Halloween!

We had a fun Halloween this year, including pumpkin carving, the Halloween parade at school, trick-or-treating, and Erik surprising me with tickets to Hamilton (he won the lottery!!!) and a babysitter! It was a great day!

Isaac used his birthday money to buy his own pumpkin to carve this year!

Ginny and Ezra took turns carving our family pumpkin.

Isaac went as a Ninja, Ginny as a black cat, and Ezra as the red Power Ranger. Isaac's face is saying "C'mon, take the picture already! I don't want to be late for school!"

Can you tell Ezra is our very social boy? He is always surrounded by lots of friends!

Isaac's Birthday!

Isaac turned six this year! He is getting so tall and learning so much. He started first grade this year, and seems to be enjoying his teachers and his classmates. He is our stubborn little one, but also most calm and quiet. He frequently tells me that if he was an only child, it would be so much quieter at home! He loves to hang out with me, and help me clean and cook, or just cuddle with me on the couch while we read or watch the Great British Baking Show. He is the first one out of bed and ready for school each day, and he really likes to be on time.

When I asked him what he wants for Christmas this year, he told me "I just want my own room." (He rarely makes messes, and his brother is extremely messy, so it drives him nuts!) I asked him what else he might want seeing as I can't give him his own room, and he told me he just likes stuffed animals and to swing at the park. He loves to cuddle, so he has a nice collection of soft things to cuddle with. He is a pretty easy-going kid for the most part. (You just have to watch out for those stubborn moments. If he does want something, or doesn't want something, he cannot be dissuaded or distracted. His stubborn streak comes out in full force!)

We are very grateful Isaac is part of our family!

Even his cake had some soft, cuddly friends on top!

Legos from his aunts!

G and G Call sent him an Ozobot!

When he opened this stuffed shark, he said "How did Daniel know exactly what I wanted?! He read my mind, mom!"

Also from Grandma Call. He has really been enjoying these!

Hedgehog from G and G L. It's been a big hit!

 He was especially excited when he discovered that this monkey friend has hidden pockets!

Snap Circuits, from G and G L, which Ezra quickly absconded with. :)

His aunts sent him some markers to go with his Ozobot. All three kids have been having fun with this.

There was money and a toy hidden inside the monkey's pockets! Lucky kid!

He really loves his cuddly animals!

Summer Wrap-up

After we came back from our Utah summer trip, we spent a couple of quiet weeks in New York, the highlight of which might be the Kid's Day at the U.S. Tennis Open. The kids always enjoy going with their dad! And then we headed back to Utah for Aunt Kirstin's wedding! (I still need to get some pictures organized from that, but I'm just including the couple that are already on my computer.) And then right after the wedding, it was back to NYC for the start of the new school year!

While all of the Lindstroms were in Utah for the wedding, we took advantage and got some family pictures. I don't have the full extended family ones, but here are a couple of our family that we took for fun.

Ezra love his cousin, Frances!

On our way to the wedding venue, we stopped at Hill Air Force base and looked at the all airplanes. The kids were excited they got to stand underneath some of them!

These pictures were taken outside after the wedding ceremony. We were so glad we could attend, and we are so excited for Kirstin and Johnny and Frances! Ginny was a flower girl (and got to wear Aunt Mari's grown up lipstick!), and the boys were the ring-bearers. I was a little worried they'd misbehave, but they did a great job and took it very seriously. It was wonderful of Aunt Kirstin to let them take part in her special day!

Isaac's my little pal. We had a good time dancing at the reception! (This was at the end, after he got to change into comfy clothes!!!)

And Ginny got to dance with her daddy!

Before we left back for NYC on Sunday morning, we attended sacrament meeting with my parents. Here are Ezra and Isaac and my dad "getting ready" for church. 

I love this picture!

 The next series of pictures were taken at the Tennis Open. The kids seemed to have a great morning!

Eventually the summer had to come to an end. Here are the kids on their first day of First grade, Second grade, and Fourth grade! (Ginny's now a big kid at the school, and has graduated to the light blue shirts the older kids get to wear!) 

We are hoping for a fantastic school year!