pictures from our trip.

https://picasaweb.google.com/106360590149459491574/RoadTrip2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCIGW6ODug8akbQ#