The Lowedown: Fantastic Fall

This fall we had a lot of fun. We had visitors and enjoyed so much of what fall has to offer. First we had my Mom and her husband Dave come for a visit in September. My brother Aaron was up in Huntington Beach with friends too so we met up in Newport on a freezing day to hang out. Newport was absolutely packed the day we were there despite how cold it was. The boys liked watching the people fishing off the pier and seeing their catch flopping around on the wood. It was a quick, fun visit.

Next Andy's mom Tauna drove down for a very quick visit. We took her down to Coronado Island and spent the day at the Del hotel and playing on the beach. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time.

The sand was so warm and soft

this kid is silly

Then we had tons of fun going to Oak Glen with the Shorts. We picked apples and explored the shops in a little western village. The boys even watched a gun show. The best part was getting to hang out with Brandon and Mandy, pinch Ella's chubby thighs, and watch Keegan have a blast with his idols Andrew and Ethan. On top of that, we ate lots of fresh apples and took home a big bag to enjoy.

playing with the pumpkins

Keegan, Andrew, Ethan and Graham

looking at the animals

going on a hayride

sampling the apples

Brandon, Mandy, Andrew, Ethan and Ella Short

Keegan and Andy in the orchard

Graham, April, Andy & Keegan

Andrew Short pushed Keegan and the stroller right into the tree so he could sit and pick and eat

Graham's little fingers trying to open the candy jar

candy shop sweets

Ella

In October Kara, my mom, Dave, Jason and Franchesca all came to visit for fall break in Arizona. The Nilssons came down all the way from Utah too for a trip to Disneyland. We had so much fun! Andy was at a conference that weekend so he missed out on the fun but we were thinking of him. The week started with a quick tour of Old Town in Temecula. The highlight of Old Town was sampling the yummy local olive oil and balsamic vinegars, the rootbeer shop, and of course homemade fudge (you know with the Gardner women we have to get some fudge). We all went to Anaheim for a couple of days and wore ourselves out at the Happiest Place on Earth. It was so fun having family here to go to Disneyland with and to keep us company while Andy was gone yet again for work. I love Disneyland in the fall when all the decorations are up and the haunted mansion is transformed to Nightmare Before Christmas. The funnest thing about Disneyland is that Keegan was tall enough to ride all the 40 inch rides for the first time! He felt like such a big boy going on the big rides with Grandma and Mommy.

all the fun was exhausting

Madie, Kara, Quinn, Graham and Sadie

Keegan's 1st time on Soarin'

Me and Karacita

Aunt Peggy taking the boys of Flik's Fliers

It's Tough to Be a Bug movie

Sadie and Kara at the Matterhorn - Keegan's favorite "snowman in the mountain ride"

Keegan and April

Jason, Graham and Franny

Small World

Kara

Highlight of the morning was meeting Woody

To end the trip, we took another drive up to Oak Glen for apple picking and exploring the pumpkin patch. I was so happy to get more apples! Jason and Franchesca found a Rome Beauty apple tree so Jason got a picture with his Italian beauty in front of it. Then we had some BBQ and a 5 pound apple pie. My mom sent Dave to get us 5 slices of apple pie and he returned with 2 big bags full of five 5 pound apple pies. That was a lot of pie! Oops! Once he realized we wanted 5 slices, not 5 pies, he was able to return 4 of the pies but we all got a good laugh over the mix up!