Fairytales in the forest

A couple of nights ago, our friends called to see if we wanted to join them at this little---I don't even know what it was called. Basically it was a bunch of fairytales brought to life all along a pathway through a forrest. And at each little stop, the kids got a piece of candy. It was a way for little kids to celebrate Halloween without having to worry about being scared. It was so cute and so fun!










The little old lady who lived in a shoe



I think this was the Gingerbread Man's house



Rapunzel

Sleeping Beauty

The 3 little pigs (I didn't get a shot of the other 2 pigs houses)

**There were a bunch of others that I didn't get pictures of but the one I really wish I would have taken was the Sword in the Stone. Well maybe not the stone part but the cute little Boy Scout that was working that stop. He got really into his role and would yell out to the crowds "Come one, come all and step right up to the sword in the stone! Try your strength to see if you have what it takes to become the King of all the land!" and on and on from there. The whole event was put on by the scouts as a way to make money and most of the other boys were like "Here's your candy. Happy Halloween." One scout didn't even look up from his phone as he was texting while handing out candy to the kids. But not the sword in the stone guy! I wish he had a little tip jar in front of him. He deserved to be paid for his performance!

At the end of the path, there was a hay ride (notice how Ella won't take her eyes off the candy!)

Ella enjoying the fruits of her labors

Happy 30th Lindsay!

So today my sister turns the big 3-0!!! To help her celebrate this monumental achievement, her husband planned a surprise little "Girl's Weekend" in Sedona, AZ.  He flew me out and then my mom, 2 aunties and 3 of Lindsay's good friends from California all drove out to meet up in Phoenix. After making a little shopping detour in Scottsdale (the shopping in Sedona is not great...unless you're in the market for dream catchers or turquoise jewelry) we made our way up to Sedona.  The first night we just went out to dinner and stayed up late talking and playing cards (we played cards so much this weekend that I have calluses on my hands from shuffling!)  The next day we spent the whole day at the spa. It was heaven.  It pretty much consisted of relaxing, our massages, more relaxing, lunch by the pool, relaxing some more, laying out in the sun and finishing off with a little more relaxing.  That night we went out to dinner at The Cowboy Club (complete with REAL cowboys!) and back to the hotel for...you guessed it...more card games!

The next day we had a yummy breakfast at the Wildflower Cafe and headed back down to Phoenix.  I didn't fly back to OKC until the next morning so I was able to spend that evening just hanging out with Lindsay and her kids (and Mike of course.)  

Needless to say, it was such a nice weekend...all of which would not have been possible without my great husband's willingness to stay home with Ella.  He did such a great job being both Daddy and Mommy to her this weekend. Not only that, but I actually came home to a clean house and laundry done! He's amazing.

This is all of us outside of our hotel

Auntie Jill, Aunite Mimi, and my mom

Jill and mom doing some relaxing

The big surprising moment!

She shoulda been a cowgirl...

Last Saturday we got together with some of our friends and headed out to Piedmont, Oklahoma (about 30 minutes away) to get in the Fall spirit by going to a pumpkin patch/petting zoo.  Ella LOVED every minute of it. By the time we left, we both agreed that maybe Ella would have liked to have been born to parents who lived on a farm. Oh well. She got us instead. Anyway, from the goats, to the cows, to the ponies, even a lama, she just couldn't get enough!

Ella and her little friend Chad on a tractor

Running thru the corn maze

They had this big slide that went faster than what you would think.  Ella's never been one to turn down a slide and even though kids under six had to go down with an adult...

...she decided rules were made to be broken!

I think her favorite part of the day was riding the pony all by herself.  (How weird is it that I have a kid old enough to do that!!!)

Before we left, Ella got to pick out a pumpkin to take home.

After searching high and low...

...she found the perfect one!