Family Reunion at Newport Beach

The cousins and my Dad
We owe him for all this fun--we are so blessed! I love you Mom and Dad.

Benjamin loves finding all the shells but mostly he just boogie boards. He goes out first thing in the morning comes in for food and goes right back out!

One of our traditions every year is to walk down the boardwalk and eat at Ruth's Diner. I look forward to the Cinnamon roll french toast. That's right it's a deep fried cinnamon goo with syrup--oh it's good!

The boogie boarding buddies
Winston,Sophie,Uncle Mark,Isabella,Benjamin and Emerson

We had the most incredible time with my family. There was just one huge problem--Nicholas didn't come. :( He felt like he needed to stay back for school (code word for football). We missed him terribly but the fun did indeed go on and as always memories for life!

Charlie loved playing in the sand but was not that into the water. In fact I don't think he came within 20 yards of the stuff--which suited me just fine because I never had to worry about him. That made for one of the most relaxing weeks of my life. All the kids entertained each other and the sisters just sat and talked--ok I mean laughed.

Our Spooky Night

We love Halloween!! Talk about a perfect spooky, eerie night-- well minus the rain. It was cloudy, dark and the wind would gust out of nowhere and shoot leaves everywhere all around our feet.

Nicholas in teenage fashion had a party and for the first year ever did not trick or treat our neighborhood. He actually didn't even put on a costume. I'm pretty sure that I trick or treated right up to college and beyond. I mean I even go now I just send my kids up to the door. I mean it's free candy--what's wrong with the world when your 15 yr. old doesn't want free candy!! Who was at that party anyway?

As for the rest of us who have our priorities straight we trick or treated with our dear neighbors "The Millers". The kids ran as fast as their costumes would allow except little Charlie. He just wanted to hang out in his stroller and take it all in which was fine by me. He'd figure it all out soon enough.

Next comes the sorting and the counting and trading that goes on for hours. You gotta' love Halloween on Friday night. O.K. you just gotta' love Halloween!!

Ooey Gooey Pumpkins

Benjamin still hates the pumpkin goo and Ella and I had to take over the cleaning. However when it came to the carving--he was all over it!! I'm pretty sure they were our best pumpkins ever.