Kai's first Halloween

I love Halloween. Actually, that is an understatement. I am obsessed with Halloween. It is my favorite day of the year, rivaled only by St. Patrick's Day. I was so excited for Kai's first Halloween because I hope he learns to love it as much as I do. This year we got a special treat, and Brad's parents came to spend the holiday with us. As usual, my decorations were up in September and the perfect costume hunt was on. We decided to go to Salem, MA for the day because it seemed like the most logical place to spend Halloween. We had a blast. It was seriously crazy out there, full of awesomely strange people making their spooky pilgrimage. Kai seemed to really enjoy it and even loved his costume. I can't wait for next year (I am thinking of getting him a costume for each day of the month)! 

Brad helped me cut and hang all of these bats

 My homemade wreath, I was so proud

Kai's favorite decorations

Yes, I made a hat for my bird figurine 

 Brad and I as Dia De Los Muertos sugar skulls

Us in Salem Cemetery with our monster

 Creepy Brad, Kai was a little weirded out by him 

 Real-life ghostbusters!

Lynn and Jeff with Frankenstein 

Hillbilly trucker and cowgril 

Creepy me 

Adorable monster 

He loves his pumpkin 

Sandy is not dandy

Who knew moving to Boston meant that we are in a hurricane path? I did not bargain for this. I thought we were escaping natural disasters when we left earthquake central (aka California). I was seriously naive enough to think that hurricanes did not come up this far northeast. I was wrong. They do. Boy, they do. 

When we first heard that the hurricane was coming our way, we stocked up on water and some food. When we woke up this morning, and saw the tree branches flying through the air and the rain pouring in sheets, we realized we may need more food...and lamps. Brad's parents are in town for Halloween so Brad and his Dad went to Costco to stock for the apocalypse if needs be. We got muffins, and cereal, and even some eggnog (because that is a logical disaster food). As soon as they got back, the power went out and the storm picked up. 

It has actually been pretty fun. I cooked a huge pork chop dinner (luckily we have a gas stove), and we played games together and then watched a movie with the remainder of the charge on Brad's computer. The power has come back on now, and we are just waiting out the rest of the storm and praying the lights stay on. We'll see. Evidently, Sandy has just hit land so who knows what is yet to come. 

I am grateful to be prepared and to be surrounded by family in this craziness. It is kind of scary to see the pictures of the NYC with all of the lights out, and to watch giant tree branches flying through the air and water streaming past our door, but it is really nice to know that we are going to fine. They evacuated the north and south shores, and we are just smack in the middle of that, which freaked me out at first, but it seems all is well now. Now to see if Brad is off work again tomorrow. Let's pray he is and Sandy chills out and leaves as fast as she came. 

Look at that massive storm 

 Cooking by candlelight

 Playing games

Loving Nana

 Halloween decor is made better by oil lamp (with a creepy black flame I might add)

7 Months

Kai is 7 months old. Holy cow. He also is a mover and is extremely hard to keep track of. This kid is fast. He is non-stop on the go, taking over the house and everything in it. I love this little guy and his quirky, fun little personality.

This month:

• He is a pig. He is starting to put on weight like crazy and is a total lug. He eats anything and everything in his path.
• He hates baby food and only wants "adult" food. He starts panicking and flapping his arms if you don't give him a bite of what you have
• He likes weird stuff, like pickles and jalapenos. I don't understand it, but it's kinda awesome.
• He crawls. I am glad he finally figured it out but it is making my life hectic. There is no keeping that kid still.
• He loves a reaction. He likes to do things and see what you will do back. It is hilarious, I promise. 
• He gives kisses. More like slobbery licks on the cheek, but it is sweet regardless.
• He's a daredevil. He likes to dive off of stuff and has the bruises to prove it.
• He has the longest reach ever and can get ahold of anything he is not supposed to even when I put it far away from those grabby hands.
• He is stinkin' smart and has already figured out how to use our iphones and repeat things we say or do from time to time. 
• He waves (kinda), smiles and makes his crinkle nose on cue, and plays peek-a-boo. 
• He is already getting grown up and I can't believe it!

 Crawler

 Crinkle nose crawl

 Sweet boy

 Checking out his hat

 Stealing the camera

 Playing with his horse

 Long boy, look at those thighs!

 Roly-poly

Too cute

Apple picking in New England

Brad had work of today for Columbus Day. I didn't know you got work off for Columbus Day, but evidently, the East Coast is extremely patriotic. We decided to use the day to drive up to the north shore and go to Russell Orchards in Ipswich, MA. It is an old orchard ran by the same family (who still live on the orchard) since the 20's where they let you pick your own apples after a hay ride, get fresh hot cider, pick out pumpkins, eat hot fresh cider donuts, and shop in the cute gift shop all in an old barn. We loved it. 

I LOVE FALL! And, in Massachusetts, fall is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I am so happy that this is where Kai got to spend his first fall. Apple picking and going to the pumpkin patch was so wonderful on this crisp day. The air was cool, the colors were spectacular, and we even got to see the harbor. Such a lovely day. Kai was loving all of the sites around him, and he loved his first apple. 

The perfect apple, and Kai's first taste (he loved it)

The farm

Crinkle nose just like his mommy used to

Guarding his pumpkin

Lane leading up to the orchard

Kai picking his own apple

"I'm cute and I know it"

Eating hay

The hay ride out to the apples

Michigan!

At the end of August, we started our trek across the country to relocate from Newport Beach, CA to Boston, MA. It was the longest drive of my life, and having a baby and puppy in the car did not make it any easier. We stopped in Michigan (after almost 4 days of driving) to spend a week with my family.

I hadn't realized how much I missed being in the mitten until we got there. In the past 5 years since graduation, I have only been home for a couple days here and there, maybe a week and half accumulatively. That is way too long to be away. 

We had so much fun! We went swimming at the country club, watched a lot of football, saw old friends, went to the cider mill and had a "speedy-weeny" roast, and hung out with the family. To make the trip even better, Grandma Smart was in town too! It was a blast and just nice to be home again.

 Downtown Detriot

At Buffalo Wild Wings

Brook & Bay

 Yates Cider Mill

 Samron

Family (minus Bridger who was on the field)

Mother and son

Kai and his Grandpa

 Bridger's team got to play at Ford Field downtown, and I got to wear his jersey :)

Mom and Sammy Jo

Kai and his Great-Grandma Smart

 Bandana Boy