I have been SO excited for fall this year and couldn't wait to see the colored leaves, light my pumpkin candle, feel the crisp cool air, and cuddle up under blankets. I love fall and only wish it lasted longer!!
Pumpkin Patch
First up for fall activities...a pumpkin patch! There was one right behind the Holladay Lions Rec Center (where Nolan has swimming class) so for the sake of ease, we just went there. It proved to be a great decision because we had the place pretty much to ourselves!
Family pic on a tractor
Silly Nolan
Searching for the perfect pumpkin.
Showing us a Nolan sized pumpkin
Nolan always wanted to pick up the big pumpkins. He would start to lift one and then proclaim, "it heavy!" He got some help from daddy with this one and was pretty proud ♥
Oh hey, here's a cute pic I found of a little Justin at a pumpkin patch with his dad! ♥
We got a dad pumpkin, a mom pumpkin, and little ones for Nolan and baby brother. Every time we walk up the stairs for the last month Nolan says, "Oooh, puhnkins!" Then reaches down and picks up one of the little ones, admires it, then puts it down ♥
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Neighborhood Trunk or Treat
We tried and tried to find a solid royal blue hoodie and sweatpants for a DIY cookie monster costume, but to no avail. So what's the most obvious backup costume choice for this silly almost 2 year old? President Bartlet from The West Wing of course! ☺ Complete with his very own Secret Service detail.
It really was a perfect costume for him because he literally tells everyone he talks to that he watches The West Wing anyway. Why not play it up?? It was a big hit and everyone thought he was absolutely adorable, even if he was a bit shy and cranky that night.
The president shaking hands with his constituents ☺
Nolan loved dancing to the music they had playing (not sure at all where he got that from!)
Nolan and his favorite guys - Dakota, Dan, and Austin Hobbs. Seriously though, these three are so sweet to him (and maybe spoil him too much hehe).
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Toddler Time and Trick or Treating on Temple Square
All dressed up for Toddler Time
Family Search hosted a Trick or Treating event so on that day I headed home early, picked up our cutie, then drove back downtown. First we stopped at daddy's office to show Nolan off (success, he was adorable haha), and then headed to my office at the JSMB.
He was a bit over dressing up in his suit so luckily I had a backup plan that was normal looking enough to trick him into thinking he wasn't actually dressing up #momwin. Calvin and Hobbes! I mean, it was perfect last year, and I spent so much time on that Hobbes doll, why not get another use out of it?!
Look at this kid, talk about a cushy trick or treating experience. Pushed around in a stroller, candy bucket hanging on the stroller. All he had to do was look cute, put out his hand for candy, and reach over to put it in his bucket ☺
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Halloween Night
We were a little worried that he might be a little Halloween-ed out, but decided we just had to take him out on the actual night of Halloween for his first real, door to door, Trick or Treating experience.
First stop, Jeanni's house of course!
Well, we worried for nothing. He did great, was adorable, and loved it!! He knocked on most doors himself and said "trick or treat" without being prompted! At the beginning of the night we thought maybe we'd take him to 5 houses or so, but we ended up being out for 2 hours!
All the neighbors were gushing over how cute he was. Sister Boyer couldn't get enough of him!
At one point we stopped at the Rasch house and as Bro. Rasch was giving Nolan candy he noticed me holding my "Bartlet for President" sign. He must have not really known who Nolan was supposed to be because at seeing my sign said, "Bartlet for President? Well, guess what I'm watching right now?!" Then he reached over and grabbed his phone, on which he had been watching The West Wing haha! He showed it to Nolan who got excited and held his phone for a few seconds.
Well, after that house Nolan assumed every house was playing The West Wing and sometimes just walked right in hahaha. Here he is at the Bonhams, just before marching inside. Of course everyone was like, "Oh he can come in!" hahaha.
Patiently waiting at the Hinckley's door.
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Annual Harry Potter Party at the Menloves
For the past several years, Drew and Elizabeth Menlove throw a HUGE Harry Potter party at their house (also huge ☺). They do an absolutely incredible job with the decorating and always raise money for a good cause at the same time.
Kind of hard to see, but this is the 'great hall' with all the house banners.
The entrance to the great hall
One table of decorations. They had Honeydukes, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Flourish and Blots, Gringotts Bank, and on and on. They seriously thought of everything! They even had a thestral out front!
The closet under the stairs
Photo prop ☺ We brought a couple of wands I have for our 'costumes' and taught Nolan a couple of spells. He was actually pretty cute with it and would stretch out his arm and say the spell...until he discovered that maybe the better use for them was sword fighting. It was all downhill from there haha.
This one was just SO handsome of Nolan
Towards the end of the night they had a big 'wizarding duel' in the backyard! (and in case you were wondering, that's a play house in the background! so fun!)
It was a blast, just like last year!!
A Halloween message from Nolan:
