Happy Halloween!!!!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!! The color orange, black cats, playing dress up... ahhhhh my mouth is already watering! I guess that is kind of weird since I hate hate hate being scared. I don't even watch scary movies and I totally freaked out in this mildy scary Haunted House we went to. I still love it. We usually have a Halloween Party (murder mystery are my fave!), but since we just got to California last week (Yes, we moved back sooner than anticipated: Dave found out that he could still get in state tuition for his SUU Graduate program even in California, and Utah was starting to get cold!) and I have been sick (just a little cold, not the dreaded swine flu for those of you who were worrying about talking to me at church tomorrow)this week, we didn't pull one off this year, or last year since we were in Korea (whoa I can't believe that was a whole year ago, time is flying!). Our tradition is falling apart after 3 solid years! That makes me sad. Oh well, I will just have to throw the best one ever next year and enjoy our first year taking Lucy trick or treating!! I love how she says "Trick or Treat." I am not as crazy about her candy obsession. What mixed messages we send our kids huh? Be cute, dress up, say "Trick or Treat" okay now "Thank you," but don't eat the candy! Kids must be pretty confused if you ask me!

Just wanted to mention a random occurence before I get to the sweet Halloween pics. We went to the beach today (and I think I should just rub in that the weather was perfect, don't be jeolous, just come visit me and feel lucky you know someone who lives here!) I got stung by a bee, which was unpleasant obviously. I stepped on it and found the bee stuck to my foot with the stinger inside my foot. Usually the bee flys away... odd, oh well. It hurt a little, but not really as much as I remember from being a child. I went and stood in the cool, salty ocean water and I seriously couldn't even feel a twinge of pain after only 10 minutes. SWEET! or should I say salty? I was so glad our beach day wasn't ruined! Yay.

Okay, what I really wanted to say about the beach was, people brought sleds and all the children were sledding down the sand mountains. That made me happy, because I was sad I had to leave Utah before taking Lucy sledding. Guess I didn't miss much. I thought you would enjoy this funny So Cal Sledding picture from Halloween Morning:


Isn't that one of the most awesome pictures you have ever seen? So funny, yet cool!

Anyway, here is the goods, the fall photo shoot back in Utah where leaves fall and things change colors, plus a very scary Lucy and Lucy as Belle for Halloween!


Is this not Halloween Worthy?


Scary!!!

Fall Photos. This is the first time I have ever braided her hair. I am no pro, but it is still pretty cute (of course Lucy has a way of doing that to anything she is involved in).


As Lucy would say "Heaby, berry Heaby"



I stopped getting genuine smiles out of her so I asked her if she could do a mad face. It turned out much cuter than her smiles at the time!!


Throwing Leaves
No toy can compare with a big pile of leaves! The neighbor kids actually raked them all up for us, just so they could play in our leaf piles. None of them had big trees in their yards! Good deal for us!


Lucy and one of her best friends from the neighborhood, Taylor. She used to come over and play with her all the time. The picture turned out very darling. Lucy sure misses her and so do I!


Lucy on her way to the "Trunk or Treat" church Halloween activity. She looks like and opera singer! She is really just blowing a kiss!


Her Nana Lisa got her this Belle costume for Halloween from Disneyland. So Spoiled! You can tell it is high quality as well as gorgeous on her. Thank you Thank you Thank you! Lucy loves it! Anyone who knows Lucy knows she is very very Belle obsessed. She couldn't be more thrilled to look like her!

Anyway, I hope you truly enjoy your Halloween! I would love to hear comments about your Halloween traditions. I am always trying to add on to the festivities!

Fall

Nothing like a little Lucy to put the crunch in your leaves on a beautiful, crisp Autumn day.

(There were some magical fall looking trees in the background I wanted to capture, but the bus came before I got the chance, so a few crunchy leaves and the cutest girl ever, complete with lopsided pigtails, all walking home from church in her Sunday dress and coat, will have to do it for this November photo shoot! )

October I welcome you...

(sigh) October...this wondrous time of year, when orange scatters the horizon and pumpkin is the popular flavor. I realize not everyone celebrates the first day of October. Maybe it's because of my Birthday in October, which subsequently influenced my love of the Halloween Holiday, or because of my love for cats, even black ones, or the joy of crunchy leaves, (oh wait, I grew up in San Diego, where there is no such thing as seasons and falling leaves, now I am just getting carried away!). Today, my joy increases for the first day of October, let me tell you... I have been craving one of my favorite Korean meals that I was actually introduced to in the states (I tried to go back for more, but the management was changed and this item taken off the menu, hence my tastebud's dying quest to find it somewhere), and strangely hadn't had since coming to Korea and have been looking for just the excuse (it is a little high in price for our currently budget happy mentality). Happily, I found an occasion, October 1st. Oh glorious October 1st, please let me indulge in some Pumpkin Porridge (pronounced Hobak Jook in Korean). Ground up rice, pumpkin, sweet red bean, and "rice balls," (picture pumpkin, cream of wheat style) Hobak Jook, you make my October 1st complete! And who could resist after just one look...

Okay, I realize it doesn't look very appetizing, but I knew it would help you visualize my favorite Korean Meal of all times! I absolutely love pumpkin...pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pudding, pumpkin porridge...you name it! In fact, just for being the loving friend that you are and taking the time to read my post, I will indulge you with my favorite and easiest pumpkin dish: Pumpkin Pudding. 2 cups of pumpkin, 1 instant pudding package, 12 oz can of evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice and voila this delight can be yours! Whisk pudding package and evap. milk, stir in pumpkin and spice (sometimes I just use Cinnamon and Nutmeg or Allspice if I don't have pumpkin pie spice), put this blessed treat in the refrigerator and prepare for a pumpkin lovers paradise! You may not know it now, but once you prepare this dish, you will realize your life has just been deeply enriched!

While we are on the topic, a perfect pumpkin picture worth posting twice...

And then it was over, another perfect day passed by and soon this month will be over... you know a day has reached perfection when... you forget that weather exists... the air is so perfect you can't even feel it...you are taking pictures of the back of your child's head at a playground...you couldn't help it... the glow of the sunshine is hitting her little curls just so...you are wandering slowly because you finally remembered to enjoy the moment...hold her little hand...let her run wherever she wants to go...

Such a perfect day your heart is aching...if only Winter didn't come after Fall... a lingering sad thought that all days couldn't be this wonderful...and will you remember how perfect Lucy is today? or will you forget...please don't forget...oh please October 1st live on in my memory...