Howloween at the Zoo

Rachel came for a visit to help out with my mom. Her visit coincided with our zoo's "Howloween". Sweet Pea dressed up and we went on a scavenger hunt. It was a perfect morning full of fun and animals.

The zoo had pumpkins for the animals to smash and enjoy

Meeting a Screech Owl

Sea Lions are having fun with the children

GRRRR...

Cutie Pie was a bit intrigued by the tiger painting.

We got a little scared, but still posed for the picture

Visiting the penguins

Halloween

Some of our Halloween Festivities.

Now, here's some spiders that aren't creepy

Owl Ballet

Cutie Pie the Peacock

Being Silly

So excited!!!!

Found this costume idea via

Our little owl

Now she's a Viking

Off to the Trunk or Treat

The Next day, daddy's work Trick or Treat

She loves popcorn

Snowboarding fun

Riding the policeman's bike

Vroom, VROOM

We haven't introduced Cutie Pie to Elmo or Sesame Street. She got very excited and was pointing at him.

Halloween Decor

For the past couple of years, I had a ton of bats I cut out of paper. Last year, they didn't want to stick to the new walls. So when October rolled around, I decided to pull out my Silhouette Cameo and cut out some bats and other creepy visitors. :) I also made a wreath, which provided to the perfect way to let my bats fly away.

Spooky kitty

I love my bats!!

Bats flying out of the wreath

I love the Trick or Treat shape

Another view

Thankful Tree

I love fall and Thanksgiving! I tried to figured out something for my entry. I've seen Thankful/Gratitude trees and loved them. I pulled out my trusty Silhouette Cameo and went to town cutting out leaves from the Basket and Leaves {Design ID #6488} and a tree from {Button Tree Shirt pattern}. I ended up using the tracing and copy features to make my tree more full. 

 I left the leaves out and let my family fill out their gratitude leaves. Some of them were:

Sweet Pea's: shoes, water, bed, food, shelter {she came up with that one all by herself}
Cutie Pies's: cuddles, naptime, thumb
Reed: candy, nibbles, tickles
Grandma: Children, baby giggles, heaters, rain
Heather: the Gospel, chocolate, family, books

Love my polka dot tree

 

I'm excited to have it in our entry as a daily reminder of our blessings.

Halloween Wreath

I went shopping for some lovely chevron fabric to make a wreath like this. No luck with the chevron, but I found another fun pattern and made this:

I used some spiders and purple bats from last years decorations

I cut out some bats out of black GLITTER felt. Love the sparkle.

Love the way it turned out!! :)

Entering THIRD Grade

Sweet Pea started THIRD Grade today. Last night she put a little pressure on mom when she casually asked herself, " I wonder what mom will do for my first day of school?!?" Last year she started a new school, so I made a big deal about her exciting, new adventure. She was so pleased with all the threes around her!

One of my favorite Traditions - Cupcakes!!

Sister Ryder had her three month anniversary on her mission, so they joined in the fun too. :)