Alisal Ranch

For Grandma Rasmussen's big 80th bash this year we celebrated with (almost) all the aunts, uncles, and cousins in beautiful Solvang, California. It was seriously the most fun trip ever! Jolie says that this actually beats her trip to Sea World (currently the best day of her life!) Both girls cried the night we got home, from both exhaustion and disappointment with it being over. 

Get ready for TONS of photos (that are totally out of order) from our adventures!

Grandpa and Jolie rode on horseback to breakfast on Saturday morning while the rest of us went on a hayride.

 At the hayride breakfast, the food was seriously AMAZING!

 There were tons of animals to feed, pet, harass.

 We spent some yummy time in Solvang!

 The birthday girl! Oh how I love this beautiful woman!

 Group shot

 Lucy holding a weird creature

 So many cousins to play with! Heaven for these social girls of mine!

 Had to get a shot of our store!

 It was cold! Hot chocolate was a must!!

 Cousin Parker is everyone's favorite tease!

 Grandma holding a rat!

 We also did some apple picking!

 But I think playing in the leaves was one of the favorite activities!

 Also the arts and crafts room. Lucy and Reese spent most of their time there.

 It was someone else's birthday too.

 Cozy fires every night. And stories by Uncle Danny.

We won't be forgetting this trip anytime soon. What a blast!! Thanks to all who made it happen!!

Palm Springs Getaway

Landon and I were feeling a bit stressed out and overwhelmed so we decided a little getaway was in order. We took 3 days and headed to one of our absolute favorite places to unwind, Palm Springs. We simply can't get enough of this place.

Thanks for babysitting Mom and Dad!!

Halloween

This year for Halloween we had a few costume changes, more candy than ever before, and tons and tons of fun!

Here Reese is a boxer, mostly he loved it because his Daddy is a real boxer these days. He may or may not have taken his "gyubs" to box with Daddy at his boxing gym.

 This is Grandma and Grandpa's stake Trunk or Treat, nothing better than time with cousins!

When Reese decided the velcro on the back of his boxing costume was too itchy we resorted to last year's cowboy costume! Real clothes and he gets to shoot a gun?! That's his kind of costume!

At our ward's Trunk or Treat, Jolie decided to bring her friend Katie O. (the nerdy bunny) and they met up with her other bestie Katie D. These kids were inseparable!

If you notice in the picture with her cousins Lucy was Alice in Wonderland. She later put together this "Spy Cat" ensemble. She much preferred being something mysterious!

Here we are at Grandma Rasmussen's big Halloween bash. Wow that's a fun party!

Riding

swinging

jumping happened.

Obstacle course

The school Halloween parade. Here is Lucy with 2 favorite friends, Mackenna and Lilah

Jolie, Alex and Carla

Jolie's teacher Mr. Gossette was the man with the yellow hat.

Just before heading out to Trick or Treat Halloween night.

Trick or Treating on the Strand in Hermosa Beach as is our tradition.

Checking out the loot!