Where did November Go?

So, apparently it's almost December. I still feel like we just got back from our vacation, although in reality a lot has happened since then. Maybe that's why it still feels like we just got back...we're constantly trying to get back in the swing of things and get into a routine again.

But back to that vacation...

We decided to go on a vacation this fall, partly because we thought it would be fun, partly because we haven't really been on a real vacation since our honeymoon (long weekends away for friends' weddings or to visit family don't count, and neither do trips to Ethiopia), and partly because it would give us a good excuse to see Tio Sebas. We decided to go to Niagara Falls. Jeff and I had been there for a couple days to celebrate our one year anniversary (couple days= still not real vacation) and had a lot of fun so we wanted to take the kids. Plus Sebastian would be able to drive up from Boston to meet us there. Win-win.

We left early in the morning because we knew with all the stops we would have to make the five-hour drive would take us most of the day...plus the kids were so excited we didn't want to make them wait any longer than necessary.
We found a vacation rental called the "Hoblet" on an online vacations rentals site, and it ended up being the perfect place for our family. It was out in the woods, away from the busyness of the Falls, and the owners have several animals, including a few donkeys, a horse a mule and a potbellied pig named Sheldon. After exploring and meeting the animals, the kids took some time to relax near the fire pit.
The owners of the vacation rental were very nice and friendly, and even brought over this guy for the kids to play with. They named him "Mr. Mush", and he quickly became their best friend for the week.
Tio Sebas arrived from Boston that first evening. To say the kids were thrilled to see him is a bit of an understatement. Jeff and I were pretty excited too.
We visited a winery...
and the Falls...
Juan Pablo went on the Maid of the Mist boat ride with Jeff. Apparently he did not realize from the top of the falls how huge they actually were and was pretty terrified on the boat...in a good way, kind of like riding a roller coaster.

In the meantime, Sebastian, Ana Luisa and I got some coffee and found a park to run around in. Ana Luisa thought it would be a good time to practice the "laying in the grass" pose for when her senior picture photo shoot comes around.
After a couple days of fun with Tio Sebas, he had to go back to Boston. But the rest of us weren't done yet. We visited a Butterfly Conservatory (Juan Pablo put on my brightly colored scarf in hopes that the butterflies would come and stand on him. Unfortunately, he moves around way to much to make a very attractive perch for a butterfly):

We also visited Niagara-on-the-Lake, where Jeff and I enjoyed great lattes while the kids enjoyed the playground...
...and then staged their first performance of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast":
We also spent a morning wandering around the Botanical Gardens and the grounds of the Niagara School of Horticulture.
I may or may not have gotten stuck in this tree after this picture was taken:
We also took a little hike along the Niagara River. Jeff and his hiking buddy were on the lookout for trilobite fossils the whole time.
My hiking buddy was not so interested. She also weighs almost 30 pounds, which is probably why I look like I'm about to fall over:
Our last day of vacation was rainy, so we crossed the border to Niagara Falls, New York and visited and Aquarium there. We got to watch a penguin feeding, a sea lion show (which the kids have recreated at least a hundred times since), a seal feeding and a shark feeding.
It was great to spend time together, spend time outdoors and get to explore new places together. We hope to get to go back again someday!

We came home just in time for Halloween weekend. First order of business was going to a farm to pick out a pumpkin. Despite the fact that it was gray and overcast, Juan Pablo insisted on wearing his shades.
They do really add to the cool factor, right?
The next day was pumpkin carving day. Ana Luisa was ready to dive right in and get her hands dirty.
Juan Pablo took charge of the more artistic side of things, sketching out the faces that would ultimately be carved on both pumpkins.
They make a pretty good team.
We invited a few other families over on Halloween to come trick-or-treat in our neighborhood. Along with being super fun, it was also super chaotic, as you would expect with six young kids on sugar highs, plus three almost-brand-new babies added to the mix. We didn't get any pictures that night, so I tried to get pictures of the kids in their costumes later. Ana Luisa loves her "princess butterfly" costume and is almost always willing to put it on. Juan Pablo prefers to be shirtless.
Eventually we got a picture, with him in costume. He had a penguin costume picked out originally, but at the last minute decided to wear his elephant costume from last year. I love that it makes him look like a cuddly little stuffed animal.
Early November brought the beginning of colder weather around here too. Ana Luisa didn't really understand the concept of wearing a winter coat at first, but after getting very cold at the park a few times she seems to have caught on. We're still working on understanding the concept of wearing pants.
We had some snow...nothing stuck of course, but the kids were thrilled to get to go out and walk in the snow anyway (and yes, Juan Pablo's favorite color is still red):

We also had a visit in mid-November from Jeff's brother Nate and his family. The kids had a great time with their cousins, running around the house yelling and playing and doing whatever else two and four-year-olds do.
I'm actually not entirely sure what they were doing that whole time because the adults were having a great time catching up and as long as the kids are happy, so are we!
And now we're caught up...for now. We've had a great fall...here's to a great winter too!