Family Pictures

Yesterday Ben and I were driving around and I spotted this really cool building. Turns out it was a vacant bank. I loved the structure with the arches and the bricks. I'm always on the lookout for new locations to shoot.

We hurried home and dressed all the kiddos. I dumped a gallon size ziplock bag of stolen Halloween candy (yes, I stole Zoey's candy-all for her well being keep in mind) into my bag. I'm not ashamed to say that I bribe my kids. In fact, I like to bribe my kids when the moment counts. All parents with young children know what a chore it is to get everyone dressed and hair done for pictures-all the while hoping that they don't get their outfit dirty before it's time.

Phew! We made it! Until next year. . .

Chabot Space and Science Center and Mia the Photographer

Since the kids had Veteren's Day off, we went with some friends to the Chabot Space and Science Center. It's just down the street a ways from the Oakland Temple.

I decided to get a year pass because just with the 3 little kids (CJ was at a friends) and I it would have been $40. So I paid $99 for a year and the whole family including Ben can go. It works out nice since I have already dubbed next year the "Year of the Museum".

Mia took my camera for awhile and took pictures. Here are some of her pictures.

Since Mia entered the Reflections contest a month or so ago and entered a photography piece, she has been really interested in taking pictures. It was so fun to teach her how to use the camera and how to adjust her settings.

Here are some of her "bokeh" pictures. The theme was "Diversity Means" and she wanted to do something with alot of color.

I had to take a picture of her taking pictures. She looked so cute.

She was also so excited to take pictures that she went outside and took some pictures of flowers and this one, which I thought was pretty cool.

We may have another photographer on our hands!

Goodbye Halloween!

I'm SO DONE with Halloween.

School parties and parades-DONE.

Family parties-DONE.

Trick or Treating-DONE.

But I noticed I didn't post any pictures of my cute kids and their costumes, so I guess I am not done.

It almost hurts me to type the word "Halloween", I have driven it out of my mind. Halloween is the only holiday where I am so excited for it to come and just as excited for it to go! And when I say go, I mean it has to go away fast.

I take the decorations down the very next day, almost before I even shower for the day.

The candy must go too! I have successfully made several bags magically disappear!

I can't wait for Ben to come back into town and take down the graveyard because everything must go!

I'm ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas now! Bring it on!