Amanda's Wedding and Fall is Here!

Some highlights from the beginning of fall...

It started with a bang with a trip to LA for Amanda and Duncan's wedding! 

Such a fun group of bridesmaids (some missing here!)

I had the pleasure of joining Amanda when she chose her dress, and I still could not believe how gorgeous it was on the wedding day!

We love these two!

Amanda and I have been friends for more than 12 years, and I felt so honored to stand with her on this perfect day. She and Duncan are an amazing couple, and I absolutely love how wonderful they are together!

Bonus: We got a night away from the kids in downtown LA!

Fall is for...

Baking pumpkin muffins with one of my favorite little sous chefs

Buying supplies at the hardware store to make our own little Halloween sign.

And choosing new decorations together <3

The sign was a family effort: the boys helped paint it black, I wrote the words, and Daddy drew the spider!

Hiking and holding hands

And hiding :-) 

Breweries!

Gorgeous colors (hooray for Nor Cal!)

Terry took Dec to a new park!

Soccer season! Marshall joined his first sports team with our friends Winnie and Brian's kid Keston (miraculously, our kids are only 3 months apart and appear to really like hanging out together!).

Declan isn't quite ready.

Cooler weather! YAY!

Visits from our favorite cousins <3 <3 <3 They are 18 months now!!!

Snuggles and reading

Haircuts

Stud!

Also, of course: Declan's birthday! I had to work on his big day, but I got home a tiny bit early, and Terry's parents were in town so they hung out with the little dude most of the day. When I got home, he asked to go for a walk, so we enjoyed a little mama-and-son time. We walked by the park and I taught him how to blow a dandelion!

It was one of those sweet moments I won't soon forget.

Marshall kills me with this "camera" smile. He looks so old!

(Proud of his Legos--he builds these complex sets in an hour all by himself!)

Declan got some Play-Doh for his birthday, along with an awesome food truck, some incredible books (Stuck; The Adventures of Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend; Rocket Science for Babies), and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVDs (we are loving those! Marshall is really not into TV or movies, so we're grateful when he finds something he likes; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Tumble Leaf are our two favorites!).

Marshall "bought" Declan a Minnie Mouse spoon and fork set. <3

We gave Dec a Farmer's Market stand as part of his birthday gift. 

CAKE!!! We went with Smitten Kitchen's spice cake (similar here) from her Everyday cookbook, and it was delicious. Declan kept saying, "Blew out candles!" Because he did, that sweet two-year-old.

Of course, we had to find a new pumpkin patch this year in our new hometown! We found a perfect little farm about 20 minutes away, and we couldn't believe how inexpensive the pumpkins were. We are used to paying $15-20 per pumpkin in LA! Gammie and Grandpa joined us for pumpkin picking and a train ride.

I love seeing these boys cuddling:

Perhaps our biggest event this fall is Declan's transition to his new school, which is actually Marshall's school! For three months we endured double drop-off and double pickup and I am so thrilled to have them together. It's going well so far, two days in!

We've also managed to squeeze in some extra walks lately. I hope we can keep it up--these fall colors are heavenly.

Even if our walks end like this...

Crazy boys!