although technically her second halloween, this was a year of many firsts for ellie. every year since 1982 on every third sunday in october, the hollis family attends the pumpkin festival in half moon bay. we’ve brought many different friends along over the years, but i can’t remember being so excited about introducing another person to it as i was this year.

we got up before the sun, packed a lunch and met pop and uncle danny for the drive to the coast. the looming clouds threatened rain, but the weather couldn’t dampen our spirits. after all, the pumpkin festival is the first real sign that the holidays are just around the corner. a little rain only meant the change of seasons was truly upon us!

we left early enough to beat the traffic and kicked off the festival down on main street, which was lined for blocks on either side with tents full of some of the most impressive photography and handmade arts & crafts you’ll ever see.

ellie was happiest, of course, when she was free from the confines of her stroller and able to walk alongside us :) as usual, i was impressed with her obedience and listening skills when i told her to stay close to us and not to touch anything.

after the art portion of the festival we headed out of town and back up the highway toward the pumpkin patches in search of the prettiest pumpkins in all the land. ellie’s favorite thing to do was find the heaviest ones she could and try to pick them up. case in point:

the hmb pumpkin festival definitely ranks among my top three favorite family traditions, and this year’s was probably the best one yet. we left with a new christmas ornament, three beautiful pumpkins and some wonderful new memories. thanks to pop and uncle danny for sharing such a special day with us <3