OtterPops: Party Hearty!!

In between the regular routines we have been enjoying the Fall festivities!!

Emma and her friend getting ready for the Spooktacular Dinner

Some of the Spooktacular Dinner

Halloween brought our 8th annual Spooktacular Dinner with friends which we strategically combined with a birthday party for both Emma and Jonas! How is that for killing three birds with one stone?

Emma Birthday Breakfast in Bed

Happy 3rd Birthday to Emma!

Happy 5th Birthday to Jonas!

The whole kid crew at Spooktacular Dinner

Grandpa and Nana took us out to dinner to celebrate Jonas's birthday at Chevy's

We also carved pumpkins with neighbors. Unfortunately for me, I am still the one cleaning out the inside of most of the pumpkins. Luckily Nana was there to help me out!

Emma and I went to support the older three kids at their Halloween parades and class parties. We also went to the Trunk or Treat at the church and dressed up as Alice in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland Family

Waiting with some of the other mamas at the school for the Halloween parade

Jocelyn's class party

Jonas before a super hero birthday party. He also wore this to his school parade

Our front tree decided to sport some fall colors for the occasion. Isn't it beautiful!?

On Halloween Day we joined Greg & Maren to go to Natural Bridges as a family and see the Monarch Sanctuary. It was Amazing!! The best it has been in years. It was such a fun and peaceful day in Santa Cruz.

Outside the visitors center

Enjoying the Monarch Sanctuary

At Natural Bridges State Beach

We had a Thanksgiving play date with some friends we were babysitting one Saturday. The kids acted out the 1st Thanksgiving and made some Turkey Pops.

Pilgrims and Indians

For Thanksgiving break we joined some friends at Gilroy Gardens (beautiful weather, super fun. Only downside was that Lillian went on the swings one too many times and lost her lunch all over herself while the ride was going), went on a Jelly Belly Factory tour with Katie and Brian (because we joined my brother and his wife at my parent's house for Thanksgiving), played tennis, did black friday shopping. Had an amazing dinner and really great day with my aunt and uncle, cousin and his family, brother and parents.

At Gilroy Gardens before Lillian threw up all over her outfit from head to toe!

Boys boat at Gilroy Gardens

Jelly Belly Factory Tour

Thanksgiving feast

Kids Table

Kevin "Black Friday" shopping

Brian and Katie

Otter Fam before Thanksgiving meal

The Parents

One of the highlights of the trip for the girls was making a massage parlor and treating everyone to the details they had put together: Low lighting, soft music, choices of massage types, etc. They also had a ton of fun putting together Thanksgiving evening performances with Carter and Gavin. It was very creative and well thought out. They performed "We will WALK you" to the queen song of a similar title, chasing Gavin around dressed as a dog. I, unfortunately failed to get any pictures of these performances but they were classic!

I helped out with the teacher appreciation this month by making 10 lbs of sugared nuts. Cinnamon pecans and Honey Roasted Almonds as take home treats along with Pumpkin Pie and Whipping cream by the other moms.