What a wonderful full month is has been for the Szolusha family. I will start with our first trip to the pumpkin patch in mid October, before Keith left for Japan. We went to our usual Queen's Pumpkin Patch. It is close and still fun for the kids. Rubix was fascinated by the cow train and really wanted to go on it. He had a moment where he second guessed his decision but he calmed down once the train started and was happy for me to walk along side him.
Kristin joined us again this year and the kids had to paint pumpkins like usual. It doesn't seem to get old.
Rubix continues to love animals. He pet the cute little pig and the goat this year with Daddy's help.
Rubix sat in this little train wagon during his contemplation to ride the cow train and afterwards as he watched others ride the cow train.
Axel did the water bubble again this year, but this time he was able to stay up and run in place. He had trouble managing to stay up for more than a few seconds last year. It was really cool to see how much he has grown in strength.
Phoenix was also a champ and was able to stay upright and run in place. The kids had a blast! Rubix, Daddy and I had fun watching them.
We even managed to get a family photo!
Daddy headed to Japan the Friday after our pumpkin patch excursion. Here are a few photos from Japan. Here he is having fun before one of his first meetings with a customer.
Mt. Fuji
Legoland Japan!
All dressed up at another customer in Osaka, I believe.
A picture of Tokyo from the hotel room.
Doing a little sight seeing before coming home :)
While Daddy was away, we were doing our best to get through our weekly school and work grind. I am not sure what was going on here, but after picking Axel up from a school music event on Sunday morning the boys were picking each others noses. I took a picture to send to Daddy to help him smile through his first work day in Japan, since he would be waking up on Monday soon after this picture was taken.
Rubix also finally decided he did want to dress up for Halloween and he really wanted to be an airplane. We lucked out and found this cute costume on Ebay and had it delivered a couple of days later.
I have been treating one of Daddy's coworkers for her neck and arm pain at home. I am using her for a case presentation for my fellowship and she has brought over some Asian pastries a couple of times. On this particular day she brought over a pumpkin that had pumpkin inside. Phoenix was excited to try, but disappointed that it wasn't sweet at all.
We were all very excited when Daddy got home. He brought gifts back for everyone. Rubix's gift was AWESOME and exactly what I wanted to get him for Christmas. This airplane can roll forward on its own and when pressure is applied in a downward motion its lights flash on.
He brought home a cool Barbie type doll for Phoenix whose hair changes color and these cool matching jerseys. He brought home cute Hello Kitty socks and an assortment of other gifts. He had a successful trip in terms of business and a little fun with his personal excursions as well!
When Daddy arrived home from the airport, Phoenix and I headed to a classmate's birthday party. It was a costume party, but she took off her Red Riding Hood cap due to the 80 degree weather!
On Sunday at our park we noticed our park had a couple of updates. This was one of them. Rubix could reach the "telephone" tube because a beautiful new platform was built and a nice cover was put on the mouth of the tube.
Axel and Phoenix had Monday off of school so we went to Uesugi Farms to meet Selena and Kristin.
We went through a really fun corn maze where we had to answer trivia questions to find our way out. It was so much fun!
The kids had a blast playing with the pumpkins and just being kids.
Phoenix had just been here the Friday before on a field trip with school. When she was here she wasn't allowed to do the Merry Go Round, so that was the number one request she had. Selena kindly went on with her which saved me from the potential of getting motion sickness.
We did the hay ride as well and got to see the famous Marigold patch they plant every year. It was amazingly beautiful.
We also got to see the winner for biggest pumpkin in the South Bay this year. I took a picture from this angle because I thought my lovely husband would get a good laugh!
We made sure to carve pumpkins before Halloween. Axel continues to grow up and do things more and more on his own. He designed his own dragon and then proceeded to carve it out.
I had to help a little with the carving, but he is becoming more and more of a young man doing more for himself.
On Halloween we were able to catch a family picture, although the quality is not great. Axel and Daddy decided we should all be In and Out workers, but just the three of us ended up being them. Phoenix wanted to be a cat princess and Rubix was happy with his airplane costume.
Here are the final jack-o-laterns. Can you see the airplane, unicorn and dragon?
Kristin and Selena jointed us along with Selena's niece, Zoe, who is a couple of months younger than Rubix. Selena's parents and her brother and his wife were there as well. We also ran into the other Axel and Arianna our neighbor joined for trick or treating fun as well.
It was difficult to get a good photo of the kids trick or treating. Rubix really got it this year and was pleased to go door to door for candy!
Phoenix and Axel had a great time as well!
Oh, I forgot to mention when I picked up Axel from school, on Halloween, he had lost a tooth. When he got home he worked on the other tooth that was loose and before you know it he had two teeth missing on Halloween!
This past Sunday Phoenix and I went to another birthday party. This was at Bricks for Kids again. She was tired from the time change because we had stayed up late at Eileen's and Luis' house celebrating Luis' birthday the night before. I thought it was funny her entire class showed up and she said it was boring! Axel loved the birthday party he attended here in June. Funny how different the kids are!
Here are a few pictures from Eileen's. Alex and Axel continue to be about the same size and have the same interests, although Alex is about 18 months younger. Lily has adjusted so well and it is hard to believe she has been apart of their family for a year now. She turns 3 years old right after Thanksgiving. Phoenix had so much fun playing with her. She said the next day, "I do really well with babies. We should play more often with them."
The boys being silly!
The birthday boy and family.
Mr. Rubix getting ready to sing Happy birthday. We are so blessed to have such great friends in close proximity.
I have been really busy working and doing work for my fellowship. I will likely not post again until after Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to more family fun with Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Sonia coming for Thanksgiving week. Until then..... God Bless!
