Halloween and More Fall Festivities...

 The Fall festivities continued last weekend with some pumpkin carving and pumpkin seed roasting.  Shockingly during the pumpkin carving process it was Bianca who didn't want to touch the pumpkin guts and get her hands dirty, whereas Ellia didn't seem to mind.  It was also Bianca's decision to make a scary face on her Jack-o-Lantern.  I guess times have changed a little!

Ellia helping Mommy with the pumpkin seeds.

Bianca couldn't be bothered to help because she was too busy working on an Octonauts project, her latest obsession. 

The girls were very excited to go trick-or-treating and Bianca informed all of our neighbors what their costumes were after they opened their doors to us.  She even took the time to show-off their Halloween treat bags and spelled out their names on the bags for some lucky neighbors.  Too funny!

The after-party!  Bianca was most excited for the Dots - not a bad choice!  Ellia was just happy to have candy.

Fall Festivities So Far

 

We all went to a Halloween-themed birthday party at Trudi's house (Ellia's friend from school) over the weekend.  Of course, Bianca was thrilled they had cupcakes with blue icing.

Ellia's Fall Party at school was a hit with the kids.  However, Ellia wasn't really feeling 100% that day.  I thought she was just coming down with a cold but, other symptoms have appeared since then.  We made the best of it and Ellia was able to take home the balloons since I had brought them in to decorate the classroom.  This made Ellia's day!

Unfortunately, I had to miss Bianca's Fall party at school this year even though I helped to plan it.  Ellia was home sick with me that day and I didn't want to infect the rest of the kids in Bianca's class.  Bianca, my little trooper, handled it well.  Here's to hoping everyone is healthy next year!

Our Gymnast in Training

 Bianca finally decided to wear this leotard that Mimi had purchased for her about a year ago.  She said that in the leotard with the long sleeves she looks like a "real gymnast". 

Bianca is showing off her flashlight she received at her Fall party at school today.

Me and My Girls

Sky Top Orchard

We headed up to the mountains last weekend to do some apple picking.  The scenery and weather were beautiful and the girls had so much fun!  The orchard had a delicious bakery, a playground for the kids, farm animals to feed, tractor rides, and even a little bamboo trail.  Oh, and let's not forget the apples and apple cider! Bianca enjoyed it so much that as we were pulling into the driveway at home she said, "Thank you for taking us to the apple orchard.".  Makes the trip totally worth it!  Both of the girls' favorite part was climbing the trees and picking the apples (with Daddy's help, of course). 

 

Thumbs up for the pumpkin and apple cider doughnuts!  When Mark told me he purchased one dozen I thought it was a bit much.  But, we had them finished before we even left the orchard to go to lunch.

Bianca's favorite variety...Golden Delicious!

Mark climbed up high in the trees to get the ripe apples.