Snow Days

We've had a few snowstorms here in Colorado so far this year.  The boys think it is fun to get out and "help" shovel the driveway.  Austin is old enough this year to go out for a bit and Zach has really loved playing in the snow and wants to be out all day, no matter how cold.

Zach also loves eating the snow...

Thankful

A couple of years ago a friend of mine posted pictures of a "thankful tree" their family did.  I loved the idea and thought we would try it now that Zach was old enough to have some input.  We did it for FHE a few weeks ago and it was fun.  It's not a perfect tree, but it's what got cut out while I was making dinner and I love it because we did it together.

We have so much to be thankful for!  These are just a few ideas we came up with in the few minutes that the boys lasted.  I've since thought of so, so many more.  

I love this time of year and the chance to focus on all of our blessings.

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween this year.  Zach was a fireman, and Austin chose to be a monkey.  They were very cute and I must say that kids in their costumes is about the only thing I like about Halloween.  Well, I guess the pumpkins are fun too. 

Here they are dressed up for the church party.

Almost smiles...

Not wasting any time after trunk-or-treating.

Pumpkin carving.

Austin had just woken up from his nap.  Check out that hair!!  I love it.

Ready for trick-or-treating.

"Boo!"

Zach was pretty excited for it this year, and Austin figured it out pretty quickly.  He would hold up his bag and say, "treats!" then run to the next house.  It was like he was saying, "Can you believe this?"

Zach insists that this is the correct way to wear the fireman hat (it is on backwards).  He has always worn them this way and it seems there is no convincing him otherwise.  :)

Watching his little curly tail wiggle back and forth as he walked was my favorite part of the night.  So cute!

Can you guess which pumpkin we each carved (or drew)?

Other Fall Happenings

We have done a lot of fun things this Fall.  Here are a few...

For years we've gone to Rock Creek Farm with our friends the Rogers to get pumpkins.  They have moved a bit further away, but they made the trek up to see us and continue the tradition.  Always great to see them!

Blow up slides

And bouncy castles

Austin still really loves the animals.  He loved this pony and kept trying to feed it.

So many to choose from...

The boys!

 We also went to Cottonwood Farm with a bunch of friends from church.  We didn't socialize too much because these two were busy running in opposite directions, but we had a great time.  

Exploring the hay bale maze.

Wagon rides.

 All of the pictures are so serious.  I promise they were having fun.

My very good friend from BYU was in Boulder for her research group for a couple of days, so we got to spend a little time with her.  We did some exploring up at Chautauqua.  We were going to do a little loop on a couple of trails , but as we started to head up the trail someone told us that a bear had been spotting just a couple of minutes before on that trail.  I was glad we got the warning!  So we just did the other part of the loop and played at the playground.  Still pretty!

A silly smile

Me and Katie.  It was so fun to see her!

Fall

Miraculously I can post these pictures now without them being green.  I certainly have a love-hate relationship with technology...  So now a little catching up.

At the start of October we headed up to the mountains to see some of the pretty fall leaves.  Like past couple of years we headed to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.  We went at a perfect time and the leaves were glowing and beautiful.  

First we stopped at the visitors center to feed the fish.  There are huge rainbow trout in a pond next to it and it is fun to watch them scramble (do fish scramble?) for the food.

We stopped a lot and explored.  Even picnic tables are fun.

The best part of the evening was the little hike we went on.  We found a trail that wound through the gorgeous aspens and had a great time!  These pictures really don't do it justice.  The sun came and went behind clouds, but when it was out it was golden.

It was really this yellow!

A family picture- we're all looking!  Miracle.

Cuteness overload.

At panorama point- running!  We also had a nice picnic dinner here.

Zach said, "We have to clean up this mess!"  They swept the leaves off the deck, just, ya know, so it was clean.

Hide and seek in the trees.

We were there just long enough for a nice sunset as the sun dipped below the clouds, then went down below the mountains.

I love Colorado!  

Such a fun Fall tradition.