Happy Halloween!

This was our first real holiday with kids.  Things sure are different compared to last year!  We had a lot of fun going to the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, taking pictures, and trick or treating.  I think pictures say it best!  (I didn't fix any of the pictures because I really need Photoshop to fix the over-exposure even a little bit.  I tried all of the free programs out there and I just can't achieve what I want...although Photoshop likely won't be able to do much better.)

Cooper eating grandma Jacqueline's Halloween card:

We took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch for pictures.  We didn't actually buy a pumpkin there because they didn't have prices on the pumpkins.  The kids couldn't ride any rides and we were short on time with their nap only being 40 minutes away.  It was fun anyhow.  (I hope to be able to fix these pictures once I have Photoshop installed.)

Loving the hay:

Lickin' Pumpkins

Scarecrow Cooper

Ghost Charlotte:    

Family Picture

We live in a small apartment.  The dining room is used as an office so the kitchen table is on the patio.  We don't actually use it, but it came in handy for pumpkin carving.  I carved my pumpkin and then put the kids on the table to see what they thought.  Charlotte just thought it was okay but really loved being outside.  Cooper loved the guts and kept trying to eat them.

Scout watching us

Charlotte more interested in the trees while Cooper plays with the guts

They always have to do whatever the other one is doing.

We went trick or treating with Caren, Richard and Cecily over in the rich people's neighborhood (Huntington Harbor).  We only went a block and the kids were getting tired, plus Cecily wanted to be done too.  They had a party at her friend's house.  Cooper was a Bronco player (Plummer) and Charlotte was the chearleader.  Chris and I were the fans.  Simple, easy, and comfortable.

  

Last weekend we took pictures of them in their costumes.  Charlotte was a great chearleader and did touchdown over and over.  Cooper was very enthralled with the grass and eating the football.

November is National Adoption Awareness month, particularly those children who are currently in foster care.  We want to especially recognize Charlotte's 'between family', Michele and Tiffany who have adopted children out of foster care (as well as thank them for loving and caring for Charlotte before she came home to us).  We also want to recognize Tiffany's brother and sister-in-law, the Hunt Six Pack, for also doing foster to adopt.  They have all been great support for Chris and I throughout this process.

This is also National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo).  This means that every day bloggers are challenged to blog every day for the entire month of November.  I didn't participate last year, but Che did and I really enjoyed reading about her life on a daily basis.  Since I am more involved in blogging, I will be participating this year!

Only a few days until it's time to vote!!!  I have lots of 'homework' to do this weekend to understand how I need to vote.  Besides the president, there are 25 other things on the CA ballot that I need to vote on.  Some of them I already know what I'm voting for, while other's I need to study what they mean.  I really love politics and enjoy digging into all of this!