Spooktacular Pumpkins

We had our 2nd Annual Mantle Pumkin Carving Fest this Sunday. All of the boys put there artistic abilities to work while the girls sat and watched (my kind of day). Greg, my father-in-law, has taught his boys well. Don't they look awesome? My house is so festive out front now.

Cody and Greg hard at work...planning and drawing

Greg (Papa) made a little cat just for Ella.

Uncle Cody and Ella (she is finally saying his name, Tody, and it is so cute)

All lit up

The cool cat pumpkin

Travis carved this bird...isn't it awesome??

Cody's sad, scary, goofy pumpkin

Greg's goofy pumpkin

All ready for Halloween!

Last post of the day....pumpkin patch fun.

Ella is getting better at smiling for the camera....
We had a great time at Mother Nature's farm last night. They have a cool pumpkin patch that Ella loved running around in. Our friends Jenn and Pat and their daughter Lauren (ella's best friend) came too, as well as my parents. We strolled through the pumpkin patch, rode on a rather boring hay ride, and enjoyed the cool, autumn night. We brought home some pumpkins and will be carving them tomorrow with Ella's other grandparents...another annual tradition. I love fall.

Ella clung to her Auntie Jenn for most of the night...
looks like she is trying to be pretty tough in this pic

The Zaur's and the Mantle's (Pat, Jenn, Lauren, Ella, Nicole, Travis)

What a goofy family....

Almost three feet tall

Lauren and Ella (one year and two years)

Ella loves Lauren (Lo Lo) and made sure she was by her side all night

Big smiles!

Such cool pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

Mimi, Ella and Papa

Ella got to see some baby chicks and of course, was obsessed

Papa and Mimi wanted to share in some Halloween fun with us because they will be running the New York Marathon next weekend (ya, awesome...I know) and won't be around for Halloween.

My 29th!

My birthday this year was very low key but just the way I like it. Travis and I went out the friday before to Bamboo Club (one of my favs), did some shopping, and strolled around Kierland Commons...on a beautiful night. Then on my actual birthday I got my beautiful Pandora bracelet with lots of fun charms on it from Travis and Ella. My principal annouced my b-day on the morning announcements at school so it was great to have practically every kid that day say "Happy Birthday Mrs. Mantle". That night my mom made me my ultimate meal...london broil-sliced thin, baked sweet potatos, green beans, and salad. And she topped it off by making me a confetti cake with confetti frosting....Ella loved it :)

Ella enjoying cake on my b-day

My grandma, Ella, and I getting ready to blow out the candles...

A beautiful day at the Riparian Preserve

Near the beginning of October, on one of the gorgeous overcast days, Trav, Ella and I went over to the Riparian Preserve to feed the ducks (of course, when we got there we read the sign that said DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS, but we did anyways). This is definitely a past time of mine...we went to Kiwana's Park to feed the ducks when I was little. Anyways, Ella loved it. We need to go more often.

Taking a stroll on the bridge!

"Hi, my name is chubby...my mom's name is chubby, my dad's name is chubby..."

The ducks came right up to us so we could give them bread....so against the rules!

So beautiful!