Halloween 2008

I always look forward to Halloween, and this year was no different. I love the crisp fall weather, apple cider, pumpkin bread and desserts, parties, and all that candy. Thankfully having kids lets me live through them as I have learned that without them I was always left wanting more. I have two adorable girls who dressed up as an adorable butterfly and witch. This year with Taylor's preschool class we had even more fun as she would come home and teach me all the songs she was learning (see our "watch this" section on the left hand side for footage of the preschool program). To tops things off, this year was the warmest Halloween in Colorado in 15 years...it got up to 77 degrees in the day and at night for trick or treating the kids didn't have to wear coats (a miracle in itself). We went to Jami and Spencer's for chili and lots of other yummy food. After the kids were done trick or treating, we all gathered in the street around a fire pit and passed out candy, made smores and let the kids play. It was such a fun way to spend the night. The kids loved trick or treating. Kennedy got so into it and lasted so much longer than anyone could have anticipated. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Taylor decorating half of a sugar cookie before she gobbled it down

Kennedy getting more frosting on herself than the cookie itself

Taylor's preschool class all gussied up

Kennedy...my cute witch

Kennedy and Nate on their way to trick or treat

(Crew as a hamburger in the background...love that kid!)
Taylor the butterfly off to trick or treat
One of the pumpkins I carved, with a little help from Taylor. Oh how she loves her princesses!

To Utah and back

My friend Laura and I decided it would be fun to stuff our kids all in one car and make the blessed trip to Utah to visit our families. The car ride didn't go completely as planned but all the kids did surprisingly well for such a long drive. We had a wonderful visit with Grandma Ricks and Aunt Christine. Taylor and Kennedy loved being at their Grandma Ricks' house and all the fun things we got to do while we were there. As always time passes quickly and it is hard to have to say goodbye. We wish we could see all our grandparents and families more often!

Taylor and Grandma Ricks roasting hot dogs and later smarshmellows a.k.a marshmallows

I love the fall! Going up the canyon and taking in all the yellow, orange and red leaves was so fun

Despite falling every 5 seconds, Kennedy loved being in the canyon

me and me sister, Christine

I miss being able to go up the canyon for dinner, its so close in Utah

We went to the Hogal Zoo and had so much fun

The girls saddling up on a wood horse at Wheeler Farm
With all the animals at the farm, of course the duck pond was the biggest hit

Taylor's photo shoot

I was just taking pictures for fun and thought these turned out cute enough to share.

Buena Vista Apple Fest

We heard about a small town in the south east mountains having a apple festival and we just had to go see what it was like. We got to pick apples from the tree. They were a little too tart for all of us except Kennedy. She loved eating them and ate about 3 during the time we were there (the exact number is unknown because she kept dropping half eaten apples in the dirt.) We had yummy homemade apple pie, fresh warm applesauce, and Taylor got to go on a buggy ride pulled by a miniature horse. All the different apple dishes really helped get me in the fall spirit.

Taylor picking the apples(left), Taylor and Kennedy sitting in the old fire truck(right)

Taylor washing clothes the old fashioned way (left),The classic face after getting splashed in the face(right)

Kennedy found this basket and thought it was the coolest thing ever

Taylor goes to preschool

Taylor started preschool this last week and absolutely loves it! She goes every Tuesday and Thursday morning to Mrs. Kim who she adores, and tells me on days that she doesn't have school how she wishes today was a school day. When I pick her up she can't tell me fast enough everything they did that day. As much as I have been looking forward to a break while she is at school, it has been surprisingly hard having her away. Its not so much the fact that she is away, it has more to do with the fact that this is the start of her being at school now until she is 18! Crazy.

Mountain Get-A-Way

For the Labor Day weekend we headed up to Beaver Creek, CO with some of our good friends. It was so fun to get away and enjoy the mountains and say goodbye to summer. Some of the highlights were dancing to the music of Oktoberfest, pony rides at the stable, and riding the chair lift to the top of the mountain.

Finally!

For all those who have been patiently checking our blog over the last two months, these pictures are for you. After coming back from Costa Rica, one of our top priorities was to buy a new camera. It was quite the ordeal trying to decide on what kind of camera to buy and then even more of an ordeal getting the camera we wanted in our hands. So after what felt like all summer of being camera-less, we can now take pictures again! In honor of our new camera, I took some pictures of the girls while they were playing with the hose yesterday.