Trick-or-Treat!

We started off the evening early in our own neighborhood, trick-or-treating with our friends who live across the street

 

As it started to get dark, we headed down to the Rose Garden to trick-or-treat with some of Luke's school friends.  It was lots of fun with tons of people out, Luke saw a bunch of his classmates and one of his teachers (!), and received many compliments on his costume, which really stood out when it got dark.

 

Despite all of the fun, though, Luke and his friend Olivia seemed to have the most fun handing out candy at Olivia's grandparent's home and running around like crazy kids in the front yard!

 

All in all, it was a fun-filled Halloween evening!

 

**check out Luke's witch that he made in art class that is hanging on the front door!

 

 

School Halloween Celebrations

The Halloween festivities began the Saturday before Halloween this year at Mia's school's Fall Harvest Party.  Mia was a fairy (Tinkerbell, if you ask her) ... although I think that she was sort of wishing at this point that she also had a robot costume like Luke (note to self:  next year Mia gets the elaborate costume).

Luke was excited to go back to Mandala and see all of his old teachers, especially Miss Sharada, who was so sweet and walked with both kids in the costume parade.

The robot costume came with a bit more publicity than Luke (or any of us) bargained for.  For shy-guy-Luke, it made him a little uncomfortable.  He basically walked around saying "thanks" on repeat while everyone commented on how cool his costume was.  He even was asked to take photographs with a family who we didn't know ... (weird? ... ummm, yes!).

Halloween morning brought the costume parade at Luke's school.  As the day wore on, Luke became more comfortable with the added attention that the costume brought to him. Luke's teacher, Mrs. Anderson, told him that it was the most creative costume that she had seen in all of her years of teaching (making Michael very proud).  By the time we were getting ready to go trick-or-treating, Luke asked me if I thought we could go somewhere to enter him in a costume contest because he was pretty sure that he would win. :) 

Pumpkin Carving 2012

 Luke was F.O.C.U.S.E.D. on carving pumpkins this year.  He wanted more than anything to do the entire thing himself, start to finish.  With a little help from Day, he was able to do most of it on his own.

Mia started off with good intentions, but soon grew bored (and had NO interest in touching what was inside of the pumpkin!).  After a short while, Mommy helped finish Mia's pumpkin while Paw took her up for a bath.

 

 Luke with his masterpiece (on the right)

Admiring the lit pumpkins

 

Finished products



The Costume

Luke announced quite some time ahead of Halloween that there was no other option than for him to dress up as a robot this year (obviously ... because everything is about robots this year!).  I did a fair amount of online searching and came up empty handed.  There was simply nothing that could just be purchased.  So, I looked at Michael and informed him that he would have to make Luke's costume.  To his credit, he sounded sort of excited to take on the challenge.  You can imagine my concern when 4 days before Luke is supposed to be wearing his costume to an event, Michael is away travelling for business and I have nothing (NOTHING) for Luke to wear.

Needless to say, Michael returned home and didn't get much of a rest.  He drew up a plan, I went shopping for supplies, and he constructed Luke's costume in one night (granted, it was a very late night!).

 

I have to admit that I was nervous as to whether or not it would be pulled off, but I had nothing to worry about.  Daddy delivered on the costume front.  Luke-bot was a happy guy!

Papa's Birthday

Upon arrival home from the big wedding weekend, the kids were ready to gear up to celebrate some more.  Papa's birthday!  It was so great that he was in town for his big day so that Luke and Mia could share in his birthday cheer!

Wedding Weekend

Uncle Todd and Auntie 'Chelle got married!!!

It was an absolutely perfect Monterey day.  The weather could not have been better, and the ceremony and reception were beautiful and heartfelt.

Mia and Sydney (Michelle's sister's little lady) were the flower girls, and Luke and Cosmo were the ring bearers.  They loved being part of Uncle Todd & Auntie 'Chelle's big day ... and I am pretty sure that you'd be hard pressed to find a more adorable wedding party (but I may be biased)!

The Rehearsal Dinner

 

A beautiful day for a wedding

Manicure and Pedicure

A little snack while we beautify

 Quite possibly the most handsome guy at the wedding

The Boys

Cosmo Kisses

 

 

 

The Ladies

 Luke & Cosmo

 

 

 Taking her job very seriously - there were no petals left in that basket!

 

Watching the ceremony

 Daddy gives a speech

 

Dancing!

Happily Ever After