Halloween and Griffin's Birthday

We had a great Halloween this year. The kids really liked their all of their costumes and Catalina was old enough to not get overly tired while we trick-or-treated. Below is the kids in their outfits:

 Olive June the Pop-star.

 Ninja Griffin

Catalina as Queen Elsa of "Frozen." 

 Elsa, Pop-star and Ninja together.

In mid November Griffin celebrated his 9th Birthday. It is strange to reflect on how this blog is also now 9 years old too. Griffin was very excited to get the new Skylanders game this year. He had been asking for it for months. This his face as he opened it up:

Opening another present and a visual

of a birthday breakfast donut.

 A frazzled Catalina enjoying a donut.

I think OJ savored the donuts best.

The actual party was the following weekend. Griffin chose to have a more epic gift over having a large birthday party. He had his one friend and his brother over for cake and games. We also had the honor of hosting Mollie's cousin Katherine and her daughter Kumi (far right).

 Fun with moustaches.

 My moustached ladies.

 OJ and Kumi with moustaches.

 Catalina got in on it too.

 Griffin and Nicholas playing Skylanders.

 There was cake too. Happy Birthday Griffin.

Look at this

The Cupcake

The Explorer

I am going to try something a little different this time. I will post focussing on Griffin first, then Olive and Catalina. The photo sets are from the summer.

The turtle picture was important because he insisted that I photograph them despite the fact that we were about 100 feet away from them; the photo is not bad considering.

Before Halloween

O.K., Catalina's first day of school was not the same day as Griffin's and Olive June's. It did not stop her from getting dressed up and pretending in the previous post. No, on her real first day she was even more excited.

On the trail end of the Billings Grandparent's visit, we went to a pumpkin patch where there was a field of sunflowers. I thought it was a good photo opportunity.

Griffin pointing the way.

Grandma Kathy with the kids.

In anticipation of Halloween the kids rocked

some old costumes from the closet.

And then ate some lemon slushies.

Olive June was there too.

A photo of Griffin on his New Cells Birthday.

He had been waiting along time to get that Skylander.

Summer and the Start of School

This year we got passes to the Aquarium. 

That reminds me that we need to go again soon.

 OJ poses in front of a tall tropical aquarium wall.

 Griffin's first day of third grade,

Olive June's first day of Kindergarten,

Catalina's first day of Preschool.

So excited. 

Ditto. 

Ditto-er. 

 Griffin's school photo.

Taking a neighborhood walk during the Summer.

 Buddies.

Catalina at the park down the street.

Our swimmers of the Shamrock Seals

swim team.

Undie/diaper time, most certainly after

getting home from the pool.

Hanging around in the backyard.

 OJ with a toad at the park.

 Rainy day girl.

 Eating some watermelon.

And with that we are pretty much caught up. I will try to upload photos more often and stay more current. I need to look at my camera and see where we are. Good things are yet to come.