halloween crafts...already.

we have been getting a little excited over here with halloween approaching.  even though it isn't for another 6 weeks, my kids have been begging to put up the decor, talking about what they are going to dress up as, and wanting to put together some crafts.  i have to keep holding them off because it seems a little too early still.  however, they were able to con my sweet neighbor, mia, into making some crafts with them.  they came running home to show me what they had been up to.... scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts.  i guess this means halloween is officially here.  at least here, in our house :)

although, the days are still pretty hot, the mornings and evenings have been cooling off and it makes a huge difference.  i can sense a tiny a bit of fall in the air and it makes me very happy.  i sure do love this time of year!

lunch date with dad | polaroids.

we took a little trip out to scottsdale the other day to meet up with dad for lunch. (and to visit the only west elm in arizona.)  eden was so excited that she was going to get to eat lunch with her dad...on a weekday!  she picked the place which was surprising since all they had was hamburgers and she doesn't even like hamburgers all that much.  at least they had ketchup for jonah.  that's all that boy needs to keep him satisfied.  conveniently, there was a sweet tooth fairy right next door for our after lunch sweet cravings.  eden's eyes lit up when she saw all the cupcakes.  there were so many to choose from but she picked the one with the oreo sunflower on top.  it was just calling her name :)  i have a feeling lunch dates with dad are going to be occurring much more often.

labor day at nana and papa's.

it's always a good time at nana and papa's house and when you mix it with my dad's burgers, it's even better. {he makes the best hamburgers.}  the kids love my parents house because it's like a zoo and a water park and a playground all in one.  they just bounce around from one thing to the next.  jonah was so funny with all the animals, especially when he saw rocky the turtle.  he wasn't quite sure what to think.  at first he wanted to touch him and then he was scared of him and then he was growling at him.  that kid cracks me up.  by the way, jonah loves the water.  i'm starting to think he might be part fish.  just saying.  i think the highlight of the day (besides the burgers) were the chicken fights in the pool.  it started out small but by the end almost all the cousins and aunts and uncles were involved.  it was pure entertainment for those of us standing by.

it's sad to think that this was probably our last bbq until next year, but i am very excited for fall and for the upcoming holidays.  i am having to force myself to wait just a couple more weeks to start the halloween decorations...and all the catalogues coming in the mail that are filled with costumes and halloween stuff aren't helping.

friday afternoon at canyon lake.

i love lake days.  so relaxing. the kids seem to love it too.  eden loved her hair blowing in the wind, jack loved sitting in the very front of the boat as it skipped along the water, ava loved jumping into the water, and jonah loved everything. seriously, i think that boy could live on a boat.  jason and i got to do a little water skiing/wake boarding and so did my 65 year young dad.  he is amazing.  we loved spending time with the family.  glad we got use up one of our final days of summer at the lake!