Trick or Treat x3

There is way too much candy in our house. We had three events that involved trick-or-treating. Good times for Belle and Mark. Please excuse the not so good pictures. Mark did a really good job dropping our camera and we need a new lens. These are all taken on my phone which is nothing compared to what our camera was.

Belle's Boo Bash at school. Started with the cake walk, which thankfully she did not win.

Each classroom had a game and a trick-or-treat station. It was very cute and well planned out. There was even a haunted house for the older kids.

 

 

 

The next day we headed to Boo at the Zoo with some friends. Belle wanted to be a fairy and stuck with that decision for the entire month. She's sweet enough to fit the part. Mark's latest and greatest is Power Rangers. Every conversation, literally every conversation, has to have the word Power Ranger somehow tied into what you are talking about. He's feisty enough to fit the part.

 

 

Belle got interviewed by some guy and was on the loud speaker. This conversation was about Jamie's hair. See below. Crazy guy.

 

When it came time to eat some of the candy, the mask was gone. He cracks us up. He gets this Power Ranger stance with legs split, bent, and arms out. I wish I had a picture of it.

 

The next week we went to Isabelle's school parade.

Then, the official Halloween night of trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. They were too excited to stand still for a decent picture. Mark wore his costume the entire hour and half we were out! They both were thrilled and loved saying "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you!"

Great times! Now what to do with the loads of candy we have. Eat it and freeze it, throw away the gross ones :)

Pumpkin Patch!

October was a big month for us! Halloween appears to be Belle and Mark's #1 holiday, but I'm sure this will change to Christmas in the next few weeks. They could not stop talking about Halloween for the entire month and pretty much everyday we had to do something related to Halloween, even if it was just driving around to see people's Halloween decorations or making a craft involving a spider, ghost or bat.

It started off with my mom buying this awesome Halloween cookie decorating kit to do with the kids while she was babysitting. However, this was a flop because Sierra ate the entire box when they left the house (and a few danishes to go with it). Pig. Sierra left two cookies, which was somewhat funny. So, they each got one and we went and bought some more cookies and did it all over.

This year we went to The Littleton Museum's Fall Festival. They were both so excited. It can't get cuter than these two holding hands.

Hay ride!

Playing in the haystacks.

The search for the greatest pumpkin!

And ending the day with some fresh apple cider.

Triathlon

Isabelle entered her first kids triathlon -this was back in August. She was the youngest, but not the last to finish! I think she came in a proud 2nd to last place! Way to go to our little athlete!

Ready to go!

 

Number 89!

She did it with my cousin's kids who are super athletes and did incredible too.

 Here she is, in line, ready for the swim. This is the 5/6 year old wave (they still let her enter even though she's only 4). Can you tell she's the youngest?

And she's off! Slight tears swelling up in my proud eyes....

Getting started on the bike now!

And finishing the run! More tears swelling up in my proud eyes!

 

So proud of her medal!

     

We couldn't believe it. She did the whole thing without stopping once and without complaining once. (25 yard swim, 1/4 mile bike, 1/4 mile run). She has the soul, determination, and athletic ability of my sister. I see a future professional Auntie Nellie in the making. I have a ton of video, but can't get it uploaded to this blog. I think the pictures capture it all though!

Mark didn't care a whole lot about the race. He just enjoyed the gatorade that was offered out of a water cooler. He continued to pour and spill it for about 20 minutes straight. That's more his style.

 About 30 minutes post race = tiredness kicking in and a gatorade sugar crash...

 So proud of her Nanni for helping her to get entered and organized for the big day!

Sweet Little Belle starts preschool

Belle has started preschool at her new school. She is growing up so fast! She was so excited on her first day!

I, on the other hand, was completely depressed because I had to go to work since it was my school's first week. Jamie too. We didn't get to see our little girl's excitement, fear, laughter, hugs goodbye, and her running to us after school was over.  I made my mom take a gazillion pictures for us and she did such a good job capturing it all. Thanks Mom! I have since been able to drop her off and pick her up quite often and I am getting all of those things I missed, so I guess it's okay that I wasn't there the first day. Jamie has some days he plans to take off so he can be there to experience it too.

Some "kissies" for "baby" brother Mark before leaving. She loves to call him her baby brother.

A little nervous and hesitant to enter.

 Mark thinking he is going to school with her. This ended with him throwing a fit, screaming and crying the whole way out of the school...kinda glad my mom had to deal with that :-). Sorry Mom.

First day was a success!!

Although the first day was successful, the last couple weeks have been tough. She is still getting used to her new school and really misses Montview. She is definitely going through a bit of a transition and has had some tears. I'm not feeling like she is loving this school right now, but I think she will soon. Going 5 days a week (half day) combined with Jamie and I suddenly going back to work after us both being home all summer, and missing her friends from Montview has been really tough on her.  I hope she will end up loving it. She is so friendly, sociable, and smart and I think soon it will all fall in place. We are so proud of you Isabelle!

Mommy's Birthday

I had a great surprise for my birthday last month! Jamie booked us a hotel in Snowmass. It was the most perfect celebration from the best family ever!

We did some hiking, one of which was to Maroon Bells. A short, yet perfect hike for
Belle and Mark. There really couldn't be a more beautiful place. We wandered around Aspen, went to the fire museum (highlight for Mark), swam in the pool, rode the gondola, and ate some yummy food and ice cream!

 

Maroon Bells is getting very touristy! We had to take a bus ride to the hike which Jamie and I thought was unfortunate, but Belle and Mark thought it was the best idea ever.

 

 Even though this is a fuzzy picture, I love how sweet and peaceful this picture is of the two of them.

Wandering around Snowmass Village before dinner one night.

 A little birthday dinner love.

 On our way home, we stopped at Glenwood Hotsprings for a swim and then had a picnic at the park.

 The drinking fountain at the park was way more fun than the play equipment.

I had a great birthday celebration. Thanks, Jamie, for being a wonderful husband and dad!