Halloween 2012

For Halloween this year, Rory is Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and Aven is the Butterfly Princess.

As is true most years, our first opportunity to trick-or-treat is the Advisory Board's Halloween party.

Aven walked a fine line between the desire for candy and the fear of being scared by one of the many "haunted offices".

And here the kids are on the actual night of Halloween.

Pumpkins

On many of our weekend excursions, we have the opportunity to pick our own pumpkins.

Aven was particularly interested in finding exactly the right one.

She insisted upon carrying her own out of the fields. 

Rory and Aven were both interested in helping their Daddy carve the pumpkins this year.

After hollowing out the insides, we set to work ...

... and had quite the collection of Jack-O-Lanterns when we were done. Here's last year's carving party. 

Fall Festivals

Among the highlights of our Autumn are the Fall Festivals that we attend most weekends. We discovered a new one this year with slides!

Aven showed considerable bravery on the slide.

Rory is an old pro when it comes to these Autumn slides. 

Even Mommy got in on the action. 

In fact, Mommy was quite a fan of the gigantic moon bounce.

As we do every year, we went apple picking. 

And we enjoyed hay rides. 

And our girls enjoyed each other's company quite a bit. They have truly become best friends, spending hours each weekend in each other's company. 

The added benefit of these Fall Festivals is that the kids are more than ready for a nap or an early bedtime.

Even Rory, as she clutches her pumpkin!

Fall Saturdays

We've enjoyed a new routine on Saturdays this Autumn. Tim heads to physical therapy for his knee (long story that includes a wicked game of badminton), then we all go to the Del Rey neighborhood to drop Aven off for her ballet lessons. The rest of us hit the Farmer's Market and St. Elmo's coffee shop, before picking Aven back up. We then spend some time at the playground, have a Mexican lunch, and head to the soccer fields, where Rory impresses us with her mad soccer skills. 

Aven and the other little ballerinas.

Rory setting up for a goal.