The Pumpkin Patch!! An annual tradition!!

Every year we head to Lombardi Ranch with Michael's parents and family to pick out pumpkins.   It also always seems to be on the hottest day of October.  This year was no different!!  But we had a blast! Here are some pictures of the day and our carved pumpkins!

She was super excited!!

She is getting so big!!

She loves hanging with Taylor!!

Angry Bird Scarecrows!! (her latest obsession!!) 

Pumpkins, Pumpkins everywhere!!

Should I get this one?!?

She was pretty excited!!

So Gooey...

Our finished products!!

A Fun Fall Field Trip

Last weekend, Michael and I go the brilliant idea to go to Downtown LA to show some sights to Leah and to see what this Occupy LA tent city was all about.  It was a fun, spontaneous day!!  We drive by City Hall and then parked and went to nearby Olvera Street, and then drove by Chinatown, and onto Hollywood.  It was fun to see it all and to show Leah some of LA.  Here are some pictures of the day...

Checkin' out the vendors

Some sights...

Future Weird Al?? Love how she is whistling, too!

Some yummy Churros!!  Delish!!

Occupy LA

Chinatown

Our final destination!

The Fall is Here!!

So, I am a horrible horrible blogger, but it is because I am working...a lot!!  But it's all good, because there is still time for Halloween!! And my hubby and kiddo sure did it up right.  (I am a lame mom who wore an orange shirt and pumpkin socks!)  Here are some pictures of my 2 favorite Koontz family members!!

Leah as Clawdeen Wolf, from Monster High, and Michael as a Fat Scottish Man, with a turkey leg and all!

One Sassy Little Lady!!

But so beautiful!! :)



The End of Summer...

At the beginning of August, I took a week off work for a little "stay-cation" and cabin fun.  It was a great opportunity to spend a little time with Leah, and relax at Bass Lake with my parents!  Best part of the week, was not working!!  Ahhh...

Here are some highlights of the last month...

Leah and I went to a new beach in Ventura, and were able to enjoy the sun and the surf.  Although, I think Leah liked the sand crabs the best.  After a week in Hawaii last summer, she had no fear of the waves and was in them the minute we arrived.  We went with the Koscheski's, and she had a blast with Luke and Emma.  Day 1 of my "stay-cation" was awesome!!

Day 2 of my "stay-cation" I took Leah to Color Me Mine and she painted a cute little doggy.  That day was filled with fun and painting and a little Monopoly playing.  It was a fun little Laura-Leah day!!

The rest of the week was at Bass Lake with my parents.  It was beautiful as always, and we had some good times and good food!!  :)

Paula Deen's Blackberry Pie...sooo good.  Here is the recipe,( minus the tapioca and the blackbirds!!)

And here is our Middle Eastern Pizza....here is the recipe, only we used zucchini instead of eggplant!

And as usual, we went to the AV Fair...Leah's 8th year!!  It was a great day filled with food, fun and rides.  And like every year, here is our obligatory family photo!!  Love my little family and we are looking forward to what the future holds for all of us, especially since Leah is now a big 3rd grader!!  Can't believe our girl is so grown up.  The fair was a great way to end our summer and get ready to gear up for the fall!!

Minnesota, Don'tcha Know...

So, back in July, just over a month ago, some Southern Californians invaded Minnesota for the wedding of our good friends, Kari Pugh and Anthony Messina.  For me, it was a mini vacation and a chance to really have fun with my parents, and all my besties!  My dad's dad grew up in the area, near Minneapolis, and it was great to see where he grew up and where Kari hails from!  Knowing Kari, (from Biola) for 13 years it was great to finally see where she's from and I definitely know why she loves "home" so much.  I was happy to be apart of the celebration.  Here are some of my favorite photos of the weekend!!

Me at the Scandinavian Store!!

Dan and Me getting back to our roots!!  

It was a bit rainy, but it didn't stop us from sight seeing!!

Great view during the rehearsal dinner cruise!

Biola babes on a dinner cruise!!

Biola Babes with the Bride...and photo-bombed by the groom!

Mr. and Mrs. Messina

Summer Happenings

Can't believe that it is already July.  We've had a pretty low-key summer so far.  Nothing crazy happening.  Leah is enjoying camp and child care fun, while Michael and I are busy working.  I was up at the cabin a few weeks ago celebrating my dear friend Kari's upcoming nuptials!  It was a great girls weekend, and a chance to relax and hang out with good friends. I'll be heading to Minnesota for the wedding on July 16th.  Looking so forward to it!! :)

Michael is currently recovering from shoulder surgery.  He had a tendon impinged between 2 bones on his left shoulder.  The surgeon went in and shaved some bones arthroscopically and now Michael is on the mend.  He has had a rough week, but with a special sling and a special flowing cold water ice pack thing, he is beginning to feel better. 

For the 4th of July, Leah and I headed to mom and dad's for a little BBQ and swimming.  I am the lameo who didn't take any good pictures, but Leah sure enjoyed her time.  We got home in time to watch our neighbors put on a little fire work show.  It was very cool to have seats so up close and personal.

We also have a little addition to our family.  We got a little kitty...a cute lil' guy named Manny.  We now have all the Pep Boys...Manny, Moe and Jack.  Our little pet family is complete.  Manny has joined our family nicely and the dogs have taken to him, too.  Jack (the little dog) is a little leery, but Moses, the big guy is super gentle and loving with our little kitty!!

Michael and I also celebrated our 3rd anniversary.  Can you believe it??  We've been together for 5 years now, and I can honestly say that I am more in love with him today than I have ever been.  I feel so lucky to have a man that provides for me, makes me laugh, makes me think and is just generally fun to be around!!  I am looking so forward to what the future holds for us!!  To celebrate we went to this awesome restaurant that we found called Piccola Trattoria.  It is seriously THE BEST Italian food we have ever had.  We went back the following week for Michael's bday dinner, too!!  And we know we've got a new favorite!



That's all for now...hope you all are having a good summer, too!! 

Kickin' Off the Summer at the Cabin

Leah (and I, sort of) are officially on Summer Break!! Our kiddo has completed 2nd grade and is now a big 3rd grader...oh my goodness!! To get summer kicked off right, we headed to the Cabin with some friends, The Koscheski's. (Duncan's we missed you!!) We've now decided that this was the 1st Annual Kickoff the Summer Weekend!! We went to Bass Lake, and Yosemite. The weekend was filled with fishing, movies, fun times and lots of laughter...thank to Lazy Man's Trivial Pursuit!! Here are some pics of the weekend, in no particular order.

Michael and Leah, fishing

 The youngest Koscheski, baby Abby!

The rest of the kiddos, can't you tell they're tired!!

The Koontz family! (all 5 of us!!)

Silly Luke and Leah!!

So beautiful!!