Julie's- what I love about fall challenge

Ok, so it doesn't get that cold here in california. The leaves do change, but it is a slow process that takes forever, and hasn't even close to started yet. I love the look of the changing leaves, but since that is not what is available right now, here are some pics of what California does look like right now. I took these pics when my Mom and I were walking around downtown LA. We have the palm trees, oh course. I love these orange flower that look like birds. I also really love these trees with all the pretty flowers on them.

I think our most favorite thing about fall, besides the leaves changing, is making stuff with pumpkin. Pumpkin pasta, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes. Oh, and pumpkin cheese cake. I think our favorite is chocolate chip pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

3 1/3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2Tb pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1-1 lb can of plain pumpkin
2 sticks of butter, melted
12 oz bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease mini muffin pans or use liners. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, spices, soda, powder, and salt. In another bowl mix eggs, pumpkin and butter. Whisk until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour mixture over the dry ingredients and blend until moistened. Spoon batter in muffin cups, The batter doesn’t rise a lot, so don’t worry about filling them almost full. Bake for 20-25 min or until they spring back when you touch them. Store in the refrigerator if they last that long!
Makes 96 mini muffins

Ben is 7 now!

Ben is 7 now. Yah! Ben really wanted to go to the new star wars movie, so when Grandpa was here we went to that and got the boys star wars shirts. So today we had a party with cake and presents. Haley and John planned several games, with a pokeman theme to play outside. Pokeman tag, is what they are playing in the pics.

What an awesome library

My mom showed us this really cool library in Cerritos. It is hard to believe, when you look at the pictures, that it is actually a library. There are so many cool things there to see. We had a really awesome time.

Hanging out when Grandpa was here

Here are some pics of the fun we had with Grandpa and the rest of the fam over labor day weekend. Hope everyone else also had a good one.

Day out with the animals

Greg's Birthday

Here is a slide show of Greg's birthday. His grandma took him to Catalina on friday and they had a really good time. Even thought it was his birthday he brought us all back presents. Today we had a small family celebration. We had mac and cheese and corn for dinner. We had cake and ice cream and opened presents. When Chris comes back in November and we pick him up in San Diego, we are going to the kids to sea world. Greg wants to go see elmo at the bay of play. So we will be doing that in november, and that should be a lot of fun. All and all, I think he had and will have a great birthday. Congrads mr. 4 year old. You really are a big boy and we are so proud of you.

Karate

Haley and John are taking Karate with thier Step-grandpa, Michael. My mom bougth them some karate uniforms, and they are really having a good time. They Just got their orange belts. They actually had to break a board.