halloween 2023

when you don't live in a neighborhood, i feel a lot of pressure to make sure we have an extra fun halloween and that the kids get the full experience.  growing up my neighborhood was a very popular spot to trick or treat, so i have fond memories of dressing up and going house to house with friends.  

this year grandma is in town because she loves all the fun family friendly spooky events that go on this season!  ryder was lucky enough to have his field trip earlier today and they are not allowed to dress up at school, in fact, they wear orange as an anti-bullying awareness.  

we had dinner and trick our treating with our friends and i know a good time was had by all!

storm trooper

cheerleader

pumpkin patch

ryder has his first field trip to the pumpkin patch ON halloween and what is even more special...? having mom and grandma both there to chaperone.

sunrise

beautiful cotton candy sunrise this morning behind the fall trees.

work and play

it feels like fall has been cut short with this 30 degree weather we have, so it is time to clean up the backyard and put the summer toys and patio furniture away.  the kids were not thrilled about cleaning up, but they had fun playing even harder in the leaf pile.

watercolor practice

i'm having so much fun playing around with this layering technique. which one is your favorite? i'm partial to the black hole...

trunk or treat

one of my favorite parties!  a trunk or treat thrown by a friend of ryder's from preschool.  all the cars decorate and pass out candy and they have a spooky barn full of booze and pot luck style food.  

optimus prime (without the mask)

spooky food

getting ready for the trunk or treat party and bringing these spooky apps to share;mummy dogs and deviled eggs.

watercolor practice

fall leaves and my favorite combination of rainbow colors and gold!

gram

feels good to have her around!!!

maple

fall is just the precursor to winter, and is not my favorite season, especially living in washington. this year fall came early and is already shaping up to be a cold and wet one. the one thing i truly appreciate about fall is this gorgeous japanese maple tree in our front yard. it is such an intensely beautiful color, pictures don't even do it justice.

watercolor practice

testing out different brushes on these two paintings.

watercolor practice

a few days away and i really missed my daily watercolor painting ritual.  today i did an umbrella and a night sky with trees.  

reading with rover

another one of my favorite monthly events we do as a family.

watercolor practice

last week i painted but was rushed and really didn't like what i created.  i tried to let it go, but couldn't, so painted it over black and tried to create something new.  it isn't my favorite, but i like it better than before.

bike ride

so happy to see ryder back on his bike after taking a fall this summer and being scared to get back on.  and bowie loves to race jarad!

roomies

let the girls weekend continue...off to davis to meet up with our other bestie and roomie, mitzi!

reunited

i really hate the phrase "reunited and it feels so good," but it is so true.  a much overdue trip to see my college bestie in napa!