The End of October and Halloween 2015

There has been lots of fun going on around with our handful of Heppers lately. The end of October flew by in the blink of an eye, and Halloween 2015 was a great success! Check it out...

Paul and I attended the Commonwealth Club's 125th Anniversary Gala. It.was.so.fun.

Food, drinks, and ice sculptures abounded.

We had a great time with some great friends. 

This guy was an animal on the dance floor.

Sweet Margaret helped me get crafts ready for the first Children's Hope Gala Early Supporters event (that's just a mouthful to say "a good time for a great cause") 

Julia had a blast.

                                               Me and my lovely Gala co-chair, Cary.

Paul and Brent looking handsome and sporting their matching HW jackets. 

Our house decked out for Halloween. These ghosts were made by our very own Marmee sometime back in the 90's!

One rainbow unicorn, a gumball machine, and Spiderina Witch ready for the neighborhood Halloween party.

Little C and Big C

Our neighborhood party rocked. We had a juggler, two bands, a bar, and BBQ at our party.

Julia and Margaret, ready for the Halloween Parade at FPP.

Cutie pie Julia in the procession.

Julia, Margaret, and their very best buddy, Amory.

Next up, Caroline's Halloween Parade at Collegiate.

Then it was time to hit up Daddy's office for trick-or-treating. The girls were all business.

We had a pumpkin carving playdate. It was the first of what I think needs to be an annual event. So fun!

Caroline getting crafty.

Julia and Julia

We didn't actually do much pumpkin carving at our playdate. But it turns out that Daddy is the best pumpkin carver anyways, so we put him to work on Halloween day.

The crew from our street ready to pound the pavement. Make a funny face!

Jack-o-lanterns all lit up...

...and off they went!!

Back at home, another successful and fun Halloween in the books!

Fun Fall

It's mid-October, and I literally have no idea where September and the beginning of this month went. Time is moving so fast, and while I love being busy with the girls, sometimes I wish things would just slow down! Here are a few pictures from our last few weeks.

Julia enjoys a popsicle from the last ice cream truck visit of the season.

Julia, Caroline, and Margaret dressed up and ready to go to the Noah's Children Fall Family Day.

Spiderina Witch chows down on cotton candy.

Julia made one spooky looking gumball machine.

Jack-O-Lantern Margaret

Sweet Julia has taken to wearing costumes to bed.

Caroline all decked out for Pep Rally day during Collegiate's Homecoming Spirit Week.

We spent a fun day with friends at the Fall Foxfields Races in Charlottesville.

Everyone enjoyed the pony rides...

...even our usually nervous Nelly, Margaret.

Going on a hay ride!

Margaret and Julia spent a lot of time galloping through the fields on their stick ponies.

A gaggle of girls at the horse races!

Caroline has really enjoyed making new friends in her class.

We've been getting to know our new friends with play dates and Twister parties :)

Caramel apples are a fall must-do in our house.

We are enjoying the fall weather as much as we can!

Margaret and Amory at the pumpkin patch. 

Julia found a perfect pumpkin.

These three girls are inseparable lately.

I love this goofy grinned girl so much.

10th Anniversay in Napa

Last weekend, Paul and I spent four days in Napa Valley, CA and one day in San Francisco. It was a late celebration of our 10 year wedding anniversary, and it was so much fun. Napa Valley is gorgeous, with weather that is amazing, food that is unbelievable, and of course, wine that flows endlessly! I loved San Francisco as well. The hills, the bay, and the beautiful views were awesome. The whole trip was wonderful, and I was so glad to share it with Paul.

One of our favorite experiences was a cooking class. We met a chef and several other couples at the St. Helena Farmer's Market, selected our ingredients, and then went to the chef's house to prepare and enjoy lunch. It was so fun (and delicious!)

                                   Some of the beautiful produce at the St. Helena Farmer's Market.

We walked through the vineyard behind our hotel every morning, hunting these enormous hare. They were the size of a small dog!

Hands down, my favorite restaurant was Bottega. SO delicious. 

The grape crusher statue was behind our hotel.

Happy 10th Anniversary to us!!

A walk in a vineyard in the perfect Napa weather.

There was beautiful artwork throughout Napa. This was our favorite: Little Bunny Foo Foo at Hall Vineyard.

Paul boarding the Wine Train...all aboard!

Gorgeous view from the vineyard at our hotel.

Off to San Francisco! The Bay Bridge and San Francisco fog.

The Transamerica Building in the backdrop of San Francisco's Little Italy.

It was the end of Fleet Week in San Francisco. We got to watch the Blue Angels preform from the Bay. 

Walking to dinner through the hills of San Francisco on our last night of the trip.