Trick or Treat

This was the first year both kids truly enjoyed Halloween. We went to our church's Halloween alternative and they loved the dinner there - popcorn, hot dogs, and nachos. Just thinking about that junk food makes my stomach turn right now. On Halloween, we started the night off trick or treating at the mall. Normally, the kids would complain about being too tired to walk. Nope, not last night! They were lugging around all their candy and managed to walk around the entire mall. How about that?! After we grabbed a bit to eat at the food court, we went home to trick or treat up our street. I was unsure how the kids would feel knocking on a stranger's door and saying "trick or treat", but they had fun. Then we went home and gave out candy. Char was a very good helper; she had a blast passing out candy. Unfortunately, some punks thought it'd be cool to steal our key light on the front door. What has the world come to?!

Enjoying the carnival games

Anna and her hot dog

In lieu of costumes, our school does Pink Out Day

The kids really wanted Costco pizza (Yuck!)

Starting off our Halloween adventures at Oakridge

The safe, fun alternative to trick or treating at night

Their Halloween loot

"I want to do Halloween again." - Lucas

"You have to wait a year, buddy." - Mom

Lucas wanted to go to HH this morning, so we did.

These two hooligans were screaming with joy during the entire ride

Best friends and worst enemies

 Both were very proud to have climbed up this mountain on their own

 The only "pumpkin patch" we went to as a family this year

"Pumpkin patch" photo op @ HH

... and now it's November. How soon is too soon to get a Christmas tree?

Life Lately

Weekends go by way too fast! I need a real break.

Aren't they the cutest?!

 

 Sick little Charlotte

This past week, Charlotte's sickness finally caught up to her. She had vomited a few days earlier (barf smelled like strawberries). She had diarrhea the day after. And finally, on the day of my field trip, she wasn't acting like herself and said she was too sick to go to school. She got a little corner of the couch and had all her panda buddies surround her as she snoozed away.

She told her teacher she wasn't feeling well so I had to watch her after school

 

Luckily Char just had a 24 hour bug or something. No one else was sick. Phew!

Saturday morning before breakfast

 

Saturday morning breakfast

 

Saturday morning after breakfast

 

Meet our newest panda, Nu Nu Ton Ton

 Celebrating another cousin's birthday

Hard at work while waiting for their salmon sashimi

 Ice cream treat

Cutest siblings ever

 This girl was all smiles (then 2 minutes later was all grouch!)

 Superman and Anna

In another universe, Superman and Anna are BFFs

So... this story has to go down in the books. I have never in my life abused a church before. I noticed that there was a Harvest Festival in the morning on a Sunday. I thought it'll be cool to have the kids dress up and go since we had nothing going on in the morning anyway. When we got there, I didn't see the usual carnival stuff or what not. We walked inside the building and it just looked like a regular church service. It turns out it was a sort of outreach thing for newcomers; kids were able to dress up and have games, but it was seriously just an outreach. I asked Lucas if he wanted to stay and he said yes (I think they were just excited to be in costume). So, after we dropped off the kids and took a pager, we left and went to Starbucks and Ross for an hour. I felt kind of bad for abusing a church since they expected the parents to be in service. However, I was not interested in checking out this church and a part of me thought it's pretty cool how we accidentally stumbled upon free childcare! Hah! I've become one of those parents... (Note to self: never go to a Harvest Festival that starts at either 9 or 11 on a Sunday morning)

Animals Galore

We spent a good chunk of Saturday at the Oakland Zoo. Thank you Teacher's Appreciation Day at the Zoo!

 Guide reading our map upside down

Lucas insisted that we visit every single animal at the zoo. He said his favorite was the warthogs. I have no idea why! Personally, I really enjoyed seeing the giraffes up close and personal. When we got home, he wanted to watch The Lion King since he saw all those animals in real life. I thought it was a wonderful idea since I was beat from that outing. During their "family movie time", I completely zonked out the entire time.

 Riding the train is the only way to see "Australia"

Family picture with my favorite animals

 My cutie patootie boy

 This picture was taken when we got locked out of our house

 My little shopping sister

Lucas absolutely hates shopping with me. Sometimes I have to beg him to even go to Target with me (even after I bribe him with toys!). Charlotte, on the other hand, is completely different. She'll go shopping wherever - Nob Hill, Michael's, Dollar Tree, Costco, Trader Joe's, whatever. We're going to have tons of fun in the future! Daddy's not going to like this one bit!

 Legacy's annual Walk Run Challenge

 Saturday morning breakfast with the fam

 I'm tired from this weekend too kiddos

Life Lately

Fall quarter is coming to an end! That means the chaos of not really having a decent break is slowly coming to an end too! 

This is where I spend the majority of my time (not with these two)

 After school enjoying some Netflix in my room while I'm prepping

 Lucas found "his" desk!

Now, on to non-school related posts... the weekend!

 Starting off the weekend with some pho

 Imaginary hot dog?

 Imaginary hot dog? (someone copies everything her brother does)

 Lunch at Cheesecake Factory

I was walking these two to the food court and Lucas spontaneously decided to walk right into Cheesecake Factory. Since there was no wait, I couldn't say no to him. I was quite proud of his expensive taste in food at such a young age. Daddy? He was not as amused at his son's decision. 

 Celebrating Lo's 6th birthday with tattoos

 ... and Nerf guns!

 Me and my little piggy showing off her little piggies

Someone's ruining my Cutthroat Kitchen show

Belated Weekend Post

All my pictures are usually taken between Friday afternoon - Sunday afternoon. Why? I'm too tired after work to really do anything. Fall quarter is the LONGEST stretch of the school year! Besides a short Labor Day break, there's no real break till November (Veteran's Day). Once Veteran's Day hits, everything else is smooth sailing. Thanksgiving, (two weeks of) Christmas break, Winter break, Spring/Easter break, END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR! Anyway, I'm just a couple weeks away from finishing Fall quarter. It's almost over!!! I'm pretty exhausted.

 This is what they wanted to do on Friday after school

Conversation in the car Friday morning:

Me: It's FRIDAY!! Woohoo

L: I don't like Fridays. I want to go to school every day.

Me: FRIDAY!!! WOOHOOO!!!

 I don't cook dinner on Fridays so we ended up at Black Angus

 Friday movie night (Rescuebots)

 My peaceful children sleeping normally for once

 Morning selfie with my new iPhone

 Char has suddenly taken an interest in puzzles

 Happy dance after completing two puzzles

 Char loves to shop; I love to Starbucks, Target, and Char (in no particular order)

 Building a fire truck

 They LOVE this HD shopping cart

 Cheesing @ Boudin's

Making use of their usually unattended playroom

... and that was our weekend!