Kicking Off the Holiday Season

I am so glad that Thanksgiving was early this year because we needed the extra week to squeeze in all of the fun activities we have planned. Our Thanksgiving week started off with a visit down to the North Pole in Colorado Springs with our friends the Frary's and the Gerdes's. All the kids had a blast on the rides and the highlight was stopping by Santa's house to say hello. Drake, Payson and Zane - this is what you get when you ask to take a picture of three little boys!

Dillon and Reese checking out the map and deciding our plan of attack.

Poor Lauren - she was not sure about this ride, the boys were excited.

Payson and Drake loved the big kid roller coaster!

Hunter was a great sport to ride the roller coaster MANY times!

Caught the boys all dancing to the music from the singing elf!

Important to get your Christmas requests in early....

The sign of a good day, Reese is exhausted and fell asleep a few minutes before we left - too funny not to take a picture!

We can not wait to go back soon - next time hopefully Daddy can come with us.

Halloween 2012

Finally - after all of these blog posts, we finally have our actual Halloween Day. The day did not disappoint - 75 degrees and Daddy did not have to work. In the morning we had to divide and conquer, Todd attended Music class for the first time with Dillon (I wish I could of been there to see that!), and I attended Payson's school costume parade. This was my best attempt at getting a picture of Payson during the parade, he was so excited to keep up with his friends I could not get him to stop!

After school we all headed down to Castle Rock. The main street of Castle Rock does an outstanding job of an afternoon trick or treat street. Our Halloween buddies are easily the Frary's - so we could not do this event with out them! The fireman were out in lawn chairs handing out candy and were thrilled the kids wanted a picture on the truck!

With all of the spidermen, Reese made an adorable spider!

Everyone took a break from candy gathering to bounce in the jump house - funny to see all the costumes in there! Yep, that is Dillon coming down head first!

Todd and I took this opportunity to look through the candy bags to see if they were getting our favorites!

Matt's office is in a great location on Main Street, so we ended up back at the office and the boys really enjoyed handing out candy.

DIllon and Reese - could be potential prom dates.

Quick nap in the car to race home to meet the neighbors.

Get together of kids on the street - ready to start some additional trick or treating adventures!

Payson and Jake wanted to go to every house in the neighborhood. Dillon and Lila were ok with that, as long as they could ride in the stroller!

Anyone else notice Todd's Red Solo Cup - makes you want to sing a little Toby Keith! This was a great Halloween - I had to pinch myself as I watched the boys running together from house to house. I know I only have a few years where we will get to do this together as a family and it was such an awesome day! One tired Cowboy Spider man....

and one happy chocolate Spider Man!

Boo at the Zoo 2012

Another Boo at the Zoo in the books for our family - and as always it did not disappoint. Last year the zoo was a challenge as a large portion was under construction with new exhibits, but now that they are open, it was much easier to get around. Of course, we know to get there VERY early. Even better we were able to meet up with Zane and Matt Frary. Poor Reese was not feeling well so she missed out on the fun - next year for sure!

Starting to gather candy - YUMMY!

This picture cracks me up. It was chilly this morning, and the Spiderman costume was very thin. So, we bundled the boys up. I shoved Dillon in a sweat suit and a fleece and man it looks like he really is a chubby guy. Todd and I laughed as we walked around the whole zoo remembering that growing up in Colorado you just never know the weather on Halloween and sometimes you wear your snow suit under your costume. Nothing to stop from getting candy!

Another laughable moment - our attempt at a family photo - can you tell that Dillon has a mind of his own. And he is not afraid to use it.

THese two are always cracking each other up!

All the Spidermen found things to climb all over at the zoo.

Check out this serious expression - Trick or Treating is some serious business!