It's the most wonderful time of the year …

I love Fall and everything this season includes; the weather getting cooler, leaves changing, flavored coffees, and Halloween! My favorite holiday was made even better by celebrating with our favorite monster. Callen was the cutest little Franken-baby, pumpkin, and farmer.

We started the season by visiting the pumpkin patch with our neighbors and then again with friends. Right now everything seems like it is more for my entertainment then Callens.  At Spina Farms we rode the rickety train through the sun flower fields, climbed on the tractor, and of course picked our pumpkins. I chose a giant white pumpkin and Josh took home a traditional orange one. And of course we couldn't leave without buying some delicious pumpkin bread. Overall Callen liked holding the straw, but I am sure could have done without posing with the pumpkins.

We also had a Halloween party at our house and LOVED seeing all the babies dressed in their costumes. Josh and I feel very lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives.

Future Halloween enthusiast!

Quinn! My favorite toddler!

Christina and Mila

The cutest vampire family!

Keith and Sadie

Ben, our favorite little neighbor :)

Hunter is Callen's almost birthday buddy and they will be great future friends!

Matt and Stella!

My main men!

I also am apart of a South Bay moms group. The organizer hosted an amazing Halloween party for all of the families. I just can't get enough of babies in costumes!!

Josh and I went as Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. Callen was our little creature!

Pretty incredible way to display meat!!

It was just a sea of adorable children trying to play despite their costumes. I am so impressed with what kids will put up with to make their parents happy :)

Photo booth with grandpa and grandma Georgia

Colorado

Over the Labor Day weekend Josh, Callen, and I loaded up what felt like all of Callen's belongings and boarded a plane headed to Colorado. Callen did great, which was a huge relief! During our flight we fed Callen on the way up to help with the potential pressure on his ears, we sang a few songs, and then he was out for the rest of the trip.

We had such a great time with both sides of the family. Callen was able to meet his extended family on both sides and spent some much needed time with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. Josh and I were so impressed and incredibly grateful to everyone near and far who came to meet our favorite little man.


This trip was especially hard because I realized how much I want my baby to grow up and feel like he knows his family. I want him to be good friends with his cousins, have a special bond with his aunts and uncles, and of course I want him to be surrounded with love from his grandparents.

Callen with his Magra and Papa, auntie and unkie, and his cousins! 

Callen with the Little Ladies! You can tell he is well loved. Both Brooklynn and Chandler like to help feed Callen.

We so appreciate Aunt Jan and Uncle Forney making the trip to meet our little man.

All the grand-babies

Callen looks huge in his Magra's arms!

He just loves his Papa!

Callen hanging with cousin Paula! He seems to have found a perfect arm rest :)

Josh and Damon back together again!

Callen passed out in Uncles Forney's arms for about an hour. Uncle Forney was good to let him sleep there :)

Could this boy be enjoying his bath anymore??

Just chatting!

Aunt Caity is helping Callen ride his rocking horse from grandma.

Callen just hanging with grandma...

... and grandpa ...

... and his uncle Ben. Callen just loved coo'ing at and talking with his uncle Ben!

We are very appreciative that Aunt Sue came out to meet her great nephew!!

Callen making faces with his cousin Beth

Uncle Zach looks like quite the natural :)

We also got the chance to meet our good friends and their little boys. Ev, Harrison and Callen will be great friends!

Carmel and Monterey with Stephen and Julie

Josh and I have been so lucky that we have had so much family over to visit Callen. About a month ago Stephen, Julie, Brooklynn, Chandler and Adaley came to meet their nephew/cousin. We had an amazing time together. A week and half after the visit, Stephen and Julie came back out for a work trip in San Francisco. We were delighted to have more time with my bro and sis in-law! During our time we went to Carmel and checked out the town and took in a whale watching tour in Monterey.

Our first stop was Carmel by-the-sea, which is a colorful town with cute little shops, cafes, and white sandy beaches.

This boy LOVES his aunt and uncle! We had a little photo shoot at the restaurant in Carmel.

Frameable! I love Callen's expression.

The next day we went whale watching with the Wesling's. We couldn't wait to see what this trip had in store. First out of the harbor, we saw loads of sea lions, seals, and otters basking in the sun or playfully splashing in the water. I never knew how friendly and entertaining these animals could be.

The Wesling's

The harbor

Just look at those guys lounging.

The playful sea otter 

I love the fog in this picture!

Callen taking in the sites!

A school of dolphins swam by.

A humpback diving down for food. I just love how his tail flips up.

We were really close to the whales. Our guide said that their sonar showed the whales swimming directly under our boat.

We also spotted a blue whale towards the end of our  trip. It is amazing to know that we saw a  portion of the biggest animal. 

We had such an amazing time with my bro and Julie! It is times like these that I feel happy to be back in California and closer to family!