Fabulous fall

As always, it's hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here. Life definitely feels like a blur a lot of the time! We had a great fall and are looking forward to the holidays.

In August the kids started school: preschool, 1st, and 4th grades. They've been loving it.

Ana enjoying the quiet house for her naps during the week.

We enjoyed getting together at the beach with these residency friends who came to Florida in August!

Caroline turned 4! She is the youngest in her school class and turned 4 a few weeks into school starting. She didn't have school on her birthday but she did get to keep the class "pet" for the weekend and loved it. The boys made her a toy city as their gift to her when she woke up that day.

Ricardo also had the day off so we met the boys for lunch at their school and Ricardo's sweet coworker sent Caroline an ice cream cake for her birthday. We were also out of regular sized candles that day. :) Caroline continues to be a sweet but feisty little soul, she always wants to leave the house and go do something exciting and she understands quite well that if she asks Ricardo for anything he will say yes. She loves being a big sister and can't wait for Ana to get bigger and be her best friend.

She had her first birthday party and wanted a pink and purple waterslide, because Russell had a waterslide for his birthday. We were actually able to find what she wanted and it was a hit.

Got it in some trampoline time too. Rain was in the forecast, but luckily we were spared! You never know in Florida.

My sweet friend made these cutest cookies for Caroline's birthday party.

My parents also came down for dinner that night to celebrate my dad and I since we also have August birthdays.

Ricardo's dad and I actually share the same birthday so we enjoyed a family dinner on our birthday together.

Ana at her chubbiest stage.

Thomas is obsessed with these neon yellow shorts from Ricardo's mom.

Helping me make cookies one Friday afternoon. My good friend just told me her oven's been broken for 6 months and it's been fine since she doesn't usually bake too often. That made me laugh because that wouldn't work here!

Caroline went to the most adorable birthday party in September at a kids' salon. They gave all the girls makeovers and she LOVED it and keeps asking me when her brithday is so she can have her party there. She has the slowest growing hair in the world (she's never had a haircut contrary to popular belief), so I was shocked they were able to braid it!

A friend gave her this sleeping mask for her birthday, which she loves. She always looks like such a little diva.

Ana slowly becoming more mobile. She is the happiest, most easy-going baby ever.

Funny memory: Ricardo got a really nice Harry and David gift delivered one day from an orthodontist he works with, who also happens to be Russell's orthodontist. Russell saw all the goodies and said "Oo I can't wait to see what Dr. J gets me for my birthday!"

Helping Dad prepare for plants that we have yet to plant a few months later. There's always so much to do! The kids do enjoy helping with all of the house projects and are hopefully learning some skills they'll remember.

They also love going to Lowe's with Ricardo whenever he goes. It's basically a toy store if you use your imagination!

Park days:

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa one weekend and enjoying the pool while also constructing an elaborate connected raft.

Matching Halloween pajamas. I can see how matching twins would be so fun.

Still catching frogs whenever he can.

We were so fortunate to be spared by Hurricane Ian and feel so badly for those who weren't so lucky. We had several days at home since work and school were canceled. It really wasn't bad by us at all and the kids were out playing in the rain.

We also had a tent inside and watched lots of movies. We were waiting for the power to go out but it never did.

Being cooped up at home for a few days lit a fire under Ricardo to start working on several projects he had been planning. Despite soon going back to work, in a matter of a few weeks he made 10 planter boxes for our blueberries...

..finished our long-awaited fence..

(the kids later painted it with their good friend)

...and constructed an amazing fireplace in our living room. He is the best husband ever.

His dad came to help with the brick portion, but he did everything else himself. Lots of late nights and innumerable trips to Lowe's went into this project.

It looks even better in person and we can't wait to decorate for Christmas soon.

Have your kids been sick a lot this fall? Caroline seemed to catch every bug possible the first few months of school, poor thing. You know my kids aren't feeling well if they sleep during the day since that's usually so offensive to them.

Ana caught a few of the illnesses. One day she had a fever of 104 and was still this happy. She's truly an angel.

We love Halloween and enjoyed some fun festivities in October. My sister-in-law always hosts a fun party and we enjoyed Hocus Pocus 2, games, and fun festive foods.

Pumpkin patch with Caroline's little friends. We got legitimately lost in the corn maze haha.

We also got tickets for a fall festival with my parents, but our numbers dropped quickly since my dad and Ricardo ended up both going south to help with hurricane cleanup that weekend and Thomas ended up getting sick so Ana and I stayed home with him. My mom kindly took Russell and Caroline.

Fall garden planting:

Watching the brothers play soccer:

More matching outfits:

Endless highchair photos:

Visiting cousins at their house one Sunday night. My kids are the youngest and definitely get doted on which is so sweet.

My boys always want to make caramel apples every fall. Ricardo was out of town the weekend that we did it. Thomas said "this seems like the type of food that your dad wouldn't want you eating if he was a dentist." :)

We did apple slices to keep it easier, and to not make Ricardo too mad of course.

School pumpin project: they had a blast with this.

Caroline is in an awesome music class weekly and they had fun dressing up the week before Halloween.

School book parade for Halloween:

Caroline wanted to dress up for the occasion too:

We enjoyed a fun Trunk or Treat at church. Everyone is still on board with the group costume idea, so that is so fun.

Caroline's little friend was also Ursula, which was also fun.

The kids were excited to win a costume award at the party:

Halloween night, off to trick or treat! Ricardo handed out toothbrushes and was very happy with himself.

We took our family photos a few weeks ago and the sky was so beautiful. These two are such good friends.

Thomas lost his front tooth when we came home that night so he looks a lot different from the photos!

We had a late season tropical storm that almost derailed my flight to San Antonio to get together with my BYU friends, but I made it in the end. It's always so fun to see these great women and hang out together for a few days. Thanks to Ricardo for making it possible.

We toured a cool cave and discussed "The Rescue"-go watch it if you haven't, it's such an amazing story.

We ate lots of great food but I only photographed this hotel waffle which I thought was pretty cute.

The Alamo:

Japanese Tea Gardens:

We did a few outings but really spent most of the time chatting and catching up on life. I'm grateful to have great friends! Crazy how long we have known each other now.

Ana is now 10 months and crawling everywhere and getting into all kinds of mischief. Caroline loves wheeling her over to the piano in her high chair to play together.