H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N spells...

HALLOWEEN! Isabella as the busy bee.
So busy flying, she flew right out of the frame of the picture.

My mom got this costume, but as you can see by Halloween it was a little small for the Isabubs.
(It was also quite the traumatic experience getting her in and out of the darn thing. Bad, bad, baby costume design).

The bee in the Bumbo.

A visit to the pumpkin patch with Nana and Mom.

Ninja, Luke Skywalker, Dorothy and Obi-Wan Kenobi co-existing peacefully
in a galaxy far, far away.

My little class of second graders. The anticipation of holidays in the classroom is infinitely more fun than the actual event. The noise and chaos is enough to drive one batty, and not in a Halloweeny kind of way.

Still, they were pretty cute.

Pumpkin Patch visit #2: Halloween Day. The busy bee now dressed
as the little pumpkin thanks to Aunt Karen and cousin Amanda!

Mark's Halloween Costume Debut: (video)

Finding Fall

I know there are people in the world who would love to live in California for the weather. In this respect I have to admit I'm more East Coast than West Coast. Blame it on my New England family roots. I love the seasons. I need the change of weather. In an effort to bloom where I am currently planted, however, I decided to look for signs of Fall here in Napa and embrace every lovely second of it.
The mornings and evenings come around to the idea first. Fall mornings in Napa are sometimes cold and foggy. (I do love that) or cool and crisp, which brings out the hot air balloons. (I love that too). The vineyards turn yellow and red (so pretty!) and the rainy season begins (such a relief!). I try hard to forgive the 85 degree afternoons that stick around until the end of October, but maybe come January I'll learn to appreciate them.

In my quest for Fall, I convinced Mark to go to Apple Hill, a place my family visited when I was a kid. Mark, bless his patient and willing heart, took a day off of work so we could drive 2 hours northeast to the foothills. Apple Hill is a group of 50+ orchards that you can visit to pick apples and eat yummy apple-y treats. Each orchard offers something different but my favorite is still High Hill. Gone are the days of the apple cider press that you can watch squeeze the juice from the apples or the mine that you can walk down into to get a cold cup of cider. Still, the air smells sooooo good--like a giant apple fritter.

Mark and Isabella in the orchards.

Another Apple Hill convert

Mark tempting Isabella with a fritter.

The apples!

The gourds!

The flowers!

The second orchard we visited. Much smaller, but it had a museum
and their renowned apple turnovers, of which we partook.

Fall found.

Aunt Donna visits + more cute hats + B'day brunch

Aunt Donna came West for a visit and boy was I happy to see her! I miss being close to the East Coast part of the family. Her visit prompted our visit to a little town called Healdsburg, about an hour from Napa. We ate a yummy lunch then popped into a few of the town's stores one of which is my favorite: Baksheesh. It's a free trade store that imports all kinds of cool things from third world countries. Like fun hats.
See below.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.
She came home with the pink one with the funny ears.

Perfect for cool evening walks,er, naps.

Dad. Makes a point on my birthday.
Actually I was just having a little fun playing with my brother's new camera,
but I got a classic Pablo shot--he pontificating about something, well, brilliant.

No cake. Only Trader Joe's chocolate croissants for this birthday girl
(with Aunt Donna's added chocolate drizzle --which brought some serious sha-sizzle to those croissants)

This birthday was one of my favorites because Aunt Donna and Dave and Janett were in town.
We had a big b'day brunch to celebrate everyone being together.

Hey, who's the birthday girl here anyway?! Isabella and her paparazzo.
Always stealing the thunder, that one.

Birthday blues? The therapist is in.

On the Farm

Izzie Bella's first farm experience. Our friend Suzanne lives out in the Napa countryside. We love going to her little farm house to visit her, her dog Smooch and her chickens! She invited us to meet her neighbor's new steer (ah, the two babies together in one shot). Isabella was also able to see goats, chickens and a horse. Big day for the little farm girl.

She's looking at Princess the horse, who is not imaginary.
(I don't know why I didn't get picture of her)

A meet and greet with the goats (video)