Halloween 2015

We decided to paint pumpkins this year instead of carving.  Our carved pumpkins seem to mold really quick here in L.A.  Painting also just seems easier with little kids.  Ben and Emilee both enjoyed it. 

 For costumes this year we decided to re-purpose and reuse to keep our budget down.  We used Emilee's flower girl dress and flower head wreath and paired it with some new wings to make her a fairy princess.  She loved it.

Cheesing it up for the camera

Showing off her rainbow wings.

 Ben used his sister's old puppy costume.  Emilee was a puppy for her second Halloween and Ben followed suit by being a puppy for his second Halloween.  He was a super cute puppy!

We did the ward trunk or treat the week before Halloween.  It was fun, but now that the kids are older I prefer traditional trick or treating.  Plus I feel like they should just do the ward trunk or treats on actual Halloween.
On Halloween we went over to a friend's house across the street for dinner and then the whole group headed out trick or treating.  We went trick or treating in the neighborhood across the street from our apartment complex.  It was a good place to go.

The gang of kids ready to go trick or treating.  A few are missing.

 Emilee was able to go trick or treating with her best bud Sophie.  They had so much fun running from house to house.  Once it got dark it was even hard to keep an eye on both of them, but we managed between all of the parents.

Trick or Treat

Emilee and Sophie

 Happy Halloween!!!  

Minneapolis Week Four

Our fourth week in Minneapolis was pretty uneventful.  The kids didn't seem to be feeling well all week and we were coming down from our week of spoiling by Grandma and Grandpa.

The kids slept A LOT that week.  Emilee had several days in a row where she slept in until 10 am and then took a nap.  The kids went to bed very easily all week too.  I will admit it was quite nice.

Emilee fell asleep on the floor by the door during one quiet time.

One of the times that Emilee slept in until 10. I woke her up on this morning.

When they weren't sleeping we were playing on the deck, going to the park and swimming.

Ben loves to watch the world from the deck.  He especially likes the dogs that walk by.

Blowing bubbles.

 We usually go swimming with one of the other LDS intern's family.  Stela is 2 1/2 and she and Emilee enjoy playing together at the park and the pool.

Relaxing after a swim in the pool.

 One of the nice parts about living in Uptown is the proximity to restaurants and stores.  Our grocery store is literally right next door and I find myself shopping every day or every few days, instead of doing big shopping trips.  It gives us an outing and it is easier to bring the groceries home this way.  Plus since we are here for a short time I don't have a lot of basic supplies and so we eat more packaged meals instead of made from scratch.  We are also within a mile of many restaurants.  A lot of them are trendy bar like restaurants and not great for hauling children to, but there are also many other chains.  On Saturday night we walked with the kids down the street several blocks to Chipotle for dinner.

Emilee and Dad walking down Hennepin to dinner.

This is one of the restaurants that Emilee enjoys.

It was just a really low key week and we didn't get out much, but that is honestly how real life works.