HALLOWEEN!

What a fun evening... we met some friends downtown where they close off Harris + High Streets for children to Trick-or-Treat.  Its nice not worrying about cars!  The best part is that ALL the houses participate + most of them are renovated Mining houses, so it looks spooky anyway!!

This is Nadia + Elsie Anne's hello... they looked in each other's pumpkin basket + when Nadia saw that EA had no candy (we had just started), she gave EA a few of her pieces!  It was the kindest gesture... we all swooned @ the sight:)

The Firemen were handing out candy too!  Their truck had the lights on, as they made sure no cars entered!  The children were mezmerized...

By the way, EA is a Monkey, but the head-piece w/ ears did not fit her big head, and the booties w/ fingers would've been too slippery, so she is half dressed!  Oh, and the TuTu was her idea... gotta love her little mind!

I loved this house... they gave out TOOTH BRUSHES!!  That is Shawn looking creepy as ever w/ that wig on, haha!

Our last house!  It was starting to get too cold as the sun went down, and after walking almost 6 blocks all by themselves, the girls were slowing their pace a bit!

At home, enjoying EAs sugar high!  She was like a little Tiger, pacing back + forth, w/ her stroller of course!!  Thank goodness I only let her have ONE "pop-pop" (lollipop)!!

Imagination!

You must be wondering why Elsie Anne keeps getting new toys?!  Well, her imagination is exploding right now + she has outgrown all her toys!  We are definitely not ones to SPOIL, and choose our toys wisely, so she has truly gotten her $$s worth in the ones we are letting go! 

With winter here, the option of playing outside is rather limited, so its pertinent to have engaging indoor toys for EA (and Adeline, who plays w/ us 3days/wk)!  That said, we decided to get her Christmas presents early:)  We know she'll have plenty to open on Xmas morning, since both our families send her boxes!

With a little encouragement, EA chose this... she is in awe that we have it @ home, since she plays w/ a bigger version @ Peek-A-Boo Toy Store!!

Up, Up, Up the steps...

All she talks about now is her "doll-hows" + the "gull + bewy" (girl/boy) who live there!  As we come down the steps in the mornings, she peeks around the corner to see it + goes nuts!!

This perfect Melissa + Doug dollhouse came w/ 11 pieces of wooden furniture + 2 dolls!  I love EA's enthusiasm as she plays w/ it!  She loves giving them "tubbies" and makes them go out the front door to "wuuk" (work) over + over!!

Fun-Day Friday!!

Elsie Anne + I started our fun-day w/ Family Gym Time!  She went crazy in this bouncy house, after having so much practice @ GeeGee + Papa's in Ohio!!  We had fun playing w/ balls, tunnels, tents, hula hoops + climbing on the mats!!

After a great nap, Elsie Anne woke up to Daddy + pumpkin carving!  Yes, we are procrastinators... we've had the pumpkin, just never took the time to carve it.  EA was a big helper!

Then, we headed to Kid's Night Out @ our church!  We got all checked in, pointed out costumes that EA recognized, got EA to the right group... and OFF we went for our 2nd Breckenridge Dinner Date, since EA's arrival, almost 20 months ago (the 1st was last winter when my Mom was in town)!!

Shawn + I enjoyed appetizers + drinks @ The Hearthstone, where we hadn't dined since our 2yr anniversary when I was preggo w/ Elsie Anne!  It always brings back good memories:)  Our 'honey time' was very satisfying + we were able to really enjoy each other's company.  I'm ready for another one already, heehee!

After a little over an hour, we were anxious to get back to our Princess!  I know, it's sad, but we live + breath our little girl, + since it's just the 3 of us out here, we do EVERYTHING together, so it was weird not having her with us.  We spyed for a bit, before EA knew we were there.  This is how we found her little group.  She is right behind the boy looking @ the camera, you can only see the top of her head w/ a halloween bow, of course:) 

We watched her line up w/ all the children to go into the mess hall, and as she came out of the room, we popped out!  She got so excited and ran over to hug us, as if to say, "I haven't seen you in a whole HOUR!"  It was the best reunion ever:)

As we drove home, she told us about the Dance Room ~ which the teacher had already commented to us about her "hilarious dance moves," and that she HAD to stay longer than the rest her age, so she danced w/ the older children too:) ~ the Face Painting, the Barney Movie, and her favorite costumes, which were Woody from Toy Story, a Spider, a Princess, and a Pirate, she kept talking about her teacher, Ms. Nikki, and all the big children too!  It was so fun to see her pride + feel her excitement about her adventures ALL BY HERSELF!!

It was a SUCCESS!  SIGN US UP for the next 'Kids Night Out'! :)

Thursday Treat!!

Elsie Anne decided to put Mommy's snow boots on... I was surprised how well she could walk in them!

When Daddy got home from work, he scooped up his girls + took us to dinner!  Fatty's is always a fun time... especially holidays, they go all out in the decorating department!  EA was in awe of the ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons + frankenstein!!

Random nights out are always the best!  Thank you Daddy:)

Halloween Story Time!

As always, our local libraries come to the rescue!!  This time of year, its always hard to find things to do for our toddlers, since its pretty tiresome playing in the snow!  We are very thankful the three libraries around Summit County have Story Time on different days of the week.  So, last week marked our first weekly rotation of Winter activities!

Mon: Dance Class + Toddlers In Motion (starts next wk @ gym) Tues: Silverthorne Story Time  Wed: Family Gym Time + Breck Story Time  Thur: Peek-A-Boo Toy Store Fri: Tumbling Tots (starts next wk @ gym)  And, I'm still nannying Tues-Thurs, so we'll be keeping super busy this Winter! :)

Elsie Anne + Adeline had a SPOOKY time @ Frisco Story Time this week...

They climbed up + down the 'stadium seating' before the stories began!

We got to practice Trick-or-Treating around the Library... EA refused to put her Monkey costume on, so I dressed her in purple/green, I thought that was at least festive:)

The girls picked it up pretty fast... and loved reaping their rewards!  "POP-POPS"!!

I can't wait for this Sunday... HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

SNOW ANGEL!!

Our first SNOW DAY includes... long underwear, cozy socks, sweat shirt, snow pants, snow boots, mittens, jacket, beanie...and that's the order of operation!!  Luckily, Elsie Anne was super excited to go outside in the snow, so the layers + layers of clothes didn't bother her one bit:)

We had to show her what a SNOW ANGEL was...

Checking out our hard work...

I think EA will be a SNOW BUNNY this winter:)  She couldn't get enough!

**I am still having to upload one picture @ a time, so if anyone has any suggestions, I really need the help!  This is not making blogging very fun :(

Big Girl Dance Class!

Monday is our BALLET DAY, so when the BLIZZARD decided to hit us hard, I wasn't about to let it ruin our day!  We bundled up, brushed all the snow off our car, and headed to Frisco!  As soon as we pulled up, I wondered if we were crazy...we were the ONLY car there (besides the owner)! 

It turned out that our teacher Ms. Kristin wasn't going to make it, so Elsie Anne got to join the big girl class w/ the other 4 girls that showed up:) 

When it came to listening + following directions, she wasn't quite there yet!  She just walked around each girl, checking them out... "hmmm, what are you doing @ that bar" ?!!  hee,hee... it was too funny!

*She is in the turquoise shirt*

But when it came to crazy, dancing around the room time, she was right on que!!  They were being spooky ghosts... 

I was very proud that she did what she did, all by herself... but glad to see that I have at least another year of Mommy & Me classes!!!

Girly-Girl!!

Well, we broke down + got Elsie Anne the girliest toy yet!  She now lives + breathes her STROLLER!

EA got all her babies together for the inaugural stroller ride:)

All the babies she owns... She's more of a stuffed animal girl!!

Just loving her new STROLLER life!

She had such a hard time giving up her stroller the first day, we had to include it in all her activites!  When it was lunch time, I had to make sure her babies were eating too... that's the only way I could get her to sit in her seat:)

Awe...the sweet life of our LITTLE GIRLY-GIRL!!

Ohio Visit!!

This post is WAY over-due.  Sorry to keep you all waiting...been super busy since returning home from our awesome 10day vaca!!!

I'm sorry to say that I'm having problems uploading multiple pics?!  I can't tell you how frustrated I am right now, wanting to blog + not being able to!!  I'll only be able to post a few pics, as I have to do it one @ a time, aaaaahh!!

We had such a blast just hanging out at Casa Fraser!  They have so much to do for the little ones... swingset w/ climbing wall, club house, stearing wheel (EA's pirate ship), slide + sand box!  There was a mini-tractor, bouncy house, paddle boat for the pond + perfectly warmed hot tub for the kids:)  Needless to say, some of my favorite days on vacation were just playing at the house!!

I'm really not believing this...blogspot is cramping my blogging style!!!  Now that I've uploaded this ONE picture, it won't let me upload any more.........WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??!

Okay, I'm trying this again... Yay, I got a few more to upload!!

Liam + Elsie Anne enjoying their tubby-time!!

All the 'big cousins' playing @ the Mall! 

Logan + EA dancing to the live music outside of the Aquarium!!

Our happy family hanging out @ the River!

My fav pic of the whole trip... the Fraser's:)

Can't wait for our next trip to Somerville, OH + Fraser Park!  It was a wonderful visit w/ family + friends... Elsie Anne is still talking about it:)

Cancer Sucks!

EA, Shawn, Tony, Donnie, Kip

Our dear friend, Tony, had surgery earlier this summer for cancer of his throat, lymph nodes + tongue.  They removed the tumor, and after weeks of recovery in the hospital (it took him a while to eat normally), he was cleared w/ a 'clean bill of health'!

Unfortunately that 'high' was short lived.  A few short months later, they found a tumor on the other side of his neck, which was rapidly growing.  Just days after finding this information out, Tony started Chemotherapy + Radiation.

Before entering the 10wks of treatment, Shawn rounded up 'the boys' for a golf outing @ Copper Mountain!  It was a special day for all of them + a GOOD LUCK send off for Tony!!

We are all praying + pulling for your full recovery, Tony.  We'll see you soon for some Football entertainment:)  To follow Tony's progress, visit his blog... Cancer Sucks!

Ballet Princess!

Elsie Anne has been REALLY enjoying her ballet school, as we like to call it!  It's been a month since we started + each time we go, she remembers more of what we do + wants less + less to do w/ me.  At first, this was a little upsetting, but then I realized independence + determination are great traits for her to have!  And since she has to be w/ me 24/7, she is showing me that this is her class, and her time to shine w/out the help of Momma:)

Today, we brought Adeline, + Daddy was able to come as well!  They had a ball wearing hats, shaking bells, swinging scarves, climbing through the tunnel + shaking their booties to some funny kids tunes!  Shawn got such a kick out of the girls + many compliments from the Mothers that he's so good w/ children:)

Adeline loved the hat!  She'd put it on, take it off, over + over!

The girls are doing the hand motions to the Tiny Turtle song!  Since EA won't sit w/ me, I always encourage her to sit/look/listen to her teacher, Ms.Kristin!  So far, this is really working, she feels like such a big girl + Ms.Kristin couldn't get enough:)  You can see Ms.Kristin's fingertips, so you know EA is following directions, heehee!

And this is how EA looks @ the end of every class...exhausted!!!

I'm so happy to be involved in a fun activity for EA.  Its rewarding to watch our baby girl flourish in new surroundings, w/ new friends + grown-ups!

Boreas Pass

We had our Fall Photo Shoot w/ our friend, Emily... here are some funny, but cute shots!

Love this little monkey:)

I could stare @ this profile all day long:)

We don't have many of these...

Our little 'cheeser' girl!  We got such a kick out of this one, haha!

Can't show my favorites b/c they'll probably be used for Christmas presents :)  Elsie Anne is 19mo TODAY!

Faux-Camping!!

All Summer long we've been wanting to go Camping, but for one reason or another, each weekend has been filled w/ other busy plans.  When I found out today that I didn't have to babysit this evening, I jumped on the spared time!  We loaded up our camping chairs, a cooler of beer + picnic blanket, then picked up some KFC on the way.  We headed to Lake Dillon, 10min away from our house, and found this perfect spot!

After eating our dinner, it was time to explore!  Lake Dillon is a huge resevior for Denver + they have just recently emptied some of it's water supply, leaving this fun rocky beach!

 Momma enjoying this adventure through Elsie Anne's eyes!

 EA loves shadows! 

Watching Daddy skip rocks into the Lake. 

Now EA will try!  Her courage + determination w/ EVERYTHING is incredible @ this moment!  She wants to learn + really listens to figure things out.  She amazes us w/ her words + actions everyday:)

She got to try out her Froggy Boots for the first time...

...and wouldn't you know, she wanted to walk out further than her boots would let her!!

Back @ the picnic site, we changed shoes + enjoyed the sunset.  The Sun was behind us, but gave the mountains a beautiful glow as it went down!

EA layed back + said, "Shhhh, Elnie nite nite!" 

It got quite a bit more chilly as the sun finally went behind the mountains.  Shawn got a little snuggle from EA + I was able to catch it on camera!  These days, she really doesn't sit still for this long, unless we're reading her books before bed, so this was a rarity:)

And on our hike back to the car, WE WERE ALL SMILES!!!  EA had her feathers in her pockets + a hiking stick to count the rocks... "uun, tuu, teee!"

Thank you Beautiful Colorado Fall, for the most perfect weather we could imagine!  These sunny days help me accept that you will be bringing the cold, bitter snow...VERY SOON!

I have a lot of catching up to do, blog wise, so check earlier dates to catch up on our family happenings!